These courses are crafted to instil confidence and competence, enabling participants to make a meaningful difference in their communities. I can also put on bespoke workshops and talks. I offer a range of courses designed to empower individuals and organisations:
Conflicts can hinder progress, damage our well-being and take over. My workplace mediation services are designed to transform challenges into opportunities for growth and understanding.
By fostering open communication, mutual respect and seeking to understand, we can create harmonious workplaces where everyone feels valued.
I’m Jake, a mental health trainer and workplace mediator dedicated to creating supportive environments where individuals can thrive.
Drawing from my own lived experience with mental ill health and a background in leading teams and organisations in the charity sector, I understand the profound impact of compassionate leadership.
I aim to help individuals and organisations through training to enhance confidence, skills, and knowledge in supporting mental health.
I offer workplace mediation to facilitate productive dialogue and find a path forward in resolving conflicts.
I bring passion, empathy, and tenacity to make a difference. My journey living with mental ill health drives my advocacy for workplace wellbeing.
Growing up in poverty and around domestic abuse in Liverpool was challenging, compounded by struggles to understand my sexuality at a young age. My first thoughts about no longer wanting to be here I can remember at just 11. At 18, I was elected to Liverpool City Council, becoming the UK's youngest politician. I championed community engagement and charitable causes, sitting on several committees, working for a Member of Parliament, and serving as Mayoral Lead for Looked After Children.
Despite ongoing mental health challenges, I found purpose in community work. Volunteering since I was 15, I later led charities to increase their impact. At 26, I became CEO of Citizens Advice Wokingham, guiding the charity through COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis. Under my leadership, we helped 126% more people than when I joined, consistently achieving above-national average scores in our annual people survey. I was honoured with the Excellence in Leadership award for my motivational, compassionate approach to mental health and authentic leadership.
In 2020, after years of seeking answers, I was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and ADHD Combined Type. This personal journey has deepened my understanding of the barriers to accessing support.
I've trained over 1,100 people in Mental Health First Aid, taking immense pride in equipping individuals to support others. Today, I provide consultancy grounded in my experience navigating change and uplifting teams. My goal is to foster psychologically safe, inclusive cultures that deliver effective, meaningful services that positively impact our communities.
My path has been difficult, but it fuels empathy and resilience. I am determined to create and shape services, workplaces, and communities where we empower each other. Though the future is uncertain, I strive to live purposefully, confronting challenges with optimism. By sharing our stories, we can transform society's approach to mental health.
My vision for workplace mental health
Workplaces and services where people have the confidence to engage in supportive mental health conversations. This vision includes raising awareness of mental health challenges, making support accessible, and fostering skills like active listening to reduce barriers to help. In an environment like this, managers can confidently support their teams, creating a culture where mental well-being is a collective priority.
Workplace mediation is also central to this vision. As an impartial facilitator, I guide people to step back, listen, and genuinely understand one another, creating pathways to resolve conflict constructively. With this approach, disagreements aren’t the end but rather a chance to foster understanding and resilience within the team.
This proactive, supportive environment aligns with findings that when workplaces invest in mental health awareness and training, they see positive returns, including greater productivity, reduced presenteeism, and stronger organisational culture.
What you can expect from my training
I’m driven by the belief that with the right knowledge and support, we can all make a positive difference in mental health.
After my training, delegates experience a 70% increase in confidence (from 4.96 to 8.34) and a big boost in knowledge (from 5.00 to 8.61). This transformation equips them to step into challenging conversations and actively support those around them.
As one delegate shared, “This training helped me to develop a better understanding of mental health and gave me the confidence to approach conversations I used to avoid.” Another noted, “The course has been well-structured with a great balance of theory and practical, giving me insight and confidence to support others.”
My goal is to inspire and prepare individuals to foster positive mental health cultures within their teams and organisations, bringing purpose and empathy to every interaction.
Living with mental health conditions, including ADHD, I understand the importance of a supportive, compassionate work environment where mental well-being is prioritised.
At the heart of my work is a commitment to fostering environments where mental health is prioritised and individuals feel supported and understood. I believe that by equipping people with the right tools and knowledge, we can create workplaces that are not only productive but also compassionate and resilient.
As Chief Executive within the Citizens Advice network, I led services that supported 1 in 10 households in our borough and achieved a 148% increase in people helped - fostering a people-focused culture. Under my leadership, 100% of staff and volunteers said they’d recommend the organisation as a place to work, and 95% felt their mental well-being was supported.
I bring this experience to my consultancy to help other organisations create a culture that prioritises mental health and effective conflict resolution.