Craig Harris

Craig Harris: Director

Associate Director, Joint Commissioning: NHS Manchester

Craig currently work’s within the NHS with a director portfolio responsible for jointly commissioned services with the City Council including mental health, continuing health care, learning disability, specialist services and Children’s services. He is a mental health nurse by background, still practising working with young offenders that have been hospitalised after receiving a custodial sentence.

Craig has a national profile speaking at conferences on a variety of topics connected to mental health. At a young age Craig is also a Justice of the Peace in Manchester Magistrates Court and is currently looking to specialise in youth court. He designed the award winning mental health criminal justice liaison service MO:DEL that has also been recognised as a service of best practise in a House of Lords review. Craig is currently looking to pilot a problem solving court that is working with individuals who have complex health and social care issues and are within the criminal justice system. In his spare time Craig a volunteer at a local community radio show in Manchester and is currently writing a novel on the wonders of the NHS.

Why did you choose to become a board member of Survivors Manchester?

I have always had an interest in services that are unconventional and outreaches to people that are most vulnerable and for those who have traditionally not accessed services for one reason or another. Survivors is a unique Charity that adopts a style and approach that is adaptive and responsive to the needs of men that have suffered a form of abuse past or present and that need intervention and support to regain their life. I wanted to be a part of a growing Charity whose core principles are based on strong foundations of not judging, not blaming and not ignoring people. After considering other Charities Survivors appealed to me as from the Board members to the champion and organisational leader Duncan Craig, I have never been so impressed with such commitment, dedication and determination and I wanted to be a part of just that.

What would you like to see Survivors Manchester do in Manchester?

To grow, receive recognition for its cutting edge approach to this area of speciality, offer the best services to all that need them and to becoming international leaders in the field.

Do you have a message for Greater Manchester residents?

Don’t suffer, don’t suffer in silence and remember in all the darkness it only takes one flicker of light to make the shadows move away. We need to work together, work in partnership, stand shoulder to shoulder and break the cycle of silence and abuse. We are here and we are not going away.

What's your favourite thing about Manchester?

It’s a vibrant cosmopolitan amazing city, which offers so much for so many people. Its diversity reaches from every continent. There are little gems of secret family run restaurants, to delightful deli’s, wonderful wine shops and a gay community that challenges Brighton and London.

You can not comment on the city until you have experienced it!