Our Team

I joined Citizens Advice Hart as Chief Officer on 26 April 2021. We were just beginning to open the offices again after lockdown.

I trained as a Generalist Adviser at Citizens Advice Hart in 2016 whilst completing a Masters in Evidence-Based Psychological Treatment (CBT). During this time, I experienced first-hand the incredible work done by the staff and volunteers. They enabled people in desperate need to transform their situations and become better equipped to deal with life’s challenges. I have never forgotten that experience and had always hoped to come back to Citizens Advice.

I am passionate about the work of Citizens Advice and have a relentless desire to make a difference in the community. This opportunity has allowed me to use my varied skillset and work closely with a dedicated team of staff, volunteers and trustees.

What is your background?

After completing a psychology degree at Loughborough University, I trained as a homeopath before setting up my own business. Later, I added counselling skills to my portfolio. I then continued my career in the charity sector, working for Basingstoke Counselling Service and the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity. My previous post was leading an admissions team at Lord Wandsworth College. This involved working with the Foundation, providing funded places for vulnerable children and transforming lives.

Who are you as a person?

Born into a forces family in Somerset, I used to move around frequently, but have finally settled back in Odiham. I love my village – it has a fabulous community spirit.

I discovered a love of walking through the Hampshire Countryside Walks group, which a friend set up in Fleet. Lacking any map-reading skills of my own, it has been wonderful exploring the beautiful Hampshire countryside with a group of like-minded friends. More recently, I can be found on the driving range endeavouring to learn golf.

I have two grown-up children.

How long have you worked at Citizens Advice Hart, and why did you decide to join?

I started with Citizens Advice Hart in 2021, and I love working with this team!

I’ve always been very interested in social justice, volunteering for many community groups since I was 16 (a while ago!). Furthermore, I’ve campaigned on a number of global justice issues over the years. Consequently, I am very interested in our Research and Campaigns work. I’ve seen the difference that good and timely advice can make to people’s lives, including mine! Therefore, it is a real privilege to now work for CA, which is highly respected in this sector.

What is your experience?

I have worked as a secondary school teacher and a Project Manager for the NHS. I also spent a number of years in the voluntary sector, working with international aid agency CAFOD/Caritas. This involved collaborating with a number of fantastic volunteers, including avid campaigners, fundraisers, speakers, and educators, and was hugely rewarding. I was also lucky enough to work for Caritas Australia in Brisbane, as I have dual nationality. My last post was at Voluntary Action South West Surrey in Guildford. I again worked with a team of volunteers who signposted people to local volunteering opportunities, services and social activities. During this time, I became very interested in advice work and started a Graduate Diploma in Law.

Who are you as a person?

I guess I am pretty much a family-orientated person; I am aunty to four children and godmum to another six. At the moment, most of my time is taken up with studying, and I can’t wait for the summer break! I loved working and living in Queensland, Australia a few years ago, and hope to return one day. Even an extended holiday would be great – hopefully with my niece and nephews in tow!

Louisa has worked at Citizens Advice Hart since October 2021 and was immediately welcomed into the team. She was attracted to working for CA because of its reputation for integrity and fairness, as well as its local and national scope. The training is comprehensive, and the professionalism of the volunteers and staff at Hart is second to none.

What is your background?

Louisa previously worked in acute mental health before moving to the criminal justice arena. She began working in cognitive behavioural and thinking skills programmes, and then transitioned to psychological assessments in a custody setting.

Returning to work in the community, Louisa developed and implemented psycho-social interventions with substance misusers. This led to her creation of a peer mentoring programme (Evolve) for former addicts (two years or less substance free). The programme also supported those convicted of drug and alcohol related offences. Evolve provided level 2 qualifications for the mentors, and the impact of the project earned Louisa a Butler Trust Commendation.

More recently, she had a career in the criminal justice field, overseeing the quality assurance of cognitive behavioural groupwork. This work spanned Surrey, Sussex, and Kent and involved the ‘toxic trio’ of mental health, substance misuse, and domestic violence. It also contributed to Surrey’s Domestic Abuse Strategy.

I joined Citizens Advice Hart in October 2020 as a Volunteer Assessor. I volunteered mid-pandemic, after deciding to take a year’s break from employment to help people in the community during these challenging times. Having come across it in my previous financial role, I chose Citizens Advice because it is one of the country’s leading and most influential charities fighting for change, and its work really impacts people’s lives for the better. Following on from this voluntary role, I am currently employed as Community Training Lead, heading and delivering two projects: our successful AFA (Advice First Aid) Training, upskilling volunteers and staff who work on the frontline with vulnerable members of our community; and our latest project, Work Out Your Money, introducing financial capability workshops to young people in Hart schools. My other previous Citizens Advice role was an assessor for the Armed Forces Covenant funded Forces Families project, along with delivering training to the military on various initiatives, such as financial capability.

