Mastery of life on the periphery? A critical discussion of contemporary lived experience work for people with criminal records

People with criminal records occupy a marginalised space in the labour market. Lived experience work provides an alternative pathway to overcome such exclusion, allowing individuals to transform an otherwise stigmatising attribute into something of value. Arguably, this enables a sense of mastery over life on the periphery, providing financial income and facilitating social inclusion. However, in an age of digital networking and online identity curation, contemporary forms of lived experience work are increasingly visible and entrepreneurial in nature. In light of this, this paper explores: 1) who is able to construct a permissible narrative for lived experience work, 2) how such careers are curated and sustained over time, and 3) how this experiential insight is engaged with by business and organisations. The paper contributes to emerging discussions regarding what meaningful and sustainable lived experience work might look like for people with criminal records.