Lisa Nicholson - Director / Founder of Lived Lives 

My own life has been shaped by experiences of bereavement, sexual and criminal exploitation, domestic abuse, long-term recovery from addiction, and living with HIV. Those experiences have shown me both the devastating impact of trauma and stigma, and the extraordinary capacity people have to heal, grow and rebuild their lives.

There were people who saw beyond my circumstances. They believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself, and they refused to let my history, addiction or HIV status define what I was capable of becoming. Their belief changed the course of my life.

That experience is at the heart of why Lived Lives exists.

Today, alongside 20 years of professional experience working across mental health, addiction, trauma and family support, I bring a perspective that combines lived experience with evidence-based therapeutic practice. I'm a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist, Integrative Counsellor and EMDR Therapist, and a member of EMDR Association UK, Addiction Professionals, BABCP, NCPS (Accredited member) and Creative Counsellors.

I've developed and delivered trauma-informed programmes, trained frontline professionals and led projects within prisons, rehabilitation services and community organisations. Yet qualifications alone are not what shape my work. My greatest belief is that people should never be defined by the worst chapter of their lives.

Whether someone is living with addiction, trauma, HIV, domestic abuse, mental ill health, or any other form of adversity or stigma, I want them to experience what I experienced: someone who sees their strengths before their struggles, believes in their potential, and walks alongside them until they are able to see that potential for themselves.

Lived Lives was founded on that belief. We combine the authenticity of lived experience with professional expertise because people deserve both. Recovery is possible. Healing is possible. Change is possible. Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you until you're able to believe in yourself.

Paula Harrison - Director

I am an experienced Operations Manager with over 20 years in the third sector, specializing in the criminal justice system and substance use. My career has also seen me work at a national level with the Armed Forces Charity, as well as within disability services and mental health. Throughout my career, I’ve held senior positions overseeing volunteer development and managing primary care contracts.

I hold a Law degree (LLB Hons) and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Penology, Criminology, and Management at Cambridge University. In my current role, I have successfully established a training centre, accrediting courses for service users. I also oversee prison contracts for a voluntary sector provider, managing operations across 21 prisons. I lead initiatives in quality assurance, learning and development, and will soon spearhead a national project focused on service user involvement and co-creation.

Alistair Eagles - Director 

Following a successful corporate career in the shipping industry I have joined Lived Lives as a Non-Executive Director and Volunteer. I am keen to pass on my experience as a Dad of dealing with a young person in addiction. Addiction is a family disease that has impacts right across the whole family. Addiction is still such a taboo subject, and by speaking openly about it I hope that I can pass on my knowledge to help others.

As a parent gaining knowledge about addiction from someone with lived experience was crucial. I learnt not only about addiction but I also learnt what I should do as a parent to ensure that I didn’t love my addict to death. 

I hope to bring my business knowledge, sense of humour and lived experience to Lived Lives and Beacon to help others navigate a pathway through the chaos. Above all I want to show that no matter how challenging the situation, there is always hope.