Our people – Hereford

Staff 

Frankie Devereux - Haven Manager
Frankie graduated with a BA(hons) and has a background in sales and marketing, spending nine years managing a chain of independent bookshops. Her mother-in-law lived with breast cancer for 18 years which is why, when a Haven opened in Hereford, she felt compelled to make a career change and became Haven Manager. Frankie is responsible for the building, fundraising admin and reception staff.

Janice Dell - Haven Programme Manager, Specialist Breast Care Nurse
Jan began her nursing career in the Royal Navy. After leaving the services she worked in general surgery in Scotland and Devon, followed by a number of years as a community nurse, during which she completed various courses including Teaching & Assessing and Wound Care.  After moving to South Shropshire from Scotland, she took up the post of Breast Care Nurse at the Oncology Centre in Hereford Hospital. She continued in this role for seven years, completing a Diploma in Cancer Care and gaining experience in areas such as Lymphoedema Care. As well as leading the clinical team at the Haven in Hereford and being an experience Breast Care Nurse Specialist and offering support and information about breast cancer, she also runs a drop-in group and individual reflexology sessions.

Lesley Leach - Community Fundraiser
Lesley graduated with a BSc(Hons) in Food Technology, and spent the first part of her career working for the major food retailers, sourcing and developing new products.  Following the birth of her second child, she left the corporate world, and after a short spell as a self employed Food Technologist, she joined the charitable sector.  She spent several years working for Home-Start Slough as initially as Office Manager, and then as a Fundraiser.  In 2008, Lesley’s family moved to Hereford, and having met some of the inspirational Visitors to The Haven through some volunteer work, she is thrilled to have taken up the position of Community Fundraiser.

Jane Chandler - Receptionist

A long standing volunteer, Jane joined the reception team in August 2010. Jane will be working on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Gill Thomas - Receptionist and Fundraiser
A lifetime in farming has made Gill a ‘Jack of all Trades”. After a long career in banking and accounts Gill just felt she wanted to ‘help’ and jumped at the chance to join The Haven team. Gill covers reception Tuesday - Thursday mornings and fundraises every Wednesday afternoon plus at many events.

Therapists

Alison Benbow MSc. Dip C Nut.MBANT.CNHC - Nutritional Therapist

Alison is a Nutritioanal Therapist who has a private practice as well as working at The Haven. She also leads the clinic module on the MSc Nutritional Therapy course at Worcester University and is an accreditation assessor for the Nutritional Therapy Council and a member of BANT and the CNHC

 Jennie Booth - Acupuncturist
Before qualifying as an acupuncturist, mother of two Jennie enjoyed a career in Public Health and Health Promotion formulating local policies and projects to improve health at a population level.  This background offers Jennie particular insight when supporting clients where lifestyle change has been a barrier to good health.

 Jennie studied acupuncture for a period of five years before qualifying in both styles of traditional acupuncture practiced in the West:  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Five Elements.  This integration of both styles of acupuncture provides an opportunity for much deeper healing often at both a physical and emotional level

As a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), Jennie has a commitment to continuing her professional development and regularly attends conferences, courses, seminars and training days to update and improve her knowledge and practice of Traditional Acupuncture.

Richard Farmer - Tai Chi Shibashi
Richard is an experienced teacher of Tai Chi Chuan and Meditation.  He specialises in applying it to living rather than surviving modern life. Movement and Meditation, or Shibashi is a set of simple movements which help to untangle the weave of both body and mind, leaving you at ease in your body and relaxed in mind. Richard offers Tai Chi Shibashi classes and individual healing sessions.

Sheila Green - Yoga Teacher
Sheila Green is a Senior Iyengar Yoga teacher and is a member of the Iyengar Yoga Association (UK).  She has been practising yoga for over 25 years and has been teaching for more than 20 years. Sheila is also an Assessor and Teacher Trainer and is qualified to teach students with medical problems. She incorporates her experience with with the Iyengars in India into her weekly classes.

Sheila aims to show people how they can use Iyengar yoga to improve their posture, especially after surgery and regain movement and good circulation throughout the body. Plus, learning how to breathe correctly to promote a feeling of 'being in control' and a release of tension.

 Carol Morgan - Counsellor
Carol has been a practising counsellor for sixteen years. After gaining her Diploma in Counselling at the University of Wales, Newport, she trained with Relate, gaining a Certificate in Marital and Couple Counselling. Carol also worked as a Relate trainer in Hereford, Worcester and Powys before joining Herefordshire College of Technology as a part-time lecturer in 1998. She is now Programme Leader for the Higher National Diploma in Counselling course at the College. Carol is also a qualified counselling supervisor. She is a Member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy. Carol is currently undertaking a part time MA in Counselling at Stathclyde University.

Gilli Nicolson - Shiatsu Practitioner

Gilli qualified as a Shiatsu Practitioner in 2007 having completed a three year diploma at the Bristol School of Shiatsu. Her previous working life was spent both in Hospital and General Practice as a Specialist Nurse. 

Clare Pimblett - Reflexologist / Reiki Master / Indian Head Massage / Massage/ MLD

Clare trained as a Registered Nurse in 1994, and since then she has worked in a variety of areas including acute medical and surgical, oncology and emergency admissions. She completed a range of courses while nursing including Cancer Care, Teaching and Assessing, Counselling Skills and more recently, Foundation and Specialist Practice in Breast Care. Her interest in complementary therapies started whilst nursing with a belief in holistic care. She trained in Reflexology in 1999 and is qualified in and practises Indian Head Massage, Swedish and Sports Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Reiki and manual lymphatic drainage massage.

Nicky Heath - Reflexologist / Reiki Master / Indian Head Massage / Massage / Aromatherapy

Nicky discovered the wonderful benefits of complementary therapies when she was looking for a way of treating depression which did not involve medication.

Christine Steward - Herbalist

Before becoming a herbalist, Christine owned and ran a Wholefood Shop in Worcester. She qualified as a medical herbalist in 1987 and was on the Council of the National Institute from 1989 until 1998. During this time she worked as a Press and Information Officer for the Institute writing many articles on herbal medicine and contributing to and editing a number of books. In 1996 she became President of the Institute and, on her retirement, in 1998 she was made a Fellow of the organisation. She is now a member of the Ethics Committee.

 Barbara Winton - Homeopathic Practitioner

Barbara Winton qualified at the London College of Homoeopathy with a Licentiate.  In 1985 she became a Member of the College, and in 1987 registered with the Society of Homoeopaths, the main registering body for professional Homoeopaths in the UK. Since 1986 she has practiced at the Hereford Centre for Natural Health before joining The Hereford Haven. Barbara also teaches at a homoeopathic college and organises continuing Professional Development workshops for the Society of Homeopaths. 

Christopher Woodward - Acupuncturist

Christopher is a Acupuncturist and Ear Acupuncturist, and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. He has a degree in Psychology, Philosophy and Drama and has done some acupuncture training in Taiwan. Chris practises both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Five Element Styles acupuncture. He is also a Craniosacral Therapist and Reiki Master as well as an Internal Martial Artist practising: Taiqi, Qi Gong, BaGua, I Ching, Xingue mediations. Christopher has experience of working in a variety of areas including drug addiction, infertility, pre-natal and post-natal treatment and newborn infants.