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 as well as a range of other services and projects.

Volunteers

Mary-Anne

Disability Benefits Adviser and Generalist Adviser

Mary-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

Disability Benefits Adviser and Generalist Adviser

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

Disability Benefits Adviser and Generalist Adviser

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.

Phyllida

Generalist Adviser

Phyllida has been an adviser with Citizens Advice for 2 years, covering the drop-in sessions and the Citizens Advice telephone help line. Before joining, she worked in public health.

Robert

Receptionist

Akinyemi Abibu

Generalist Adviser

Akinyemi Abibu joined Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire as a trainee Generalist Adviser in January 2025. He has a background spanning many years in Nigeria as an administrator and academic, and holds a Master’s degree in Employment Work and Equality Law from the University of Bristol.

Staff

Chantal Watts

Chief Executive Officer

I 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.

Rebecca Brown

Development Manager

Eliza

Debt Team Manager

Eliza is the Debt Team Manager at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire. She leads our specialist debt team of four caseworkers and oversees the When Advice Really Matters (WARM) and Ingeus projects, to ensure clients receive high-quality advice and support. Alongside her management role, she provides debt casework, helping clients work towards financial stability. Eliza also provides generalist advice at community outreach sessions.

Iestyn

Advice Services Manager

Yvonne Parks

Specialist Debt Adviser

Yvonne is in the debt team and has been a Specialist Debt Adviser for over 30 years. She started in private practice in 1995 after studying law and specialised in debt and housing law and has been at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire for 12 years. She provides specialist debt advice including debt casework and advocacy. Before going into law and debt advice she worked as a freelance artist in Spain.

Millie

Project and Administration Assistant

Angus

Specialist Debt Adviser

Angus joined Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire as a Generalist Adviser in 2022 before training as a Specialist Debt Adviser in 2023.  He identifies solutions to the debt problems faced by our clients and supports them in implementing the necessary actions.  Angus has a degree in engineering and experience of numerous senior managerial positions in the IT industry.

India

When Advice Really Matters (WARM) Project Lead

Emily

When Advice Really Matters (WARM) Project Adviser

Em Wright

Help To Claim Adviser

Em joined the team in November 2025 and helps people nationally to apply for Universal Credit up until their first payment. They previously volunteered at another advice centre and worked in several campaigning organisations in Bristol and the UK.

Sarah MacFarlane

Help To Claim Adviser

Sarah has been working with the Help to Claim team at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire since August 2023. Previously, she worked at both Citizens Advice Bristol and Citizens Advice North & West Gloucestershire in their Help to Claim teams. She started volunteering at Citizens Advice Bristol in 2011, working in Reception and completing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) forms.

Ed Phillis

Help To Claim Adviser

Cian Pass

Help To Claim Adviser

I’m new to Help to Claim and will be supporting people with Universal Credit up to their first correct payment. Previously, I went to Warwick University where I completed my degree in English Literature. I also volunteered with South Warwickshire Citizens Advice during this time as a Generalist Adviser, which is what inspired me to apply for Help to Claim. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, cooking, and pretending I don’t enjoy trashy reality TV.

Telma Freitas

Help To Claim Adviser

I’ve joined the Help To Claim Team – supporting people who would struggle to access our services and being able to advocate for them while linking with other services like the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Previously I have worked with social services and worked in the care sector – supporting mostly adults and older people. In my own time, I like to travel, listen to music, cook, socialise and spend time with my family and friends.

Beth Pullin

Generalist Adviser

I work two days a week with Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire as a Generalist Adviser in our free advice drop-ins. I am a qualified chartered surveyor and provide property advice to charities through a national funder when not working for CASG. Outside of work, I really enjoy cold water swimming at a local quarry, crafting activities, cooking and having family to stay.

Mark Cardwell

Communications and Campaigns Officer

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 of the Board of Trustees

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.

Shaun Murphy

Trustee

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

Janet Blikmans

Trustee

Deborah Webb

Trustee

Debbie joined the Board in 2024 following 38 years in Financial services, mainly focused on Risk and Programme Management. She is a great believer that everyone should be given the opportunity and provided with the support they need to fulfil their potential and hopes to continue this quest as a trustee.

Tom Sharp

Treasurer

With over 25 years’ experience in finance, risk and audit roles (mostly in financial services), Tom joined as Treasurer in May 2025. He is passionate about supporting the incredible work of the charity and helping ensure the services continue to be available to everyone who needs them.

Joseph Kerkvliet

Trustee

Alice Caunt

Trustee