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Meet The Team

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Our Staff

Julia Street – General Manager

I joined VIH on 28th March 2022.

I have lived and worked in Teignmouth for 16 years, 12 years in the voluntary sector running a local community centre, Alice Cross Centre, providing services for the over 50’s. I have a background in Sales & Marketing and general management, in a number of industry sectors, both in the UK and abroad. More recently working for a housing association, managing a leasehold retirement complex for the over 55’s.

I have always believed in collaborative working and through my Coastal Engagement group role, I have been very involved in scoping how the voluntary sector would work more closely with GP Surgeries and NHS services, providing connected health and wellbeing support in our community and the design for the new health and wellbeing centre, to be built next year.

I am passionate about connecting people to services, and the community, and empowering everyone to achieve their goals, so the chance to work for VIH was an excellent opportunity.

Jeannette Osmond – Team Leader

Jeannette joined Volunteering in Health in 2014 as our first Hospital Link Worker before becoming the first Wellbeing Co-ordinator in 2016.
In 2018 she became the first Wellbeing Co-ordinator in the area to train to facilitate the Helping Overcome Problems Effectively (HOPE) course, which has been a great success and is now rolling out across
Devon.
In 2018 she also took on the added responsibility of becoming the Team Leader for all client-facing staff.
Jeannette enjoys kayaking and spending time with her three teenage children.

Nicki Engert – Office Manager and Finance Officer

I moved to Devon in September 2013, whilst I was still working as an IT Project Manager for a large international software company.  Following a decision to change my career path, I left this role in March 2018 and embarked on retraining in accountancy.  I joined VIH in August 2018 as the Accounts Administrator, working part-time for the charity as I completed my AAT Bookkeeping qualifications.  I completed my qualifications in June 2019 and shortly afterwards I was promoted to the role of Finance Manager, overseeing all aspects of the financial side of running the charity.

In June 2021, I took on the additional responsibilities of the Office Manager role which now also gives me the opportunity to utilize the experience I bring from my former career as a Project Manager to ensure the smooth day-to-day organization and running of the office.

Having a dual role can be challenging at times, but coming from a large corporate background, I find working for a small local charity is really rewarding.  Every single member of our team is valued and everyone is appreciated for the varied skills and experience they bring to their roles.

Julie Dingley – Support Worker

Julie has been volunteering for Volunteering in Health since the very beginning when she joined as a transport desk administrator.
All those years on the transport desk mean that she knows the service and our clients and drivers inside out!
Julie took on paid employment in 2015, setting up a Telephone Befriending Service, where she and a small team of volunteers call lonely people each week for a chat.
More recently she has now taken on more responsibility by taking on clients who have completed the HOPE course and supporting them over the phone with wellbeing calls.
Having benefitted from the HOPE course herself she can co-facilitate.
As someone who has experienced our services from all angles, Julie does a lot of public speaking for the charity, sharing her story as a way of illustrating what we do.
You can find Julie in the sea, she loves sea swimming and swimming with a group called Healthscape.

Alan Bearcroft – Home Helper
Joanne Cox – Home Helper
Gabby Maurice – Home Helper
Sharon Holmes – Home Helper
Jacqui King – Home Helper
Sam Blackwell – Home Helper
Nicola Cole – Home Helper
Gordon Robbins – Link Worker

As our Link Worker, Gordon meets with most new referrals to the charity to find the right support for them.
He took on this role in 2018 after volunteering at our Reminiscence Sessions for several years.
He lives with his wife and they have three children and two grandchildren.
He started work as a Computer operator in 1973 in Cambridge.
His hobbies include photography, car maintenance, DIY and genealogy.
In his spare time, he also enjoys walking and gardening.

Kerry Ray – Wellbeing Coordinator

I joined ViH in July 2021, I came into the voluntary sector after volunteering with Devon Rape Crisis and Home Start. My role involves working with clients one-to-one over twelve sessions to work towards positive, sustainable goals to help improve their lives. I have worked with clients with ages ranging from 20 to 102! Each course of well-being is tailored to the specific needs of the client, this can be helping to manage anxiety and depression, and find ways to engage with others, with diet and physical health issues. We have had great results with wellbeing and our clients often go on to join other parts of our services including taking part in HOPE. I am currently training to be a HOPE facilitator and help run a new group for past cohorts called Keeping Hope. 

I recently completed an English degree and I am passionate about the power of words! I often encourage clients to journal and I have written articles for the Mid-Devon Advertiser on behalf of ViH. I have three wonderful children, and we love long walks with our ageing Labrador.

Sue Yates – Services Coordinator

I joined ViH in September 2022 as their Services Coordinator for Transport and Home Help Services.

