Interview with Manoel Filho– Entrepreneur, Advocate, and Innovator Driving Change Through Lived Experience
The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) is the largest workforce development programme of its kind, supporting NHS staff and partners to transform healthcare through innovation. One of its unique collaborations is with Venture Studio from Crisis, an initiative by the homelessness charity Crisis that invests in and supports ventures tackling homelessness. This partnership brings together healthcare innovators and social impact entrepreneurs to co-create solutions addressing health inequalities and systemic barriers faced by vulnerable populations.
Today, we speak with Manoel Filho an Expert by Experience and Cohort 9 Entrepreneur whose journey spans continents, advocacy, and resilience. From Brazil to the UK, Manoel has turned lived experience into a powerful driver for social impact, combining creativity, co-production, and education to challenge stigma and empower communities.
Welcome to the programme Manoel tell us a little about you and your background
I’m originally from Brazil, where I worked as an entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ advocate, with a strong focus on supporting and uplifting the Black trans community. When the environment became unsafe for me, I relocated to the UK. During the pandemic, I faced homelessness, which deeply shaped my understanding of social exclusion, resilience, and the value of lived experience. Since then, I’ve rebuilt my life through creativity, community work, and social impact projects.
Can you tell us about your innovation and involvement with the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme
I am part of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (Cohort 9), where I am developing my innovation through my company, LEC – Lived Experience Co-production Ltd.
My innovation brings together my graphic novel Out in Parks and a wider training and learning offer built around co-production, lived experience, and creative education tools for organisations and public services.
CEP has supported me in very practical ways — including guidance on setting up and structuring a limited company, understanding governance, financial planning, and developing a clear value proposition.
During one of the programme’s key activities in Wales, I was able to explore my ideas further, receive tailored business advice, and build helpful connections that strengthened the foundation of LEC. This support has given me the confidence to formalise my work, grow as an entrepreneur, and create a sustainable social-impact model.
Can you explain a bit more about your role with Crisis as an Expert by Experience?
At Crisis, I contribute as an Expert by Experience, supporting work to end homelessness. I’ve collaborated with Skylight Croydon, the Changing Lives programme, and national campaigns. A meaningful moment was being part of the group delivering Crisis’s open letter to Number 10, representing the voice of people with lived experience and calling for real systemic change.
You are supporting World AIDS Day – tell us more about your involvement
Through my role with AHF UK, I support communications, awareness campaigns, and community engagement around HIV testing and prevention. As someone living with HIV, participating in World AIDS Day has deep personal meaning — it’s about visibility, dignity, and ensuring that everyone knows support, treatment, and testing are available.
Homelessness and HIV – how has your lived experience shaped your perspective?
I learned I was HIV-positive during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life — when I was sleeping rough during the COVID lockdown. Navigating homelessness and an HIV diagnosis at the same time showed me how isolation, stigma, and barriers to healthcare intersect.
This lived experience now drives my commitment to trauma-informed, compassionate HIV testing and outreach. It shapes my work with AHF UK, Crisis, and my innovation within the NHS, ensuring that services better understand the realities people face.
How you hope your story helps others
I hope my journey shows that even when life becomes extremely difficult, it is possible to rebuild and thrive. If my story helps others feel less alone or more hopeful, then it has already made a difference.
Your hopes for the future
My goal is to expand LEC – Lived Experience Co-production Ltd into a national provider of lived-experience-led training, consultancy, and creative learning tools. I want to keep building strong partnerships across the NHS and community sector, and continue using lived experience to create positive change and empower others.
World AIDS Day – What It’s About
World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1st, is a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about HIV and AIDS, supporting those living with the condition, and commemorating those who have lost their lives. It is a day to fight stigma, promote education, and advocate for universal access to testing, treatment, and prevention. The theme often focuses on solidarity and equality, reminding us that ending HIV requires collective action, compassion, and commitment to health equity. Find out more:
The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme is proud to work in partnership with Venture Studio from Crisis to find out more about their work please visit the Crisis website