Question 1

About Talk Educate Listen (TEL)

Accepted Answer

Talk Educate Listen (TEL) is a social enterprise founded by Dr Toni Bewley in 2025. It operates as a free, online community facilitating structured discussion and peer support for anyone connected to health and social care — patients, carers, informal carers, healthcare workers, and students. TEL runs fortnightly via Microsoft Teams and is open to all, at no cost.

Question 2

What social purpose does TEL serve?

Accepted Answer

TEL exists to amplify the voices of people whose experiences of health and social care are rarely heard in the spaces where decisions are made. By bringing together patients, carers, workers, and students in structured, facilitated conversation, TEL contributes to improved empathy in care practice, better health and social care education, and meaningful co-production between people with lived experience and the professionals who serve them.

Question 3

Share your experience — your voice matters here

Accepted Answer

Whether you're a patient, carer, NHS worker, social care professional, or student — if you've experienced health or social care from any angle, we want to hear from you. Good experiences and difficult ones.

Question 4

How often to you have meetings & themed sessions?

Accepted Answer

We usually meet fortnightly online for an informal conversation. From time to time student health professionals are also invited to join in and engage with us to facilitate their learning. All meetings are free and online

Question 5

Is my experience relevant?

Accepted Answer

Whether you're a patient, carer, NHS worker, social care professional, or student — if you've experienced health or social care from any angle, we want to hear from you. Good experiences and difficult ones

Question 6

Is TEL a social enterprise, a charity, or a community group?

Accepted Answer

TEL is currently operating as a social enterprise in its early stages, with formal registration in progress. It is led and funded by its founder, Dr Toni Bewley, on a voluntary basis. TEL operates with the values and intent of a non-profit — all activity is mission-driven, with no profit distributed. Formalisation as a registered social enterprise or community interest company (CIC) is part of TEL's development roadmap.

Question 7

How is TEL funded?

Accepted Answer

TEL is currently self-funded by Dr Toni Bewley on a voluntary basis. All sessions and resources are provided free of charge to members. TEL does not charge for participation, does not sell member data, and does not carry advertising. As the enterprise grows, TEL will explore grant funding, institutional partnerships, and social impact investment — always ensuring that access remains free at the point of use.

Question 8

How does TEL measure its social impact?

Accepted Answer

TEL is in its early stages of impact measurement. Current indicators include community membership growth, session attendance, diversity of participants across patient, carer, and professional groups, and qualitative feedback from members. As TEL formalises, a structured social impact framework will be developed — including outcomes data relevant to health education, carer support, and public and patient involvement (PPI) in healthcare.

Question 9

Who runs TEL and how is it governed?

Accepted Answer

TEL is founded and led by Dr Toni Bewley — a nurse educator, National Teaching Fellow, Principal Fellow of Advance HE, and Honorary Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, with over 24 years in health and social care education. Dr Bewley facilitates all sessions and holds overall responsibility for TEL's direction, values, and governance. As TEL grows, an advisory group drawn from the TEL community will be established to guide its development.

Question 10

What values guide how TEL operates?

Accepted Answer

TEL is guided by three core values: Respect — a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in every session and every interaction. Privacy and confidentiality — what is shared within TEL stays within TEL, always. Supportive culture — every member, regardless of background or experience, is welcomed, valued, and never pressured to speak until ready.

Question 11

Can organisations partner with TEL?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TEL welcomes partnerships with universities, NHS trusts, healthcare organisations, charities, and social care providers who share its values. Partnership opportunities include hosting student sessions, co-developing themed discussion programmes, referral arrangements for patients and carers, and research collaboration. All partnerships are assessed against TEL's core values of respect, confidentiality, and genuine co-production with people who have lived experience.

Question 12

How does TEL contribute to public and patient involvement (PPI)?

Accepted Answer

PPI — the meaningful involvement of patients and the public in health and care decisions — is central to TEL's purpose. TEL creates a structured, accessible route for people with lived experience to contribute to health and social care education, influence professional practice, and participate in broader conversations about how care is designed and delivered. Dr Bewley's research interest in enhancing service user and carer inclusion across higher education institutions nationally and internationally directly informs TEL's approach.

Question 13

How can organisations or individuals support TEL?

Accepted Answer

There are several ways to support TEL:

Join a session — attend a fortnightly meeting on Microsoft Teams.

Refer people — share TEL with patients, carers, students, or colleagues who would benefit.

Partner with us — explore a formal partnership for student sessions, research, or co-production work.

Spread the word — share TEL's Linktree or community with your network.

Question 14

A note on TEL's development stage

Accepted Answer

TEL launched in October 2025 and is in active early development. Some elements — including formal registration, impact measurement, and governance structures — are in progress. This FAQ reflects TEL's current position and intended direction. For the most up-to-date information, contact Dr Toni Bewley directly.

Real conversations about health & social care — good and bad. Open to all. Free. Online. Founded by Dr Toni Bewley. Come and be heard.

Lived experience, shared learning.

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talkeducatelisten

Real conversations about health & social care — good and bad. Open to all. Free. Online. Founded by Dr Toni Bewley. Come and be heard.

Lived experience, shared learning.