This week, Street Connect attended another Humanising Healthcare Conversation Café at the University of Glasgow.
The Conversation Café brings together medical students and people with lived experience of addiction and recovery, creating a space for open and honest discussion about some of the most complex challenges facing healthcare today.
The session began with a powerful presentation from John, who shared his personal journey through addiction and recovery. Speaking candidly about his experiences, John reflected on the dehumanising nature of addiction, the importance of restoring dignity, and the role that relationships, community and coordinated support play in helping people rebuild their lives.
One of the most striking aspects of John’s story was his balanced and hopeful perspective. Rather than focusing on blame, he spoke about the importance of being supported, challenged and believed in. His journey demonstrates that recovery is possible when people are given the opportunity, encouragement and support to move forward.
Today, John volunteers with NERC and uses his lived experience to support others, providing a powerful example of what long-term recovery can look like.
Following the presentation, students and participants explored key themes through group discussions. Conversations centred around trauma, connection, dignity, hope, purpose, community and recovery, highlighting the importance of understanding the person behind the circumstances.
Events like the Conversation Café provide future healthcare professionals with a valuable opportunity to learn directly from people who have lived experience. By creating space for meaningful dialogue, they help build empathy, challenge assumptions and strengthen understanding of the realities of addiction and recovery.
At Street Connect, we know that listening to lived experience is essential to creating services and systems that work for people. It was inspiring to see this principle at the heart of professional education and to witness the impact these conversations continue to have on students, practitioners and participants alike.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the event possible and to those who continue to share their experiences to help shape a more compassionate and human-centred approach to healthcare.