WHO WE ARE

The WISE+ CIC: Rooted in Lived Experience

We didn’t set out to build an organisation. We set out to survive — and to make sure others don’t get left behind the way we were. The WISE⁺ CIC exists because the health and care system too often dismisses, misdiagnoses, or misunderstands people with complex conditions. We’re here to change that.

Rooted in lived experience and trauma-informed care, we’re creating tools, resources, and connection for lasting well-being.

A Note From Berni – Founder and Director of The WISE+ CIC

I didn’t come to this work because I had a clever idea — I came to it because I had no choice. My mum’s health journey, and my own, showed me just how many people fall through the cracks.

This hoodie says it all. These aren’t just random words on my back — they’re the conditions I live with every day. And I’m not alone. Too many people are carrying overlapping symptoms and diagnoses that don’t fit into neat boxes.

That’s why The WISE⁺ CIC exists: to take those experiences and turn them into something better — wisdom, connection, and change.

A Note From Holly – Director of The WISE+ CIC

Holly’s story will sit here — adding her voice, experience, and perspective. Together, our different paths show that The WISE+ CIC is not built on one story, but many others add to our voice.

Where we’re heading

As directors, we know what we are doing at The WISE⁺ CIC is just the start. This space is being built for — and with — people who’ve lived through complexity, dismissal, or invisibility in the Health and Wider Social Care system. We’re inviting more voices to shape it as we grow.