About

Mel Allen

Mel works full time for Navigate and is driven by her desire to tackle social and financial exclusion. Mel worked for Wessex Resolutions CIC for 13 years, with 10 years as a senior manager for the organisation. Mel was instrumental in the development and implementation of money and debt advice services and has been responsible for all advice activity since its inception including; fundraising, building stakeholder relationships, managing and monitoring performance and developing new products and services in response to the growing needs of people facing social and/or financial exclusion.

Mel is supported by an experienced team of advisers and community development officers. Navigate are committed to delivering high quality, accessible services and all of us are extremely proud to be part of a team effecting positive change and achieving incredible, sometimes life changing, outcomes for the people we work with.

Jan

Jan has been a valued team member for over four years and works across all of our projects. Jan is an experienced money, debt and benefits adviser and is usually the first port of call for any new referrals into our service. Jan supports clients and referral partners in checking they are eligible for the service and providing immediate advice and support over the phone to ensure there are no emergencies that need immediate intervention. Jan is always willing to go the extra mile to support people and ensure they receive the best possible service!

Claire Summers

Claire has worked for Navigate for over six years; she was originally employed as a Money Advice Caseworker and has recently moved into the role of Service Delivery Manager. Claire has over ten years experience in money, benefits and debt advice and is also an Approved Intermediary which means that she can apply for Debt Relief Orders on behalf of our clients.  Claire is instrumental in ensuring that our services remain relevant and efficient and in supporting the team with their money advice casework. Claire leaves no stone unturned when working with our clients or the team to ensure the highest quality service and best outcomes for the people we work with!

Abbie Doble

Abbie joined the team in November 2018 as a Debt and Energy Adviser for the BGET project. Abbie works part time and delivers money and debt advice across the Mid Devon district through home visits. Abbie’s background is in housing and homelessness and she has a wealth of experience to support clients with their financial difficulties. Abbie has a “can do” approach to her role and is driven by her desire to help people and effect positive change. Abbie is an Approved Intermediary which means she can guide eligible clients towards completion of Debt Relief Orders. Many of the clients Abbie works with experience very poor mental health which makes their ability to engage with us more difficult.  Abbie will customise her approach to ensure these clients are given every opportunity to work with us and she will often provide the money and debt advice alongside the Wellbeing Adviser from Mind who can build in extra time and reassurance to help the client succeed.

Becky Little

Becky is currently working on the BGET project across Mid Devon as a Debt and Energy Adviser. She delivers debt and money advice to people who are struggling with mental health issues alongside their financial difficulties. Becky has recently become an Approved Intermediary which means that she is able to guide her eligible clients towards obtaining a Debt Relief Order.

She enjoys being an advocate for people who do not have a voice as well as encouraging them to take action for themselves. Becky has a very pragmatic approach and with a background in education, she thinks it is important for clients to identify their priorities and to work with the client to find a viable solution. She is enthusiastic about money saving and is a keen follower of Martin Lewis from the moneysavingexpert.com (she loves to find a bargain!).

Julie Matthews

Julie joined the team in October 2020 to work for Navigate in the rural areas of Torridge and west Devon within the Transitions project. Julie comes from a background in education, both in schools and adult education. Julie has worked within mental health settings, care homes, learning disability services and social care and has extensive experience of working across Devon in community-based projects, in both an employed and voluntary capacity.  

Julie enjoys networking and bringing people together to make positive things happen, and much of her work has been around this. She brings a lot of creative energy to the post, and enjoys thinking outside the box and approaching things in an original way. 

Maria Taylor

Maria joined Wiser Money in October 2018 as a Mental Health Caseworker working along side the money advisers.  Maria’s background is in the statutory sector, working with a variety of people of all ages with various physical and mental health issues.  She quickly became very inquisitive regarding the client work the money advisers were doing and joined us as a trainee money adviser. Maria has now become a confident Money Advice Caseworker working for our EDF project in the Somerset areas affected by the HPC, helping more people work towards their financial goals and deal with their problem debts. Maria has just completed the Certificate in Money Advice Practice. Maria builds a great rapport with her clients and she often spots other concerns that they might have otherwise kept hidden and will invest the extra time needed to organise specialist agencies and support for them.

Roxi Reeder

Roxi is the BGET Community Development Officer for the rural areas of mid and north Devon and west Somerset. Roxi is enthusiastic, driven and gregarious with professional passions for building resilience across communities and within individuals. She enjoys connecting people so that collaboration produces effective and efficient outcomes.

Roxi is a mum of 4 young children. She loves to be outdoors, dance, read and is actively involved in her local community in a voluntary capacity. She likes to challenge herself and strive to continually learn – she is currently undertaking an Award in Education and Training.

Gill Serpa

Gill originally worked in education as a teacher but felt she needed a change in vocation and moved into Criminal Law.  She found the greatest satisfaction in supporting her clients to find ways to improve their situation and increase their self-esteem helping them to reduce the risks of reoffending.

After moving to the West Country she was looking for a fresh opportunity to help people change their lives for the better. Gill started working for the Wisermoney Project in September 2020 as Trainee Money Advice Caseworker across Devon and Somerset. Since her time with Navigate, Gill has become a confident Money Advice Caseworker and through her professional development, Gill has been able to help clients deal with problem debts, budgeting, financial literacy and maximising income.

In May 2021, Gill became the in-reach worker for the Torridge Rough Sleepers Project. She uses her skills obtained through her previous job roles to help newly-housed clients gain the skills required to maintain their tenancy.  This wrap around service relies on Gill’s ability to develop trusting working relationships with her clients and finding creative ways to support them. Gill also works as the Transitions Client and Partnership Liaison Officer where she triages clients into the service and focuses on our social policy by highlighting how decision making can sometimes unfairly disadvantage some of our more vulnerable clients.

Martine Bryant

Martine is the Community Health and Social Care Team Voluntary Representative for the Complex Care Teams for Barnstaple, Torrington, Holsworthy, Bideford and Ilfracombe and joined us in November 2021. Previously working for Wessex Resolutions CIC for 14 years where she was instrumental in helping clients achieve a safe, warm and secure home, Martine can now bring all of her skills with her as she joins us at Navigate.  Martine is committed to supporting clients by providing information and guidance, identifying provision in their local communities and connecting people to services and partner agencies.

Johanna Barnett

Jo is one of our newest members of our advice team and has joined us in 2021 as a Money Advice Caseworker in west Devon and Torridge for the Transitions project. Jo’s background includes working as a community support worker where she enabled people in the local community to live as independently as possible.  She has experience of dementia, complex illness and end of life care, all of which will be of enormous value to her new role.  Jo has always been drawn to helping others and she enjoys working with people to build their motivation, confidence and capability to help them achieve their personal goals

Sheryl

Sheryl is the newest member of the BGET project team and will be working across mid Devon.  Sheryl will be supporting people with mental health needs to assist them in navigating their financial situation and difficulties, offering advice and guidance whilst empowering them to become confident in managing their finances.

Throughout her career, Sheryl has worked in supportive services and roles including general housing, tenancy sustainment and managing mental health support services.  She is extremely passionate about fairness and equality, growing up in the social care system has given her many tools and great insight into what works well and the struggles of navigating services for people. She enjoys being part of people’s journey to reach their goals and aspirations and is something she finds truly rewarding.