The evaluation report explored the progress and impact of the Marie Collins Foundation’s Lived Experience Group (LEG), established in 2023 with Oak Foundation funding to ensure that the voices of survivors of Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse (TACSA) are at the centre of advocacy, policy, training and practice. The evaluation was commissioned to assess how well MCF has supported the LEG to develop, what difference the group is making to its members, and the extent of its influence within MCF and across the wider system.

A mixed-methods approach was taken, combining desk-based review of strategies, policies, resources and project outputs; in-depth conversations with LEG members (current, former and leaders); and a series of focus groups with MCF staff, trustees, academics, policy makers and frontline professionals. This enabled triangulation of findings across multiple perspectives, ensuring the evaluation reflected both the lived experience of group members and the perceptions of external stakeholders who have engaged with the LEG.

Safe and Supportive Group

The evaluation found that MCF has placed the wellbeing and safety of group members at the centre of the LEG. Policies and processes for recruitment, induction, and ongoing support are robust, with safeguarding and therapeutic care hardwired into practice.

Members spoke about the sense of trust and emotional safety in meetings, describing the group as balanced and non-hierarchical. Leaders, themselves survivors, are recognised for setting consistent boundaries and providing choice in participation. Wellbeing is supported through a package of offers, from regular check-ins to wellbeing days, alongside preparation and debriefing for project work. This created an environment where members felt protected, respected, and able to contribute at their own pace.

“I never feel unsafe in any of the meetings. It’s a space where every voice matters.” – LEG Member

Shaped by survivors

The evaluation found that the work of LEG and MCF is genuinely shaped by survivors. Members shape the group’s direction through quarterly reviews, annual strategy days, and project-level decision-making. Priorities raised by survivors have already generated new strands of work, from resources on relationships and sexuality to input into national sentencing reviews. Members have the autonomy to decide which projects to engage with, and their contributions shape the development of MCF resources, campaigns, and training.

External partners observed that survivor perspectives have directly changed the design and content of their own work, highlighting the influence of the group beyond MCF itself.

“I spoke in the House of Lords. It was the highlight of my life… it’s the stories that people remember.” – LEG member

Impact on Members

Participation in LEG has had a significant impact on members, both personally and collectively. Survivors reported increased confidence, new skills, and a sense of purpose in transforming painful experiences into meaningful advocacy. Members described the pride and empowerment of speaking in Parliament, contributing to national media campaigns, or seeing resources they helped design being used by professionals. The group has also created a valued sense of community and belonging, providing a peer network of support and shared understanding. While members acknowledged the challenges of revisiting trauma, the balance of support, choice, and collective encouragement has enabled the benefits to outweigh the difficulties.

“Being part of the LEG has allowed me to take what has happened to me and transform it into something purposeful, rather than letting it define me.” – LEG Member

“I never realised the value of how your own experience can be redirected into something positive and powerful.” – LEG Member

Impact on MCF

The LEG has become central to the way MCF works. Survivor voices are now embedded across the organisation’s strategy, training and resources, and MCF staff routinely consult the LEG as partners in co-design. The group has helped shape core training packages, created a toolkit of survivor quotes for staff use, and informed organisational policy and practice. The approach has established MCF as a sector leader in survivor engagement, with external agencies such as Ofcom and the Home Office approaching MCF for advice on establishing their own lived experience groups. The evaluation also identified opportunities to deepen engagement, such as involving LEG members in staff recruitment and ensuring the Board has greater visibility of the group’s impact.

“Now we have the views of the lived experience group right from the beginning – it’s not a bolt-on anymore, it’s part of the system.” – MCF Senior Team

Impact on the Wider System

The LEG has had a growing impact across the wider system. Their input has shaped frontline police practice through the ASCEND resources, which are now embedded in Metropolitan Police Service policy. National campaigns such as Hydrant’s When You Are Ready have benefited from their insights, while their contributions to government consultations have influenced changes in law and policy, including reforms to the Limitation Law. The group has also reshaped the way researchers design and frame studies, ensuring survivor voices are embedded ethically and meaningfully. In addition, LEG members are shifting wider societal understanding through their involvement in media responses and the co-creation of journalist guidance. These examples show the LEG is achieving influence across professional, policy, academic, and public domains.

“Everything they told us was incorporated into the project – and it changed the way we now train officers.” – Frontline Justice Professional

Conclusion

The evaluation found that the MCF LEG has quickly established itself as a model of best practice in survivor engagement. It provides a safe and supportive environment for members, is demonstrably survivor-led, and is achieving meaningful outcomes for individuals, MCF, and the wider system. The work is already influencing frontline practice, national policy, media narratives, and research methodologies. At the same time, there are opportunities to build further – broadening representation, embedding the voices of younger survivors, ensuring systematic feedback from external partners, and securing sustainable funding. These next steps provide a clear pathway for strengthening the impact and sustainability of the LEG.