Our systems don't champion social justice.
We're here to help
build something better.
[How We're Different]
Here's what that looks like in .
We've worked inside the systems we're trying to change, and know that building a more equitable future for all requires a fundamentally different way of working.
Ignore hard realities—masking issues that get worse down the line.
Shine a light on what’s unjust—truth is the first step towards lasting change.
Compete and compare instead of collaborate and co-create.
Bring people together who don't usually share space—finding solutions that wouldn’t emerge in isolation.
Lean on quick fixes and convenient exit plans to save face.
End-to-end support and a promise to stay the course when it gets tough.
Advice and roadmaps without accountability.
Everything from strategy to implementation delivered by us. No messy handovers or finger pointing.
Top-down thinking, without integrating lived experience.
Solutions from the ground up—centring the voices, stories, and needs of the people most impacted.
Creativity regarded as an afterthought, if at all.
Unapologetic creativity always, because making a difference requires radical thinking.
This is not a typo.
It's why we exist.
On November 29, 2019, our friend Jack Merritt was murdered in the Fishmongers’ Hall terror attack while working to reform the justice system. Jack believed in the pursuit of a better world. In building a system that worked for all—not just a privileged few, and giving a voice to the people society prefers to ignore.
One encounter with Jack could change your life forever, and The Merrittocracy is our promise to continue that mission. We are part of Jack's legacy—unquestionably determined to further the work he started. Fuelled by his courage, his compassion, and his optimism.
Jack will forever be our biggest source of inspiration and guiding light.
He is our North Star.
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[who we are]
Meet the Team
We are strategists, creatives, action-takers, and reformers—deeply rooted in social justice and fiercely committed to carrying Jack's legacy forward.
True to our agency model, we build custom teams for every project—drawing on our trusted network of experts, collaborators, and the real people impacted by the issues we work to solve. So we can take on the hardest problems of our time with the care, urgency, and clarity they deserve.
Laura
Laura is one of the UK’s leading voices on public sector reform—known for her expertise in criminal justice and gender-based violence prevention, and for making real progress on the problems most people would rather not touch.
She led the UK government’s landmark End-to-End Rape Review, helped design Northern Ireland’s response to serious sexual offences, and has driven national education reforms and policy implementation on everything from online harms to prison education.
A Churchill Fellow in VAWG prevention and co-lead of Bang Up Books—a reading campaign distributing over 200,000 brand new books to UK prisons—Laura leads with bold vision, sharp strategy, and a huge heart. Out of office, you can find her playing sport, hunting down chocolate, or hanging with her cat, Jill.
Lewis
Lewis is a connector of people, ideas, and possibility. He’s worked across central government—mainly in the Ministry of Justice—on strategy, implementation, and international justice. Leading engagement with the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Ukraine war crimes.
He’s spent equal time in the creative agency world, bringing lived experience and bold thinking into unforgettable campaigns and events. Lewis is an energiser at heart, proficient in keeping things light in heavy spaces. He believes we’ve prioritised the wrong things as a society—and that people can truly thrive when they’re doing work that uplifts those most in need. Off-duty, you’ll find him meticulously researching restaurants, watching cricket, or cooking something excellent.
Liz
Liz is an expert at telling stories that inspire real-world action. As Head of Creative Strategy at the Australian Open, she developed purpose-led campaigns and partnerships designed to connect with millions of global fans. Stateside, she led Social & Digital at a leading health and wellness brand, witnessing the unique ability of good branding to drive community, wellbeing, and public perception.
Liz is passionate about collaborating with community, partners, and social leaders to deliver resonant campaigns that shift culture. At The Merrittocracy, she draws on years of leading high-performing creative teams to ensure the work is as visionary and impactful as the change it seeks.
What We Do
The Merrittocracy works with organisations to take on complex social justice challenges, from strategy through to delivery.
Part consultancy, part creative partner, part implementation team, we step in where issues are sensitive, systems are tangled, and the stakes are high. We draw on expertise across government, commercial, and creative sectors to move the needle where progress is often hardest.
From government agencies and global brands, to CICs and grassroots organisations, we help you turn intent into action, and action into real change.
Strategy & Delivery
We help you develop comprehensive social justice strategies and see them through to the end. Our team brings innovative thinking and creative policy solutions into the real world, applying proven frameworks and the right resources to ensure every project delivers maximum results with strategic precision.
Policy & Research
We know how government works, and how to make it work for your needs. Our policy research approach is collaborative, co-designed, and rooted in lived experience. We thrive in new and emerging spaces—working with pace and flexibility to deliver insights that land real results in criminal justice reform and social policy.
Technology & AI
The world is changing faster than ever. We work closely with you to make sure you're ready for what comes next. Building use cases and products that channel technology to achieve social justice.
Community Engagement & Dialogue Facilitation
We design inclusive spaces that bring diverse voices and perspectives together. Our proven facilitation methods help organisations unlock new ways of thinking, develop collaborative solutions, and ensure marginalised voices are centered in the decision-making processes.
Impact Measurement & Evaluation
We help you find out what's working and fix what's not. Partnering with expert evaluators, we assess your programs and services, deliver data-driven insights, and provide actionable recommendations. So you can elevate your social impact with confidence, strengthen your offerings, and produce measurable outcomes.
