Written by Dani-Jack Elden, with input from Renee and Kritika, on behalf of the Experts Through Experience Panel

On Saturday 16 May, we attended the Go Deep Games as part of the Homewards Aberdeen Experts Through Experience Panel. We took part alongside people from other lived experience groups and community spaces working across homelessness, poverty, migration and inclusion. Participants included representatives from CFINE, Yahya’s Hub and the North East No Recourse to Public Funds Partnership Lived Experience Group, as well as young unaccompanied asylum seekers.

Challenge

The theme of challenge felt important throughout the day. It was not just about talking about the barriers we already know from our own lives, but also opening our minds to difficulties other people face that we might never have realised without hearing them directly.

The Go Deep Games were clear, well-guided and easy to follow, which helped the space feel welcoming from the start. They gave us a different way to explore real-world issues, share ideas and think creatively about solutions without the conversations feeling too formal or intimidating. In a room full of different cultures, identities, experiences, abilities, faiths and backgrounds, that feeling of safety and inclusion was especially important. People need to feel welcome before they can fully participate.

Through the activities and conversations, we explored the assumptions that can be made about people because of identity, culture, language, class, disability, neurodiversity, poverty, religion, skin colour, accents, confidence and lived experience. For me, it was a reminder that a challenge does not have to be visible to be real. Some barriers are obvious, while others remain hidden until someone feels safe enough to speak about them.

We also spent time reflecting on the idea of the inner critic: the voice that can make people doubt themselves, hold back, or feel like they are not enough. This part of the session felt particularly meaningful because it reminded me that challenge is not always external. Sometimes it comes from systems, stigma and judgement, but sometimes it also comes from messages people have carried within themselves for years. Being able to discuss this openly made the conversations feel honest, supportive and constructive.

Connection and Change

One of the strongest parts of the day for me was seeing people grow in confidence as the session progressed. The games were approachable, engaging and accessible, which helped people listen to one another, understand different perspectives and take on board each other’s experiences, emotions and ideas. It helped the room approach challenge and change with more confidence, openness and curiosity.

Renee reflected on how important inclusion and diversity were throughout the day. She described the session as welcoming, safe and open, and said the games helped people come out of their shells, build confidence, find similarities with others and feel able to be themselves. She also spoke about the session feeling almost like a family environment, where inclusion and diversity could coexist while people worked together to create solutions.

Kritika shared that the session felt genuinely meaningful because of how respectful, supportive and inclusive the space was. She highlighted how powerful it was to see people with lived experience from different communities, charities, generations and backgrounds come together to share openly, listen

deeply and learn from one another. For her, the day was a reminder of the importance of empathy, confidence and respectful dialogue when discussing different perspectives and lived realities.

What stood out most to me was the strong sense of community between the different groups. Although our experiences and areas of work are not identical, there were so many shared concerns, values and ambitions. It did not feel like separate groups simply sharing a room. At times, it felt more like a shared community space where inclusion and diversity were not just being discussed, but actively experienced.

People found similarities, built connections, came out of their shells, and supported one another while working together as a team. I found it heartwarming to see people from different backgrounds finding common ground and recognising that many of the challenges faced across our communities are interconnected. That sense of connection is what made the day feel bigger than one session.

Because of these connections, the groups agreed to continue meeting quarterly to share progress, support one another, exchange learning and celebrate individual and shared successes. The day felt successful not only because of what was achieved, but because people left feeling proud of what had been created together through the games, activities and conversations.

Speaking for myself and my fellow panel members, this is exactly why lived experience and local expertise matter. The people closest to an issue have the ability to inspire change through their own experiences, not only by explaining what is wrong, but by helping shape what better support can look like in practice.

As a member of the Homewards Aberdeen Experts Through Experience Panel, my ambition is to help make Aberdeen, Scotland and the wider UK safer for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. I want to challenge stigma, reshape perceptions, strengthen community connections and ensure that people feel heard rather than judged.

Personally, I left the Go Deep Games feeling more aware, more connected and more determined to use my own experience to help create positive change. After reading the excerpts from both Renee and Kritika, I can confidently say there was a shared sense of awareness, connection and determination.

The biggest message I took from the day was that challenge does not have to be something that separates people. With the right space, mutual respect and a willingness to listen, challenge can become the starting point for connection, confidence, understanding and action.

The Homewards Aberdeen Experts Through Experience Panel would like to thank everyone who participated and contributed their experiences, ideas and energy. Special thanks to GREC, CFINE, Yahya’s Hub, the North East No Recourse to Public Funds Partnership Lived Experience Group, and Pat from Go Deep Games Scotland. Their contributions helped create such a welcoming, thoughtful, and meaningful event.