There aren’t many moments in life where you feel like your story – raw, imperfect, and hard-earned – can become a tool for change. But working with BEAT Eating Disorders on their Empowering Recovery project gave me that feeling. And more than anything, it reminded me just how powerful lived experience can be.

BEAT has been a consistent light in both my personal recovery and the work I now do to advocate for better understanding, compassion, and support around eating disorders. Through their Expert by Experience programme, I had the incredible opportunity to co-produce content for the Empowering Recovery project – a campaign designed to meet people where they are, especially in the online world where so many of us have struggled, searched, and scrolled.

A Project That Truly Empowered

The aim of Empowering Recovery was simple but profound: create impactful social media content that interrupts the scroll in the best way possible. Instead of falling into a trap of comparison, self-criticism, or harmful messages online, we wanted our content to gently nudge someone toward reflection, hope, and maybe even healing.

This wasn’t just another awareness campaign. It was created with people who’ve lived it, not just for them. And as someone who’s spent years working in social media and digital marketing, this project meant everything to me. For once, I wasn’t designing content to sell a product or grow a brand. I was using my skills to build something deeply meaningful — something that had the power to comfort, validate, and change lives.

From Content Creation to Co-Production

Being in that room with other Experts by Experience was humbling. Each of us brought something different: different stories, backgrounds, wounds, strengths. But together, we produced visuals, captions, tone of voice guides, and formats that reflected the real, messy, non-linear nature of recovery.

I was able to bring my professional insight to the group, offering guidance on how to best connect with Gen Z audiences, how to make the content authentic yet accessible, and how to balance softness with strength. I found myself in a kind of leadership role, not by title, but by presence, and it was deeply healing to use what I know for something so good.

A Personal Milestone

This wasn’t just a volunteering opportunity. It felt like a milestone in my recovery. To be part of something bigger than myself, something that turns years of pain, confusion, and hard work into purposeful action, gave me a sense of clarity I hadn’t felt before.

I’ve spent so long sharing my story through my blog and podcast, raising money for BEAT through the TwoGether campaigns, and advocating for better support for sufferers and carers alike. But this project? It was hands-on change. It was systemic hope in action. And it reminded me that recovery doesn’t just mean healing… it can also mean helping.

Why I’ll Always Support BEAT

BEAT has never been just a charity to me. It’s been a lifeline, a platform, and a community. They’ve championed lived experience, supported families, funded essential research, and pushed for better care in a world that so often gets eating disorders wrong.

If you’ve ever wondered whether sharing your story matters, it does. If you’ve questioned whether your voice can make a difference, it absolutely can. And if you’re looking for a place to start using your experience for good, BEAT is that place.

This experience has taught me that you don’t need to be fully healed to help others. You just need to be willing to speak, reflect, and connect. Because recovery isn’t just about reclaiming your life – sometimes, it’s about reaching back and helping someone else reclaim theirs.

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Want to read more about my work with BEAT or support future projects like this? Read the article here.
Follow along on my blog, podcast, or support BEAT’s life-changing work at beateatingdisorders.org.uk.