About us

Raised Voices was founded by journalists Laura Davis and Maeve Connolly with artist and philanthropy consultant Amy Davenport to enable and empower those under-represented in traditional media to tell their own stories.

We support charities, CICs and other not for profit organisations with audience development, communications and training that fits their specific needs and budgets.

We also run our own projects, working with communities to record and share their histories, memories, opinions and ideas.

Get in touch if you would like to discuss working together.

Meet the team

Laura Davis

Founding director

A freelance arts and heritage journalist, and audience development consultant, Laura has dedicated her career to writing about people’s lives, dreams and ideas. While she feels privileged to tell those stories, she believes that everyone should have the chance to express themselves in their own words and is excited to be using her skills and experience to support them in that.

Laura was previously Senior Editor (Customer) North West and North Wales for Reach Plc, identifying and implementing audience development strategies for two of the UK’s biggest regional news brands, the Liverpool Echo and the Manchester Evening News. She also held the post of Arts Editor on both the Liverpool Daily Post and the Liverpool Echo, and now writes an online arts magazine Stored Honey. She is also a board member of Wirral Arts & Culture Community Land Trust, owner of Ron’s Place ‘Outsider’ Art environment.

Amy Davenport

Director

With over 25 years of experience in the third sector, from heritage sailing vessels to multi million pound cathedral capital build projects, Amy has a wealth of expertise from the arts, culture, and heritage arenas, with a foundation in the visual arts, maritime heritage, and the preservation of traditional skills.

She is dedicated to cultivating initiatives that celebrate and champion our diverse national cultural identity. She has extensive experience in fundraising and bid writing, and the delivery of cultural events and activities spanning traditional music and dance, and heritage and arts-related festivals in front-line delivery roles. Additionally, she is a skilled painter, and singer of folk music.

Maeve Connolly

Director

Maeve Connolly has been a journalist in Northern Ireland for 25 years, working across print, online and radio for the Irish News. She was the head of audience strategy and growth and the deputy digital editor at the Irish News after spending 15 years in reporting roles.

Maeve has a particular interest in next gen audiences and the role of journalism in a post-conflict society, plus she has an MA in Journalism Innovation and Leadership from the University of Central Lancashire.