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So, I'm Isaac Samuels.
I'm a social justice advocate, speaker, facilitator, changemaker and lived experience leader.
I spend my time challenging systems, shifting power and making sure that the people most affected by decisions are not sitting on the sidelines, but helping to shape them.
My work is rooted in my own lived experience of mental health distress, disability, inequality and exclusion. Those experiences taught me that change does not happen because people in power decide it should. Real change happens when people come together, speak up, challenge injustice and refuse to accept that things have to stay the way they are.
I work across health, social care and public services, bringing lived experience into spaces where decisions are made. I am passionate about co-production, anti-racism, disability rights, LGBT+ inclusion and creating systems that work for everyone, not just a select few.
I believe that people are experts in their own lives and that some of the best ideas come from those who have had to navigate the barriers that systems create. My role is often to ask the difficult questions, bring people together and help turn conversations into action.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: a fairer world is possible. One where everyone's voice matters, power is shared, and people have the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.
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The story behind the work
As a multi-award-winning changemaker, speaker, facilitator and lived experience leader, I have had the opportunity to work with government departments, local authorities, the NHS, universities, charities and community organisations. I have contributed to national policy, spoken in Parliament, supported system change programmes and helped organisations think differently about power, participation and inclusion.
I have been honoured with an OBE for services to social care, and while I am proud of the recognition, the achievements I value most are the relationships built, the barriers challenged and the opportunities created for others to lead. My work has never been about individual recognition. It has always been about collective action and making space for people whose voices have too often been ignored.
Much of my work is rooted in social justice, co-production, anti-racism, disability rights and lived experience leadership. I have worked alongside organisations including Think Local Act Personal, SCIE, NHS England, the Race Equality Foundation, National Voices, the Co-Production Collective, local government partners and many others to help create more equitable and inclusive systems.
Some of the work I am most proud of has focused on challenging racism and inequality within co-production itself. Through listening to and amplifying the stories of racialised communities, disabled people and other marginalised groups, I have seen how power, privilege and discrimination continue to shape people's experiences. Those stories have reinforced my belief that co-production without equity is not truly co-production.
Today, a significant part of my work is focused on supporting and developing the next generation of lived experience leaders. Whether through storytelling, mentoring, leadership development or community organising, I want to help create opportunities for others to step into their power, influence systems and lead change in their own right.
Everything I do is grounded in a simple belief: people are experts in their own lives. When we value lived experience, share power and work together as equals, we create stronger communities, fairer systems and better outcomes for everyone.
"Real change is not measured by the positions we hold, but by the doors we open for others to walk through."
The story behind the work
As a multi-award-winning changemaker, speaker, facilitator and lived experience leader, I have had the opportunity to work with government departments, local authorities, the NHS, universities, charities and community organisations. I have contributed to national policy, spoken in Parliament, supported system change programmes and helped organisations think differently about power, participation and inclusion.
I have been honoured with an OBE for services to social care, and while I am proud of the recognition, the achievements I value most are the relationships built, the barriers challenged and the opportunities created for others to lead. My work has never been about individual recognition. It has always been about collective action and making space for people whose voices have too often been ignored.
Much of my work is rooted in social justice, co-production, anti-racism, disability rights and lived experience leadership. I have worked alongside organisations including Think Local Act Personal, SCIE, NHS England, the Race Equality Foundation, National Voices, the Co-Production Collective, local government partners and many others to help create more equitable and inclusive systems.
Some of the work I am most proud of has focused on challenging racism and inequality within co-production itself. Through listening to and amplifying the stories of racialised communities, disabled people and other marginalised groups, I have seen how power, privilege and discrimination continue to shape people's experiences. Those stories have reinforced my belief that co-production without equity is not truly co-production.
Today, a significant part of my work is focused on supporting and developing the next generation of lived experience leaders. Whether through storytelling, mentoring, leadership development or community organising, I want to help create opportunities for others to step into their power, influence systems and lead change in their own right.
Everything I do is grounded in a simple belief: people are experts in their own lives. When we value lived experience, share power and work together as equals, we create stronger communities, fairer systems and better outcomes for everyone.
"Real change is not measured by the positions we hold, but by the doors we open for others to walk through."
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Working in partnership
Debora Mo is my Co-Production and Training & Development Lead, working alongside me to design and deliver learning, engagement and co-production that is rooted in equity, creativity and lived experience.
She is passionate about helping organisations embed anti-racist practice into how they actually work, rather than treating it as an add-on. Through a long-standing arts practice, together with the breadth of her personal and professional experience, Debora has developed a strong belief in the power of creative approaches to bring people together, encourage meaningful participation and create the conditions for lasting change.
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Debora believes that people are more likely to engage, learn and grow when they feel seen, heard and able to bring their whole selves into the room. Her approach combines warmth, curiosity and thoughtful challenge, helping individuals and organisations have honest conversations that lead to practical action. She is committed to creating spaces where people feel safe to reflect, connect and work together to build more equitable and inclusive systems.
How I work
At the heart of my work are people, relationships and creating spaces where people feel they belong.
I believe that some of the best conversations happen when we bring our whole selves into the room. Not just our job titles, qualifications or roles, but our stories, experiences, hopes, fears and ideas. That's where the magic happens.
I use creativity, storytelling, art, music, laughter and curiosity to help people connect with each other. Because let's be honest, most people have sat through enough PowerPoint slides, flipcharts and post-it notes to last a lifetime. Real change happens when people feel safe, relaxed and able to be themselves.
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Joy is essential in social justice work. It's not frivolous — it's resistance. I create spaces where people can be honest, challenge respectfully, ask difficult questions and support one another. Spaces where vulnerability is welcomed and people don't need to have all the answers.
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Every voice matters. Sometimes the person who speaks most helps move things forward. Sometimes one sentence changes the entire direction of the room. I've seen quiet wisdom transform projects, services and systems.
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My role is not to be the loudest voice. It's to create the conditions for other people to be heard, valued and included — especially those whose voices society has overlooked. When people feel safe enough to speak, brave enough to challenge and supported enough to contribute, amazing things happen.
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