The Good Lives Framework
09 May 2025
8 min read
Gary Bourlet, Co-founder of Learning Disability England, and Lisa Hopkins, Trustee at Learning Disability England and CEO of SeeAbility, talk to us about the newly updated Good Lives Framework.
This #GoodNewsFriday, we’re exploring the updated version of . The Good Lives Framework is a co-produced guide that sets out what people with learning disabilities need and want to live well. It’s based on the real experiences, voices, and aspirations of people with learning disabilities, their families, and supporters.
In this article, we hear from Gary Bourlet, Cofounder and Membership Engagement Lead for Learning Disability England and Lisa Hopkins, Trustee at Learning Disability England and CEO of SeeAbility, on updates to framework - why it matters, what’s changed, and how it can be used to shape a better future for people with learning disabilities.
Lisa Hopkins – Trustee at Learning Disability England and CEO of SeeAbility
I’ve spent my entire career in social care and have seen firsthand the dedication and passion of those working in the sector. That’s why I’m so pleased with the updated Good Lives Framework. It’s a co-produced blueprint for real, lasting change for people living with a learning disability.
It makes me so proud to be involved in a project that people with lived experience have contributed so much to, coproducing something truly meaningful. Together, everyone has captured what matters – from the right support at the right time, to ambitions around housing, employment, health and inclusion. It’s a manifesto for change and a guide for anyone who wants to do their best work.
This isn’t just about services. It’s about ending the scandal of people being stuck in institutions. It’s about recognising that people with learning disabilities have the same right to thrive in their communities as anyone else. The new chapter on health is especially timely – we’re still not seeing the shift we need to tackle the huge health inequalities people face, and that has to change.
It’s great to see the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care reflected in the framework. It’s a reminder that social care isn’t just support – it’s a brilliant career. At SeeAbility, I work with over a thousand colleagues who love their jobs. They help people live their lives to the fullest with confidence and dignity.
The Good Lives Framework helps us celebrate this incredible workforce. It puts the spotlight on what’s possible when people are supported by others who truly believe in them. And my message to anyone in social care is this: your work matters. You make a difference every single day.
Gary Bourlet – Cofounder of Learning Disability England
I’ve spent most of my life campaigning for equality and better lives for people with learning disabilities. That’s why I’m so proud of the updated Good Lives Framework. It’s a statement of what people with learning disabilities want and need to live well. It’s a practical tool to help us communicate clearly with decision-makers about how to make life better for our community.
The work on the Good Lives Framework began back in 2019. We brought together people with learning disabilities, family members, and paid supporters to talk about what a good life really looks like. From the start, it was co-produced. When people with lived experience help create something like this, it means it’s real. It means it’s based on truth and understanding. I always say that people are the experts of their own life.
What makes this latest version so exciting is that it’s built for the world we’re living in now, in 2025. It includes new ideas, fresh examples of good practice, and an even stronger focus on inclusion. Nobody’s left out. This time, we’ve made sure the voices of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and people from minority ethnic communities are heard. We’ve taken a closer look at intersectionality and diversity because it’s so important to consider the many parts to people’s identity, that are wonderful but and can sadly sometimes threaten their good life. For example, people with learning disabilities often have a much lower life expectancy compared to the general population. People with learning disabilities who are also from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds have an even lower life expectancy.
The framework breaks down the different parts of a good life into chapters. It’s not just about health or support as it covers having a home, a purpose, relationships, safety, and a say in your own life. These interconnect, and in order to help people truly lead full, good lives we must look at the whole picture. The right support for example (chapter three), allows for opportunities to enjoy the same sexual and romantic freedoms as everyone else (chapter four).
One of my biggest hopes for this updated framework is that it helps fill a gap. In England, there hasn’t been a proper national policy on learning disabilities since Valuing People was published back in 2009. This framework is our way of showing what people with learning disabilities want in the 2020s.
Another thing that is so great to see is how this framework links with the Workforce Strategy. Social care is a massive part of life for so many people, and getting it right starts with the workforce. This strategy, just like the framework, was shaped by people with lived experience alongside paid supporters. That’s the best way to make sure everyone’s voice is heard and the steps we take next are inclusive. It’s also a reminder of how important social care workers are. I hear so many stories that show when social care workers get it right, which they so often do, they can make a good life.
The Good Lives Framework helps shine a light on the value of good support. Social care staff make a huge difference in the lives of so many, and that deserves to be recognised, not just through celebration, but meaningful change in the sector for better working conditions.
To everyone working in social care, I want to say thank you. You are already making a difference in people’s lives. So many of you help people dream bigger, live more fully, and feel seen and valued.
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