As mental wellbeing is one of my passions, I hold an FAA Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health (RQF) and am Mental Health First Aider for CA Hart volunteers and staff.

What is your background?

I spent thirteen years working for a leading retail banking organisation, specialising in personal lending and training delivery. For twelve years, I was a self-employed Training Consultant delivering management skills, performance management, and recruitment training, as well as a performance coach in employee training and development. I have also worked for a major energy provider as an Area Manager in volume resourcing, and spent seven years working in education administration.

Who are you as a person?

First and foremost, a mother and a wife. I am passionate about my local Yateley community and helping it’s members. For 13 years, I was a school governor and Chair of Inclusion, actively involved in all aspects of my local junior school. I was treasurer of my son’s football team, Yateley Shields (part of Yateley United) for 10 years, and could often be heard shouting encouragement on the side lines. Currently, I am choir leader for my local community choir, Voxchoir, as well as cover choir leader for Fleet and Woking. I love singing, and choirs are a great place to have fun, meet new people, and relieve the daily stresses that life occasionally throws at us.

And the rest of my free time?

Family, cooking and socialising.

I started at Hart in January 2022, although I have worked in other Citizens Advice offices for over ten years. I love working with people in the local community and helping them find solutions to the issues they have.

What is your background?

My initial training was as a physiotherapist, and when I moved to Brussels with my husband, I started my own private physio practice. When I moved back to the UK, I took an MBA and went into business in marketing and PR for a civil engineering consultancy.
Both my daughters were born in Brussels. One is now living and working in Australia, and the other is married and a solicitor in London. I have a gorgeous granddaughter!

Who are you as a person?

In my spare time I walk my dog, a big Hungarian Vizsla. I have taken up the alto saxophone and try not to deafen the neighbours. I love Argentine tango and spend most of my weekends dancing, and I also play a lot of bridge.

I joined Hart three years ago because I wanted to help others. In particular, I wanted to support those seeking advice on dealing with the challenges they and their families face.

What is your background?

I am a retired Army Officer who, after serving 37 years, transitioned into the business world. During this time, I was an HR Consultant and a Business Manager in KSA for a British Engineering Consultancy firm. I served in a number of posts in the UK, Europe, and other locations. My last two tours of duty were serving in Sierra Leone as Chief Logistic Mentor to the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and in Saudi Arabia as Deputy Commander of the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

I have a wealth of personnel management experiences, which I gained whilst serving in the military. For example, I was responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of those serving with me, including their families and dependants.

Who are you as a person?

I enjoy travelling, good wine, cooking, the now very occasional round of golf, reading, and keeping up to date with family and friends.

I joined Citizens Advice Hart in 2004, shortly after I retired, and have been a Generalist Adviser here ever since. Looking for voluntary work that was stimulating, challenging, and rewarding, I found working for CA ticked all those boxes. It is a privilege to be able to help people for whom, at times, life is a daily struggle.

What is your background?

The first part of my working life was spent in medical publishing, but latterly I moved into teaching. I spent 15 years as a science lecturer at Farnborough College of Technology. Throughout most of my life, I have been involved with voluntary work of various kinds. Currently, in addition to CA, I am a Witness Service volunteer at the Coroner’s Court.

Who are you as a person?

I have been married for 50 years, and have lived in Fleet for 40 of those. Prior to moving to Fleet, we spent four years living in the Netherlands. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cryptic crosswords, walking, and going to galleries and the theatre (particularly ballet). I also love spending time with the family (two children and six grandchildren).

I have been working as a qualified adviser for 16 years. I volunteered after retiring from work, both to help local people experiencing difficulties to cope, and to feel useful.

What is your background?

Originally, I am from Yorkshire, but have lived in the South since 1959. I’ve always worked in education, as a secondary school science teacher, in curriculum development, and from 1971 at a Guildford examination board. For the last 16 years of my career, I was Head of the Examinations Division. I retired on being made redundant in November 2001. My other volunteer work includes 24 years of being a local school governor, and acting as part of the management committee of my local village hall. Recently, I have also been driving for the local “Communicare” group in Fleet.

Who are you as a person?

I consider myself to be caring and approachable. I enjoy working with others, and hope to be able to make a difference in my community. By nature, I am people and family oriented, and enjoy travelling and seeing family. At 80 years of age, I am keen to remain active and involved for as long as possible.