Creative Campaigns, Assets & Storytelling
We craft purpose-led creative that cuts through—turning complex ideas into strategic campaigns that shift public perception and drive action. We help you get clear on what you want to say, capture attention, and create impact. Then guide you through every phase of the process, from concept to rollout.
Event Planning & Experience Design
We design and execute transformational events and experiences that build community, foster collaboration, and drive social change. From intimate stakeholder gatherings to large-scale public events, we craft meaningful environments where diverse individuals can connect, learn, and develop innovative solutions to complex social challenges.
[what we do]
What does a "social justice agency" actually mean?
This is a question we get asked a lot, because we are building something that's never been done before. This is our answer.
This soundbite is from Found Out, our podcast exploring the realities behind social justice through expert insight, lived experience, and honest conversations.
[What we do]
Case Studies
Our work spans government, creative, and commercial. But every project starts in the same place: a real problem that needs solving, and a commitment to doing the work with care, creativity, and excellence.
The Problem:
Over 130,000 people are estimated to be living in slavery in the UK today. From forced labour and domestic servitude, to sexual exploitation and gang involvement.
The Salvation Army is the backbone of modern slavery support in the UK and abroad, and the opportunity arose to bring new elements into their exemplary work to meet changing demand.
Our Solution:
Working in consortium, we mapped the end-to-end survivor journey for victims of modern slavery, engaging survivors and practitioners side by side with The Salvation Army’s existing teams.
Together, we designed an evidence-based future service, built to scale nationally. Honouring best practice, while integrating new provisions across technology, geography, cultural needs, and trauma-informed care.
The Result:
A new national service design for survivors of modern slavery. Balancing individual need, existing expertise, and innovation, with the structure to scale and provide deeper support than ever before.
Kathy Betteridge
Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery, The SalvationArmy
"I would highly recommend working with The Merrittocracy and reiterate the professional approach, together with sensitivity and understanding of the culture and mission of The Salvation Army."
The Problem:
People in prison rarely get to tell their own stories, let alone see their work in print. Public perception of prisons and the people inside them almost never reflects reality, but storytelling has the power to change that.
Our Solution:
We partnered with Sodexo Justice to create a first-of-its-kind anthology of prison writing, with one rule: every element had to be produced in prison. We engaged writers across UK prisons and received over 400 submissions. We ran writing workshops and provided personal feedback to every entrant, along with leading creative direction for the book and collaborating closely with the print hub at HMP Northumberland.
The Result:
A professionally published anthology. Written, designed, and printed inside prison walls. Elevating prison voices and proving that world-class creative work can be produced within our jails.
Tony Simpson
Chief Operating Officer, Sodexo Justice
“The Merrittocracy demonstrated a clear ability to balance genuine passion and enthusiasm with hard-edged technical and professional delivery. Working together has been an absolute joy."
The Problem:
LimeCulture are pioneers in workplace harm prevention, response, and recovery—with an unrivalled reputation across healthcare, sport, and education. The new Employment Rights Act legally requires UK businesses to take proactive steps against sexual harm and misconduct. The opportunity to protect more people has never been greater, but LimeCulture needed the strategy and creativity to meet the moment.
Our Solution:
We built a communications and commercial strategy to position LimeCulture for increased impact. We produced bold hero creative to distil their mission for new audiences, and worked as a hands-on partner to translate their approach into operations that could scale without ever compromising quality.
The Result:
LimeCulture is now reaching more workplaces, across more sectors, than ever before—protecting more people from harm across the UK. Early wins are proving that sharper strategy and elevated creative translates directly into greater impact.
Stephanie Reardon
CEO, LimeCulture
"They don't just bring ideas. They bring clarity, momentum, and a genuine sense of partnership. It never felt transactional. To any organisation considering working with The Merrittocracy, I would say: do it."
[who we work with]
Who We Work With
Bold organisations—from grassroots to government—who believe real change is possible.
We proudly partner with businesses, charities, nonprofits, central and local government, and individuals who care about impact. If you refuse to settle for the way things are we're your people.
What We Stand For
These are the values that guide how we think, create, and collaborate—on every project, from idea to impact. We don't just want to talk about social justice
—we want to live it.
Opening new chapters beyond prison.
Run by The Merrittocracy, Bang Up Books is a CIC working inside prisons to build literacy, unlock potential, and open new pathways beyond the system.
We’ve delivered over 300,000 books to prisons across England and Wales, powering learning, connection, and change.
Alongside this, we create original projects like Once Upon A Time—a first-of-its-kind anthology written, designed, and produced entirely behind prison walls.
Together, this work opens up new possibilities for what life can look like beyond the system.
[what is social justice]
What is Social Justice?
It isn't a buzzword. It’s the foundation of everything we do.
To us, it looks like building a world where everyone—regardless of background—has equal access to rights, resources, and opportunities. It means dismantling the systems that create inequality in wealth, health, safety, and power—and rebuilding them with equity at the core.
Justice isn’t just structural —it’s cultural. It involves confronting bias, listening deeply, and creating conditions where everyone can belong and thrive. This work is continuous. It’s rooted in truth. Driven by care.
[Contact Us]
Change starts here.
Tell us what you're working on or dreaming of and we'll tell you how we can help.
