Royal British Legion: Lived Experience Panel
Background & context
M·E·L Research was commissioned by the Royal British Legion (RBL) to co‑design and deliver a pilot Lived Experience Panel. The pilot aimed to test whether a structured panel of people with lived experience of the Armed Forces community could meaningfully inform RBL’s campaigns, policy and research work. The model was delivered over a short, intensive period to “test and learn” during live organisational strategy projects. The pilot explored feasibility, impact, support needs, and the potential for scaling or embedding the approach.
Approach
M·E·L Research supported recruitment, developed and delivered all training, and provided ongoing support and coordination for panel members throughout the pilot. Training covered social research, trauma‑informed practice, safeguarding, ethics and practical application. A mixed-method feedback approach was used, including reflective Padlet entries, pre/post forms, catch‑up chats, and end‑point interviews with panel members and RBL staff.
Panel members were provided with pre-reading, check‑ins, session scheduling support, and a single point of contact. Between August and November, members applied their learning through involvement in three live research and policy projects, hearing impairment recommendations, Armed Forces Covenant work, and social care mapping. M·E·L captured what worked well, what didn’t, and the resources required to deliver and sustain this model.
Outputs
- A fully delivered recruitment, training and support process for 10 panel members, including online and in‑person training.
- A structured set of learning materials: slide decks, bite‑size modules, handbooks, and session recordings.
- A detailed final report outlining learning, impact, resource requirements, and recommendations for future delivery.
- Clear options for three delivery models (externally managed, hybrid, internally led) with practical considerations for inclusion, sustainability and scalability.
- Evidence demonstrating positive impact on panel members (skills, confidence, connection) and benefits to RBL (stronger insights, improved materials, early cultural shift towards embedding lived experience).
Client Testimonial
“We worked with M·E·L Research on an evaluation to support how lived experience is embedded within our campaigns, policy and research team, and how it could be scaled more widely. The experience was positive, with the team demonstrating a strong understanding of our organisational context and objectives from the outset.
“Throughout the project, Emily and Sophie were proactive, well organised and genuinely invested in the work. They engaged stakeholders effectively, particularly through their work with our lived experience panel, and created a supportive and structured process that enabled participants to contribute meaningfully.
“The evaluation produced outputs that are already informing our work and next steps. The findings have provided us with clear, practical insight and a stronger evidence base to guide future decision‑making in this area.”
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