About Us
Our Social Purpose:
The raison d’etre of MutualGain is to empower organisations and communities to reconnect in the social space, which lies between the state and the individual. Ultimately, we aim to promote greater participation and active citizenship within our democracy and increase social capital, for the mutual benefit of all.
Who We Are
Susan Ritchie
Hi, I’m the Director of MutualGain. You’ll find me at the heart of our training and delivery programmes.
I set MutualGain up because of a passion for democracy: I love listening to all the different perspectives on any given issue, and want to hear as many of those perspectives in all our government’s policy development and service design.
By building social capital we can increase the voice of those most marginalised in society, and value their experience positively.
Committed to social justice in our democracy I am a volunteer prison mentor.
When I’m not working I’m looking for new places to visit and learn from, or cuddling my gorgeous grandson, or sitting in my garden enjoying the little bit of nature that you get living in a city!
Welcome to MutualGain – I look forward to learning with you.
Contact details
Email: susan@mutualgain.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Mutual_Gain
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mutualgain
Dr Andrew Fisher
Hi – I am Dr Andrew Fisher and I am MutualGain’s lead associate for emergency services. I started to work with MutualGain in 2012 following my retirement as a police superintendent.
My role is to liaise with new clients and work with them to plan a training programme that suits their needs. I am then involved in writing and delivering the training programme and supporting the participants as they plan and deliver their events.
I am very interested in the changes in language and behaviours of participants as the clients learn and apply new methods of engagement; and I enjoy the fun of encouraging learning through creativity.
Our moto is ‘Capture The Learning’, and as an academic (I am an an Associate Lecturer and Research Fellow at two universities) I enjoy being able to write papers based on the learning from the programme; you will find some of these in the various sections of our web site.
When not working I enjoy cycling, watching my favourite football team, travelling and spending time with my beautiful granddaughter – not all at the same time though.
Email: andrew@mutualgain.org
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-andrew-c-fisher-7b6a501b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MG_Andrew
Owen Miller
I’m Owen, and I joined MutualGain as the Business Development Lead in June 2016.
As part of my role, I’m always looking for new opportunities to work with organisations to improve their engagement practices and make better use of the relationships they have with their local community. I’m fascinated by all things social capital and love seeing the positive changes that occur in organisations and communities as a result of our work.
I’m a good first point of call for anyone wanting to find out more about what we do, or looking to explore how we might be able to work with you. As well as my business role, I tend to get stuck in with training and supporting our clients wherever possible, and am particularly interested in Participatory Budgeting.
My organisational experience is in the NHS and I’m keen to work with NHS organisations to better use the voices of the public to improve healthcare in the UK. I also hold special interest in projects involving children and young people, and I’m keen to enhance the youth voice in projects whenever that’s possible.
I’m a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and I’m keen to bring academia to the front line of everything we do, as well as take our learning back to the books when I get the illusive desk day!
Contact details
Phone: 07835 304699
Email: owen@mutualgain.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MG_OwenM
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/owen-miller-76a14063
Michael Keating
Gained from a range of roles in local government, the health service and higher education, Michael Keating has wide experience researching and understanding sensitive and controversial diversity, equality and engagement policy and service issues, developing effective practice and the skills to manage them successfully.
Since June 2012 Michael has been working freelance on the management of change – to understand its nature, to strengthen the confidence of organisations and individuals in handling it and build the energy to find innovative solutions. Given the challenging public sector context Michael is interested in strengthening our collective capacity to articulate problems, be unafraid to acknowledge their difficulty and thus work out ways of addressing them.
Michael chairs the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership Steering Group which is developing a collaborative partnership of all local schools to drive school improvement. This draws on thirty years’ experience of being involved in education including being a governor of Stebon Primary School in Limehouse since 2012. Michael is also a member of the Council of Spitalfields Music, a music charity which brings together world class artists and local people to produce two annual music festivals and run creative music projects throughout the year in the local community.
