Meet the team

Meet Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s team of dedicated Volunteers, Staff and Trustees. We’re based in Yate and run drop-in sessions around South Gloucestershire.

Volunteers

Mary-Anne – Generalist Adviser

Mary-Anne DarlowMary-Anne has been with Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire for over five years. She is a Generalist Adviser and also helps clients complete forms for claiming benefits. For many years she worked in the health service.

 

 

 

Janet – Benefits and Generalist Adviser

Janet has been a volunteer at Citizens Advice for more than 10 years. She is a benefits and generalist adviser. She helps people to claim benefits, and appeal decisions where necessary. She also gives advice on whatever issues our clients have. She is a former research chemist and science teacher.

Janet has been a volunteer at Citizens Advice for more than ten years. She is a Benefits and Generalist Adviser. She helps people to claim benefits, and appeal decisions where necessary. She also gives advice on whatever issues our clients have. She is a former research chemist and science teacher.

 

 

 

Jacky – Adviser

Jacky Jacky started volunteering with Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire in late 2022. She is a Generalist Adviser and also helps people who are applying for health-related benefits, putting to good use her 20 years of experience working in the NHS.

 

 

 

 

Staff

Chantal Watts – Chief Executive Officer

Chantal WattsI have worked for the organisation of Citizens Advice for 24 years . I started as a Volunteer and progressed to a Welfare Benefit Adviser undertaking general and disability forms along with assisting clients with their appeals and tribunal representations. I joined the team at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire 16 years ago as a Supervisor and then progressed to Operations Manager. I have now been CEO for the past 9 years after the retirement of my predecessor. I have seen many changes over the years I have been with the organisation and hope I have had a positive impact on the lives of our clients.

 

 

Amanda Wood – Finance & Admin Manager

Amanda is our Finance & Admin Manager. Her role is wide ranging but is primarily responsible for dealing with Finance; HR & IT along with all other back office support. She has a wealth of experience having been with the organisation for 25 years.Amanda is our Finance & Admin Manager. Her role is wide ranging but is primarily responsible for dealing with Finance, HR & IT along with all other back office support. She has a wealth of experience having been with the organisation for 25 years.

 

 

 

Rebecca Brown – Development Manager

Rebecca BrownBecky is our Development Manager, leading on strategy, income generation and communications. Her work is focused on demonstrating impact to articulate how we solve problems for local people and securing the funding needed to deliver and develop our advice services. Before joining us in 2016, Becky led a charity based in the South Wales valleys. She’s been working at a senior level in the voluntary sector for the last 15 years and has a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, bid-writing and project management.

 

 

 

Julien Bristow-Goldschmidt – Help To Claim Adviser

Julien Bristow-GoldschmidtJulien has been with Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire since June 2022. He works on the Help To Claim team advising people on their eligibility for Universal Credit and signposting to other benefits or agencies for further advice. He has previously worked as a benefits adviser at a different charity in Bristol. In his spare time Julien is a big football fan.

 

 

Eliza – Advice Session Supervisor and Debt Adviser

Eliza HirstEliza is an Advice Session Supervisor and Debt Adviser at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire. She supervises the Friday drop-in session in Yate, supporting the advisers and their clients, to ensure that people using our service get the best advice and support they can with their issue. Eliza is also a debt caseworker and supports clients with their debt problems.

 

 

Mark Cardwell – Communications and Campaigns Officer

Mark is Communications Officer with Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire. He has responsibility for publicising and promoting the vital work we do as well as maintaining strong internal communications. Mark is a former reporter and is keen to continue building valuable relationships between our charity and local media.Mark is Communications and Campaigns Officer with Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire. He has responsibility for publicising and promoting the vital work we do as well as maintaining strong internal communications and leading on research and campaigns for the charity. Mark is a former reporter and is keen to continue building valuable relationships between our charity and local media.

 

 

 

Trustees

John-Paul Corry – Chair

Our Chair of Trustees, J-P Corry

John-Paul is a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in growing international industrial businesses. With a focus on helping organizations to develop and grow, J-P is passionate about creating happier, healthier, and more effective work environments. As our Chair, J-P aims to provide energy, clarity, and meaningful impact in delivering our strategy.

 

 

Robert Cole – Vice Chair

I have been a Trustee for over three years. My background is most recently as a consultant and trainer in organisation change, programmes and projects. Earlier I did research and development in distributed computer systems and networking, including contributions to the early development of the Internet.I have been a Trustee for over three years. My background is most recently as a consultant and trainer in organisation change, programmes and projects. Earlier I did research and development in distributed computer systems and networking, including contributions to the early development of the Internet.

 

 

 

Shaun Murphy – Trustee

Shaun MurphyI became a trustee in August 2024. I am committed to providing the best physical, financial and organisational environment for the staff to do their vital work. After a variety of scientific positions, I was a manager in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bristol before retirement.