Consultants
Here are details of the EmpathyLab consultants who help us run projects so that more children and young people can have empathy experiences through literature.
Laura Scott
Laura first became involved with EmpathyLab as a volunteer in January 2018, while completing a Masters in Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature at the University of Cambridge. For her thesis, she studied the ethics of empathy with criminal characters in literature for adolescents. Laura has worked with children and young people in a variety of capacities, from camp counsellor in Canada, to primary teacher, to youth worker. Alongside her post as Arts and Education Coordinator for the charity Street Child United, she joined the EmpathyLab staff team as Development Assistant in May 2019. She is passionate about promoting literature’s capacity to aid cognitive and emotional growth.
laura@empathylab.uk
Paul Jenkins
Paul is a former secondary teacher and Head of Drama who joined the EmpathyLab team as Project Manager in May 2019. After leaving full time classroom teaching, Paul developed his skills as a writer and performer, writing children’s poetry books and touring the UK delivering workshops in schools to inspire a new generation of creative writers. He has also developed classroom resources for among others; The National Literacy Trust, 14-18 Now, The Literacy Shed and BBC Learning. Paul firmly believes that literature is a huge tool for bringing about social change and constantly strives to develop new narratives for readers to explore the world we share.
paul@empathylab.uk
Jo Cotterill
Jo is an award-winning writer, with novels for young people and teenagers spanning such issues as bullying, depression, neglect, body shaming and disability. Her acting and teaching backgrounds mean that her high-energy events in schools are incredibly popular, and over the past few years Jo has developed and delivered events for EmpathyLab at the Hay and Oxford Festivals among others. She loves working with children and is constantly trying to find ways to improve communication between people. Jo is a huge supporter of EmpathyLab and their vital work.