Contact details
Email: michael@mutualgain.org
Phone: 07534223018
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-keating-29baa75
Kate Algate
Contact details
Email: kate@mutualgain.org
Phone:
Linkedin:
Julie Simmons
Julie is an independent management consultant, specialising in community development and stakeholder engagement. With twenty years’ experience leading teams, services and projects in local authorities, the third sector, Government initiatives and professional bodies. Julie has worked at a senior level to deliver corporate policy, strategy, improved services and outcomes across all sections of the community and organisations.
A passionate believer in the power of the volunteer to bring in expertise, skills and resources to enhance the offer of any organisation or business, one of Julie’s particular strengths is to engage, manage and develop volunteers, elected members, boards and committees.
Julie is a chartered member of the Chartered Management Institute.
Contact details
Email: julie@mutualgain.org
Phone:
Linkedin:
Jenny Oklikah
Jenny is committed to helping people have fulfilling and joyful lives. Her core values of integrity, compassion, authenticity and perseverance shape her work and life. As MutualGain lead for Community Coaching, Jenny promotes active citizenship by supporting and empowering people to have influence local services and make real improvements in their communities.
Contact details
Email: jenny@mutualgain.org
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-oklikah-68411a17/
Debby Mackay
Hi,
I joined MutualGain as an Associate in 2017 after 30 years of police service with Merseyside Police. My 30 year span of service has seen a number of varied and exciting roles, including managing a large operational department through a period of cuts, change and regionalisation. I have a background in safeguarding adults and children, and supported both women and children to have a voice within the criminal justice framework, working alongside a number of other agencies.
I worked for a number of years within the diverse community of Toxteth, Liverpool, coordinating and managing the local neighbourhood team and working closely with the local community leaders. My passion is community engagement and working with the real issues in the community, not just what statutory agencies think are the issues.
I also worked closely with the staff support networks within the Police Service, mentoring and coaching officers and police staff to work towards their aspirations within the work place. I became the chair of the Network of Women in 2015 until I left in 2016.
I have also completed my MSc in Police Leadership studying at Hope University. During my studies I researched and analysed the changing culture of the firearms department within the police service.
Outside work I enjoy travelling, reading, cooking and going to the gym and have recently begun working with a local homeless charity, where I cook on a regular basis and I am in the process of setting up a supportive reading group with this charity at the local library.
Contact details
Email: debby@mutualgain.org
Phone:
Linkedin:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MG_DebbyO
Lorna Hughes
I have been an Associate of MutualGain for five years and have had the pleasure of working on some really interesting projects. The real reason that I enjoy working with MutualGain is the programmes of work MutualGain delivers enables me to have lots of direct contact with the public; which is my passion. I’ve also been able to visit some interesting towns and cities in the UK – passion number two! Having the opportunity to experience places and people, and create opportunities for the public to shape the places and decision that affect them, is in my view the most satisfying and rewarding work I could ever do.
Over the last ten years I have worked in ‘policy’ areas within local government, Inspection regimes and central government – all linked to involvement of communities. I have worked in health, crime reduction, housing and more recently infrastructure. Having strong engagement skills means I can apply my skills to a wide range of policy areas whilst taking the opportunity to develop more content related skills along the way. I would say I have been very lucky to have worked in a range of settings.
Outside of work I like to spend my time gardening and growing – despite my urban existence and city way of life now – my soul belongs to a rural order! I like the simple things in life – like growing my own food, reading and listening to the Archers. If I didn’t work in engagement I would happily be a gardener!
Contact details
Email: lorna@mutualgain.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MG_LornaH
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lorna-hughes-47829343
Jiwan Raheja
Jiwan Raheja is a highly experienced civil servant with vast experience of developing strategy and policy in different areas of government and has successfully implemented both strategies and policies in central government and in public authorities in various sectors from 1998 to 2012.
Since April 2012 Jiwan has been working freelance with the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and Roehampton University. She developed the toolkit Joined Up Governance with the FRA and is also a visiting lecturer for the Human Rights Policy and Practice MA course at the University of Roehampton, which involves working with partners from Gothenburg University in Sweden, University of Tromso in Norway and other departments from University of Roehampton.
