Karen Taylor
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Karen Taylor
Karen Taylor is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Rhondda Cynon Taf Citizens Advice. She began her journey with Citizens Advice in 2002 in Cynon Valley Citizens Advice as a volunteer and has since held a variety of roles within the organisation, including Cert MAP Debt Adviser, Advice Coach and Senior Advice Services Manager, before joining the Senior Management Team in 2014.
Karen became Deputy Chief Executive in September 2023 and served as Interim Chief Executive Officer from April to September 2025, providing strategic leadership and ensuring continuity during a period of change.
As a leader, Karen is dedicated to ensuring the continued delivery of free, impartial and confidential advice services to the communities of Rhondda Cynon Taf and beyond. She is passionate about delivering high quality, accessible advice for everyone and is committed to supporting the development of people across the organisation, creating meaningful opportunities for staff and volunteers.
With extensive experience in both local and national service mobilisation, Karen has played a key role in developing new and innovative approaches to advice delivery and in building strong relationships with stakeholders.
Alongside her role at Citizens Advice, Karen is Co-Chair of the Regional Advice Network Steering Group for Cwm Taf Morgannwg.
Caitlin Tempest
Operations Manager
Caitlin Tempest
Caitlin initially joined the service as a volunteer in administration. Then started in a general office role in 2012 and has moved through a variety of roles and developed key skills within Management Support, Client Services, Advice Coaching & Volunteer Coordination. Caitlin became a Team Leader in September 2021 and in 2023 started our Advice Academy, leading on recruitment whilst managing advice projects including our supervisory team of Advice Coaches.
She has previously delivered successful training projects such as a pan-Wales Discrimination Awareness project, and regionally led our Gambling Support Service and is most passionate about staff and organisational development.
Donna Lewis
Team Leader
Donna Lewis
Donna is a Team Leader, and has worked for CARCT since 2012.
In that time, she has had a number of roles within Generalist and Specialist Projects. Including our Prescribing Advice Project working closely with secondary mental health and substance misuse teams. Becoming an Advice Coach in 2021, playing an active supervisory part in our service delivery.
In 2023 Donna joined the Management Team, leading our Advice Coaches to ensure and improve quality of advice to clients, and working with our Academy staff members and assisting them through our training pathways. Alongside this, Donna also leads our Local Authority funded services including Core delivery within our main office locations and the Projects team.
Gemma Ryan
Team Leader
Gemma Ryan
She joined Citizens Advice RCT in 2020 as a Generalist Adviser on a helpline, developing her advice skills; Gemma then moved into a Specialist Advice role supporting clients with mental health issues and working closely with the Community Mental Health team. More recently Gemma was the specialist advice lead on our BIP project supporting young care leavers in the Welsh Government Basic Income Pilot.
Gemma advocates using a tailored approach to advice which recognises that all service users are different and is passionate about building strong community relationships to enable our organisation to provide high quality advice that is accessible for everyone.
Julie Ann Riseborough
Services Manager
Julie Ann Riseborough
Julie Ann has been with Citizens Advice since 2004 starting a volunteer in Cynon Valley CA and joining Rhondda Cynon Taff CA in 2014. During this time Julie Ann has also undertaken freelance work with a number of charities including Turn 2 Us as an Associate trainer delivering training throughout England and Wales.
Julie Ann has been Team Leader and is now Service Manager, managing leadership staff as part of the senior team. Her main focus is ensuring the efficient delivery of a number of advice projects delivered both locally and nationally.
Julie Ann is a passionate believer in ensuring that everyone is able to access free, impartial advice and that we offer a client-centered service.
Keira Hughes
Team Leader
Keira Hughes
Keira started her career with Citizens Advice in 2020 as a generalist adviser. She then moved to an adviser role, Advice Coach role and then leading the Help Through Hardship Project for a number of years, supporting advisers with their training needs as well as supporting quality assurance.
Keira takes pride in the role that she delivers, and wants to make a difference by helping to tackle poverty in our communities.
Loraine Morgan
Team Leader
Loraine Morgan
Loraine had a number of different roles within the organisation including Support Team Member and Support Coach which involved supporting and the recruitment of administration volunteers.
Loraine has been the Administration Team Leader since November 2018. This role involves overseeing the team that are the initial point of contact for most clients accessing our services either via the telephone or in person at our offices. As well as managing appointments, referrals and our event coordination.
Loraine is passionate when ensuring that clients have the best possible journey when accessing the service and she aims to give her team the skills and confidence to challenge instances when this is not so.
Sarah Howarth
Facilities and Services Manager
Sarah Howarth
Sarah is our Facilities and Services Manager and has over 10 years’ experience of working for Citizens Advice Rhondda Cynon Taff (CARCT). Sarah manages the overall facilities in the office, ensuring a safe, functional, productive office environment whilst adhering to legal compliance and health and safety policies and procedures.
Sarah started as a volunteer in Citizens Advice in 2012 before moving into paid roles in the Client Services Team, General Advice Team, Management Support and Executive Team Assistant.
Sarah is skilled in reporting, finance and organisational matters, and liaises with managers, staff members and trades persons on a daily basis.
Sarah is also responsible for finance, which includes paying suppliers, payroll, invoicing, and procurement. Sarah also oversees the project reporting which we submit to our funders.
Sophie Raybould
Team Leader
Sophie Raybould
Sophie’s career had begun in conveyancing before she started her time at CARCT, delivering generalist advice herself on the Claim What’s Yours helpline. Sophie later moved to an Advice Coach role, supervising advice delivery across a number of channels.
Sophie is passionate about delivering the best client journey experience possible through the helpline services and enjoys supporting others to provide a quality service.
