About Us
In July 2015, The Oglesby Charitable Trust, published 'A Shared Responsibility: Tackling Inequalities in Health Across Great Manchester'. The report marked the culmination of an 18-month study. Analysing case studies from a range of effective voluntary sector and community organisations, highlighted ‘what works’ when tackling complex health and social care problems.
It recommended, the essential ingredients for effective change should include: a person-centred approach, strong relationships with local institutions and neighbourhood networks to unlock additional routes to good health, mutual support from commissioners and social services and fostering a shared responsibility for health.
And so, combining the expertise from health, education and VCSEs, Shared Health Foundation was formed.
The Team
Dr Laura Neilson
CEO
At the helm of Shared Health Foundation (as well as Hope Citadel and Focused Care) and as a practicing A&E doctor...
Dr Laura Neilson
At the helm of Shared Health Foundation (as well as Hope Citadel and Focused Care) and as a practicing A&E doctor, Laura strives to improve the lives of her community and colleagues through tackling inequality in health.
Emma Roe
Operations Manager
Emma is a registered nurse with experience in Manchester Children's Hospital A+E. Emma is the Operations Manager for Shared Health and Focused Care.
Emma Roe
Dr Jen Davies
Clinical Psychologist
Jen Davies is a clinical psychologist and has worked for the NHS for 17 years. She has always been passionate about...
Jen Davies
Jen Davies is a clinical psychologist and has worked for the NHS for 17 years. She has always been passionate about working with families during pregnancy and the early years. She leads Shared Health’s infant-parent services, with a core focus on trauma-informed care in areas of deprivation.
Angie Ouattara
Maternal Health Lead
Angie is an experienced midwife and Focused Care Practitioner, passionate about giving babies the best start in life...
Angie Ouattara
Angie is an experienced midwife and Focused Care Practitioner, passionate about giving babies the best start in life. Her current role focuses on supporting pregnant women and babies to thrive, delivering frontline care in addition to developing and improving healthcare pathways.
Dr Andrew Elliott
Deprivation GPST Training Programme Director
Andy is a practicing GP with Hope Citadel and is the programme director for our GP Speciality Training programme...
Dr Andrew Elliott
Andy is a practicing GP for @hope_citadel and is the programme director for our GP Speciality Training programme that focuses on deprivation. Andy is laying the groundwork for a future workforce practicing in deprivation, who are supported, engaged, passionate and effective.
Ischia Wise-Martin
Deprivation GPST Programme Administrator
Ischia is motivated by ensuring those in areas of deprivation are given the best care and attention. Her role focuses...
Ischia Wise-Martin
Ischia is motivated by ensuring those in areas of deprivation are given the best care and attention. Her role focuses on providing administration support to the GP Speciality Training Programme and other cross-project support.
Jo Spurling
Community Impact Lead
Jo has primarily worked in the third sector in various roles and initially moved into the field of health to...
Jo Spurling
Jo has primarily worked in the third sector in various roles and initially moved into the field of health to work with our sister company as a Focused Care Worker. Her role within Shared Health is to scope out and research new areas of work and to build relationships across communities - with agencies, organisations and people with lived experience of health inequality.
Matt Frosdyck
Focused Care Practitioner for Homeless Families
Matt’s background is as a support worker across mental health and substance misuse services. As an experienced...
Matt Frosdyck
Matt’s background is as a support worker across mental health and substance misuse services. As an experienced Focused Care Practitioner, Matt has been seconded to Shared Health to embed the Focused Care model within housing teams - supporting families and children to reach a point of stability and improve health outcomes.
Alison Gomersall
Focused Care Practitioner for Homeless Families
Alison is an experienced Social Worker who has worked in both Adult and Children’s Social Care...
Alison Gomersall
Alison is an experienced Social Worker who has worked in both Adult and Children’s Social Care. Alison is passionate about supporting homeless families and working towards reducing health inequalities in the homelessness system.
Rebecca Kennedy
Therapeutic Counsellor
Rebecca is a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She works in...
Rebecca Kennedy
Rebecca is a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She works in the Healthy Gems Hub providing a holding space to our vulnerable families in Oldham.
Sam Pratt
Policy and Communications Lead
Having previously founded and run a production company for a decade, Sam knows what it takes to ensure the right...
Sam Pratt
Having previously founded and run a production company for a decade, Sam knows what it takes to ensure the right messages are heard by the right people at the right time! With a passion for social justice, Sam now ensures the health equity conversation is wide reaching and impactful.
James Banks
Digital Content Creator
James has a BA in Film Studies and Video Production and has had a wide range of experience working as Content Creator, Creative Project Manager, and Video Editor...
James Banks
James has a BA in Film Studies and Video Production and has had a wide range of experience working as Content Creator, Creative Project Manager, and Video Editor. As a Digital Content Creator, James works with the wider content team to produce all visual content for Shared Health Foundation and Focused Care.
Iva Pehlivanova
Digital Content Creator
Iva is an experienced Video Editor, Videographer and Content Creator for social media platforms. She has a BA in Film and TV Production and is interested in storytelling...
Iva Pehlivanova
Iva is an experienced Video Editor, Videographer and Content Creator for social media platforms. She has a BA in Film and TV Production and is interested in storytelling. As a Digital Content Creator, Iva works with the wider Content team to produce all visual content for Shared Health Foundation and Focused Care.
Daniel Brown
Data Evaluation Coordinator
Daniel Brown
Anna Pratt
HR and Cultural Lead
Anna has always worked in Primary Care and understands the nuances and complexities of working and living in areas...
Anna Pratt
Anna has always worked in Primary Care and understands the nuances and complexities of working and living in areas of poverty. Within Shared Health she is a source of innovation and direction to the team. Additionally, she is an Oldham Poverty Truth Commission Facilitator (link), bringing together local people and civic leaders to prompt necessary changes in policy and practice.
Amarildo Mendes
Operations Coordinator
Beth Stone
Finance Administrator
Board members
Jane Oglesby - Chair
Jane’s background is as a GP working across the North West. Due to family commitments, she stopped work as...
Jane Oglesby - Chair
Jane’s background is as a GP working across the North West. Due to family commitments, she stopped work as a GP after 10 years and has since become increasingly involved in the family foundation, The Oglesby Charitable Trust. Jane also runs a sustainable beef herd in Cheshire.
Dr Laura Neilson
Laura is a practicing A&E doctor as well as founder of Shared Health Foundation, Focused Care CIC and Hope Citadel CIC...
Dr Laura Neilson
Laura is a practicing A&E doctor as well as founder of Shared Health Foundation, Focused Care CIC and Hope Citadel CIC. These non-profit organisations all have improving the lives of her community at the heart and she is passionate at driving innovative change.
Kate Vokes
After careers in food and management consultancy, Kate turned her people-focused approach to property...
Kate Vokes
After careers in food and management consultancy, Kate turned her people-focused approach to property and became Director of Culture for Bruntwood, where she is now a non-executive director. Kate is the Chair of the Oglesby Charitable Trust and a Board Trustee of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Young Manchester and Focused Care.
Jane Platt
After graduating with a degree in Economics from Cardiff University, Jane returned to the North West to...
Jane Platt
After graduating with a degree in Economics from Cardiff University, Jane returned to the North West to work in the Liverpool office of Deloitte where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
She later joined a smaller firm of Chartered Accountants and subsequently a large independent Veterinary Practice being promoted to Partner, in each. After the sale of the Veterinary business she is now involved with a variety of charitable and new business initiatives.