Meet the people who lead Citizens Advice Somerset
Lin Cousins
Lin has lived in Yeovil for over 25 years. She also runs her business – a housing and planning research consultancy – from the town and works across the UK on a variety of research projects, focusing on the delivery of affordable housing.
Away from work, Lin’s interests include gardening, visiting gardens, music and football. Lin is a current member of the Yeovil Chamber of Commerce Executive and has past experience as a housing association board member.
Prior to the creation of Citizens Advice Somerset Lin was the Chair of the South Somerset office for five years. She found it a real pleasure and she totally admires the work of the staff and volunteers.
Margaret Mercer, Treasurer
Margaret worked for an American multinational oil company as an accountant. She moved jobs within the company so gained considerable experience in financial reporting and as an internal auditor within the company. The job involved spending many weeks working oversees in French speaking African countries, Australasia, The Middle East as well as Europe.
Latterly Margaret worked in London as a self-employed accountant doing the accounts for several small businesses one of which was a charity. She was a JP in London and Somerset and a Business Mentor for the Prince’s Trust for many years. She has also been in the Army Reserve (Royal Signals) and on the Regimental Board of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royals Volunteer Corps).
David Incoll, Safeguarding Lead
David is a Solicitor and a Chartered Company Secretary and his career was spent in Local Government and as a Police Prosecutor. He finished his career as Joint Chief Executive of South Hams and West Devon Councils and was very proud that both Councils were in the National Top Twenty for Public Satisfaction. David is also a Director of a Rural Regeneration company that he helped form in 2003 which invests in rural businesses and initiatives, which as a result has increased employment in the rural South West.
David was the Chair of the Taunton office prior to the merger. Prior to that he was Chair of the Devon Consortium of 7 local Citizens Advice offices for over 10 years. His experience, of how crucial committed staff across an organisation are, to high quality delivery is something he very much enjoys witnessing on a daily basis working with CA staff and volunteers across Somerset.
Kerri Wheeler, Vice Chair
Kerry has worked in the charity sector for over a decade and currently holds the position of Legacy & In Memory Development Manager (Central & South England) within Marie Curie. She worked with volunteers developing a focus on volunteer training and setting up new volunteer programmes. While at Marie Curie, she also expanded her knowledge of community fundraising and legacies.
Kerry grew up in Bridgwater and returned as an adult in 2018. Kerry knew of individuals who had been supported by Citizens Advice Sedgemoor, and their positive experience was one of the reasons why she became a trustee. Kerry believes that local Citizens Advice play an essential role within their communities, and she wants to support them where she can.
Outside of work Kerry is learning British Sign Language and enjoys going to the Quantocks or planning trips to visit friends and family.
Peter Hunter, Chair
Peter moved to Somerset in 1979 to take up a Deputy Head position in a primary school where he was an early adopter of Information Technology. He built his software development skills and went on to from his own small company and created nationally renowned applications for the education sector. Between 1993 and 2001, Peter served as a member of Somerset County Council, becoming, at various times, Chairman of Education, Chairman of Finance and Deputy Leader of the Council.
In 1998, Peter began providing IT consultancy to the public sector as Principal Consultant in the Society of Information Technology Management and ran many projects for local authorities including for the Department for Education, Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office.
Following retirement in 2010, Peter volunteered to work at the South Somerset office and he has undertaken a variety of both voluntary and paid roles. He is also a trustee and Treasurer of his local village hall and his local playschool, he is also director of a small property management company.
Jo Humble
Jo has strong social values and a belief that everyone should have the support they need to thrive personally and within their community. Jo is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has worked in the industry for over 25 years, within the private sector, housing associations and local authority.
Working in Affordable Housing Development provides Jo a unique opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives. and as a Trustee this has enabled her to further shape the solutions to tackling deprivation, improving health and wellbeing outcomes and create environments where people can prosper and communities flourish.
Jo is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for everyone, regardless of their background or personal circumstances. She enjoys being part of Citizens Advice Somerset and is keen to bring her enthusiasm, experience and innovation along with a considered and focused approach.
Lyn Goodfellow
Prior to becoming Citizens Advice Somerset Lyn was the Chair of the Sedgemoor office, having been on the board for over a decade.
Retired from working in the training and HR field in financial services Lyn has a keen interest in local issues in Cheddar but also in the wider area – she volunteers within the Cheddar foodbank.
Lyn is proud to have helping with the work towards becoming CA Somerset. She describes the merger as enabling us to provide ‘an even better service to all those clients that bring their issues to Citizens Advice and know they’ll get the help they need’.
Lyn’s hobbies include travelling and gardening, usually travelling further afield when the garden is dormant!
Rob Crittall, Information Assurance Lead
Rob is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in Enterprise IT, having successfully delivered numerous IT projects to blue-chip companies across the UK, Europe, and the United States.
Rob combines his extensive technical expertise with a background in business and people management. Known for driving successful project outcomes and building strong, collaborative teams, Rob is still a respected leader in the IT industry today.
Originally from a farming background, and now based in Somerset, Rob also works with local organisations in support of issues currently facing agricultural communities. His skill set is further enriched by a passion for history and politics, offering a well-rounded perspective on both strategic and technical challenges.
Lee Martin-Scull
Lee has lived in Somerset for 20 years and has worked in social housing for 10 years.
He is passionate about our local communities and believes that connecting with people on a human level is really important, to enable them to make positive choices about their lives and their communities. Lee approaches working with people both professionally and personally in a restorative, trauma informed way. He’s also passionate about safeguarding and about creating positive change.
Outside of work Lee enjoys travelling with his young family, gardening and getting outdoors.
Anthony Taylor
Anthony worked in the public sector and for private sector service companies in the UK and mainland Europe before establishing a business consultancy company, which he ran for twenty years.
He semi retired in 2017 and over the next six years worked part time for the BANES Director of Public Health as the regional Public Health Business Manager. After retiring in 2023, Anthony completed a twelve month UK Government sponsored learning and development programme for Trustees and Non-Executive Directors as his route to becoming a Trustee.
Anthony is married with three adult sons, he spends time growing vegetables and doing DIY at home. He enjoys watching sport, reading and writing poetry, and walking.