I moved down to the South West from Northamptonshire in 2018; I arrived in Teignmouth in 2020 and was working as a carer and volunteering at The Alice Cross Centre.

My previous career was working as a Curriculum Coordinator for Northamptonshire County Council’s Adult Learning Service, for 14 years. During this time, I helped build the Neighbourhood Learning Project – enabling those in the community with little or no qualifications, skills, or confidence to discover their transferable skills and back into work or education.

I am still volunteering at The Alice Cross – I facilitate the Memory Café, offer Digital Skills support, and I also help out at their various events.

Recently I have started to volunteer at the NCI Teignmouth, coastal watch.

 

Annabelle Murray – Volunteer Coordinator

I started with ViH in November 2022 as the Volunteer Coordinator.  I come from Shaldon but have lived away for 25 years, working in the Charity Sector in Northern Ireland and Kenya specifically around Disability. 

I passionately believe in collaborative working across organisations, people groups and locations – getting people together to make an impact on a community. 

 Connecting with the ViH volunteers I have witnessed the genuine impact they are making on vulnerable adults in the Teignbridge area, and it is a privilege to be part of this Charity. 

When I am not doing this, I am a mother of 3 and I kayak, sea swim and generally I am mad about the sea! 

Cara Kinsey – Hospital Link Worker

I joined ViH in July this year as a Hospital Link Worker based at Dawlish Hospital.  This role is about supporting patients during their time in hospital and identifying areas which they may need support with once discharged from hospital.  This could be arranging home help or a befriender, getting some shopping in and making sure the home is safe and warm to return to.

I have worked in various roles including education, fundraising, health care within primary care, hospitals, and a local hospice.

Our Trustees

Alwyn Oakley – Chair

Alwyn joined Volunteering in Health as a volunteer driver and helped out on the transport desk in 2017 following a career in the police.
She became a trustee in 2019, wanting to specifically support volunteer recruitment and retention.

Manuela Grossmann – Vice Chair (Health and Safety)

Manuela’s professional background lies in Human Resources and Health and Safety.
She currently works as a full-time consultant for companies and charities in Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Somerset.
She provides advice and guidance to organisations across a number of industry sectors, getting involved with legal compliance, training, engagement projects, restructuring, strategic development, and day-to-day people management.
Manuela moved to Teignmouth after her daughter was born in 2008 and they are now living the dream in a little fishing cottage on the back beach.
Manuela is a keen walker, knitter, crafter and cook.
She is part of a local board game group and loves a bit of “Nordic Noir” and a glass of red with friends.

Richard Ash – Trustee

 

Ann Meyrick – Secretary

For 21 years, Ann was employed as the Headteacher’s Personal Assistant in a large secondary school in North London.
She was part of the Management Team at the school, where she led the administration staff.
Ann retired in 2003, and in 2007 moved to Teignmouth with her partner Andy.
She joined Volunteering in Health just six months into its beginning, where it was just the Manager and her.
She organized the day-to-day running, dealing with phone calls, answering emails, writing letters – anything that was needed!
Ann has seen the charity go from strength to strength.

 

Dan Brett – Trustee

 

Alison Hinch – Trustee (Governance)

Ali is a UK Property Lawyer for the Ministry of Defence and became a Trustee for Volunteering in Health in 2018.
She loves sea swimming, hiking and Nordic Noir.
She has two daughters.

 

Lauren Wade – Trustee

JOIN OUR TEAM!

We also have a team of up to 200 fantastic volunteers giving their time for free week in week out. Find out more about volunteering here.
If you’re interested in joining our team of paid staff team, keep an eye on our news page for vacancies!

"I moved to Shaldon and didn't really know anyone. I read about Volunteering in Health in the local paper and thought it would be a good way to meet new people as well as getting involved with and helping my new community. I was right!"

Pauline, Trim Teign Project

"After retiring I wanted to be able to give something back to the community. I really enjoy getting to know all the clients and I'm glad to be able to support them with getting to their appointments safely."

Pete, Volunteer Driver

"I often travel to London to visit my family so I needed a voluntary opportunity that was really flexible. Sue and I have now become great friends and we have a lovely time together."

Basia, Volunteer Befriender

"My befriender is an incredible lady and has made such a happy difference to my life. She has not only become a dear friend but she is also my music teacher (piano) and scrabble partner (she always wins!) and above all she is always consistent and cheery!"

Sue

Get in Touch

 

If you would like to volunteer for us, or if you would like to refer yourself or a loved one for any of our services, please complete the contact form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible

Volunteering in Health, Teignmouth Hospital, Mill Lane, Teignmouth TQ14 9BQ

Charity Number

1182615

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