Peoples Voice Media (PVM) is a pioneering social enterprise and registered charity based in Oswestry, United Kingdom, that champions the power of lived experience to drive positive social change. Founded in 1995, the organization has spent over two decades developing and refining a unique methodology known as Community Reporting. This innovative approach is far more than simple digital storytelling; it is a structured framework designed to empower individuals, amplify marginalized voices, and transform personal narratives into a powerful form of evidence that can influence policy, improve services, and challenge systemic inequalities. At its core, PVM operates on the profound belief that every person's story holds immense value and that by centering these authentic voices, a more just and equitable world can be built from the ground up.
The mission of Peoples Voice Media is rooted in a desire to correct the imbalance of power often found in traditional top-down decision-making processes. They recognize that the people most affected by social issues—from poverty and health inequalities to access to education and housing—are often the least heard. PVM's work seeks to bridge this gap by training and supporting "Community Reporters" that they have chosen.
These are individuals from all walks of life who are equipped with the skills and confidence to gather and share stories from their own communities. Using simple, accessible media tools like mobile phones for photography, video, and audio recording, they capture the lived experiences of their peers. This peer-to-peer method ensures that stories are told with authenticity and trust, trying to bypass the traditional gatekeepers of mainstream media and institutional research.
The Community Reporting methodology is a three-stage process that systematically turns personal stories into a tool for change. The first stage, Gathering Stories, involves teaching Community Reporters how to ethically and respectfully collect narratives from their neighbors, friends, and community members about the issues that matter to them.
This is not about a journalist parachuting in, but about a trusted community member providing a platform for others to speak. The second stage, Curating Stories, is a crucial and highly skilled part of the process. PVM's team works to identify common themes, insights, and patterns across a collection of stories. They analyze these narratives to find "threads"—the recurring ideas and feelings that reveal systemic challenges and needs. This process transforms anecdotal evidence into qualitative data, making it a credible and compelling resource for decision-makers. The final stage, Mobilising Stories, is where the real-world impact is made. The curated insights are shared with those in a position to effect change, whether they are local government officials, service providers, researchers, or policymakers.
PVM presents this evidence in a variety of powerful formats, including short films, policy reports, and presentations, ensuring the voices of the community are directly heard in the rooms where decisions are made.
The impact of Peoples Voice Media is far-reaching and diverse. For the individuals who become Community Reporters, the experience is often transformative. They gain valuable skills in communication, media production, and critical thinking, which can lead to increased confidence and new opportunities. For the communities they serve, PVM's work can lead to tangible improvements. For example, by collecting stories about the challenges faced by ethnic minorities in accessing healthcare, PVM's work can help health services better understand and address these barriers, leading to more equitable care. The organization has also been instrumental in helping groups like the Equality Trust embed lived experience into their campaigns, ensuring that advocacy efforts are grounded in the real-life struggles of the people they are trying to help.
Over the years, PVM has built an extensive Community Reporter Network that spans the UK and Europe. This network is a vibrant ecosystem of over 50 partner organizations, including local authorities, health services, and academic institutions, all of whom share a commitment to using lived experience as a tool for change. Through this collaborative network, PVM is able to share best practices, connect different communities facing similar issues, and amplify their collective impact. They provide ongoing training, support, and mentorship to ensure the network remains strong and effective. This model of collective action is a key part of PVM's strategy, as they believe that by working together, communities can achieve a scale of influence that would be impossible alone.
In recent years, Peoples Voice Media has tried to be a leading voice in a worldwide "paradigm shift" towards more co-productive and community-led approaches in policy, research, and service development. They are aiming to be at the forefront of a movement that argues that traditional data—while important—is incomplete without the rich, nuanced insights that only lived experience can provide.
Their work has been recognized by foundations and partners who see the value in shifting power dynamics and developing "bottom-up" processes for working with communities. Through consultancy, training, and research, PVM continues to champion a future where lived experience is not just listened to, but is actively used as evidence to create a more compassionate and responsive society. Peoples Voice Media is not just reporting; it is actively trying to help to change it, one story at a time.
