Susan has worked as the Project Manager for Right Here since 2008 and is employed by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Through the Right Here programme, the Mental Health Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation aim to radically change how we look after the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 16 to 25 across the UK.
In her role, she has helped to develop and oversee the delivery and evaluation of the Right Here action research programme, which will run until 2014. Her role entails liaising with the programme’s four local delivery partners in Sheffield, Brighton and Hove, Newham, and Fermanagh, to support their work, as appropriate, and create learning and influencing opportunities for them. She manages the Project Team at the Mental Health Foundation responsible for supporting the projects’ youth involvement, influence, press, marketing, and learning from each other and others. Susan furthermore manages the partnership between the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation and external consultants responsible for evaluating and supporting the strategic development of the projects. Building awareness of the Right Here programme amongst key stakeholders, opinion formers and policy makers is a critical part of Susan’s role.
Project initiation and management has been central to her working history at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and also in her previous roles. Susan helped to set up, and then manage, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Fund for Young Refugees and Asylum Seekers and the Reading and Libraries Challenge Fund. She also contributed to the development of their Social Justice Grants Programme. As a Grants Manager for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, her role entailed developmental support to a variety of beneficiaries across the social policy, arts and education sectors. Prior to joining the Foundation, she mainly worked in publishing and literature promotion, developing programmes to improve access to books and reading, including the first World Book Day in the UK.
Her academic achievements include a Masters Degree in English Literature and a BA (Hons) in English. Susan has also completed the Leadership, Life and Learning programme from the Oasis School of Human Relations.
Susan’s publications include “Supporting Young People’s Mental Health: Eight Points for Action”, Mental Health Foundation Policy Briefing, 2007 (with Moira Fraser), and “Access to Books and Reading for Young People in Public Care”, the Network, 2007 (with John Vincent).
Outside of work, Susan’s enjoys poetry, music, theatre and travel.