Jiwan worked with MutualGain on the community action programme commissioned by Greater Manchester Police. This involved encouraging local communities to take personal responsibility to identify what they could do for themselves and the community by sharing knowledge, experience and where possible resources with the end result of a mutual gain for all.
Contact details
Email: jiwan@mutualgain.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MG_Jiwan
Sarah Judge
Hi I’m Sarah,
I’m a firm believer that politics is something that should be done with people, not to them. I have worked for many years within communities to empower marginalised groups whose voices often go unheard. One example of this is the award winning Safespots Project. This Manchester based project has resulted in a group of domestic abuse survivors collaborating with politicians, Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council to improve services for victims of domestic abuse in their area.
I am keen to ensure that the voice of communities is heard around decision making tables. I believe the experience that lies within our communities can help shape much more effective policy if engaged effectively.
Building effective relationships in communities and increasing social capital often produces the most cost effective and innovative solutions to problems within society. It is amazing what can be achieved when there is a shift of power from those who traditionally hold it back into communities.
When I am not at work I can be found with the residents I represent as a local councillor, I hold the position of lead member for women’s issues and can often be found taking part in campaigns for gender equality. Failing that you will find me outdoors with my Rescue Greyhound Laser.
Keith Mogford
I’m Keith and I joined MutualGain as an Associate in 2016, having led on their work in accrediting their training as a qualification.
I have a background in post-16 education and training as well as in the voluntary and charity sector. Both as a teacher and as a manager and on occasions influencer I’ve worked to ensure that individuals and communities have opportunities to believe in themselves and their abilities and to have opportunities to develop skills and progress. MutualGain’s work is a natural extension of that lifelong interest of mine.
I even follow that interest in my spare time as a parent governor at my local comprehensive school. In what remains of my time I’m a mad keen football fan.
Carly Griffith
HI, I’m Carly.
I joined MutualGain as a summer intern for 2017, having just finished my second year of studying law at the University of Sheffield.
I have always been passionate about social integration and helping companies become more involved with local communities, and in doing so creating a more positive and integrated community that benefits all its members. I will be using my legal background to help address social issues that create division and inequality within communities.
I spend my spare time volunteering at the Personal Support Unit which provides free advice for litigants in person, who are facing life changing decisions, in court, alone. I also support younger students through various mentoring and ambassador roles within the University of Sheffield. To keep active I swim regularly and enjoy going for walks in the Pennines.
Tom Mounfield
Jed Allen
Hello there. I’m Jed – one of the new junior associates to join MutualGain. My work with MutualGain in the past is orientated around facilitation of events – it was in fact this work which drew me into MutualGain and their philosophy to include ‘the little guy’ in big political decisions.
In parallel to working with MutualGain I am also a first year student at the University Of Nottingham studying Biotechnology. Your first thought might be: “what is a biologist doing with a Social Enterprise?”. Well, when I’m not in the lab playing around with E.coli I’m being fascinated (and often shocked) by the political world we live in. It’s this fascination which is why I wanted to be a Junior Associate with MutualGain – being able to hear so many peoples differing opinions on subject matters in their communities is truly a wonderful experience.
Afua Abedi
I am currently in my first year at the University of Northampton where I study Sociology. I thoroughly enjoy studying social identity; looking at how different characteristics of an individual that cannot be changed may, or may not, set them back in comparison to their peers and how it could be approached to create equality within society, enable for there to be little or no setbacks in the future. These characteristics may include social class, ethnicity, age and gender.
When I am not sat behind my desk reading for my assignments, I enjoy watching the best team in the British Premier League, Arsenal, play.
From a young age, until now, I have always been told by others, my mother in particular, that I have always had a passion in debating topics and also solving problems. From this I now aspire to become a social/youth worker and give more to society through my own enjoyable experiences, such as sports and drama.