Help & Advice

Clare is Advice Lead at PEC, where she works alongside residents, local organisations and partners across the city to tackle fuel poverty and help people live in warmer, healthier homes. She’s hugely proud of the team at PEC and the wide range of support they offer, from community outreach and crisis support through to income maximisation, advocacy and retrofit advice.

A Midlander at heart, Clare moved to Plymouth in 2011 via Norfolk, after a career in campaigning and communications roles with charities, environmental organisations and local authorities. She particularly enjoys building partnerships and finding practical ways to join up services, so that getting help feels simple and inclusive. She’s passionate about helping make the transition to warmer, lower-carbon homes feel relevant and accessible, and has shaped creative climate engagement projects that have invited thousands of people to take part in conversations about climate and community.

Outside work, Clare spends her time sketching, sitting with her feet in the sand and enjoying time with family.

“I feel lucky to spend my days meeting people who want to make life better - for themselves, their families and their communities. What more could I ask?”

Rae has been working with vulnerable people with multiple and complex needs for many years. She has worked in residential, custodial and community settings and is dedicated to ensuring that those who are isolated, marginalised and / or living in poverty are fairly represented and supported to enhance their quality of life, manage their affairs to the best of their ability and become integrated members of their community.

Despite being a Line Manager, Rae still holds a small caseload as she particularly enjoys the challenges of working alongside wonderful colleagues on the front line. This, along with a passion for environmental issues, makes Plymouth Energy Community a fantastic place to work.

In her personal time, Rae enjoys being in nature, cooking (and eating), travelling, listening to music, writing, collage and embroidery. She also enjoys comedy and laughs – a lot!

Becky brings years of experience in administrative roles across both higher education and the energy sector. Her passion for community values and making a meaningful impact led her to join PEC, where she’s found the perfect mix of job fulfilment and purpose.

Outside of work, Becky is a self-proclaimed dog lover! She’s always eager to hear about people’s furry friends, and she’s just as excited to hear about her friends and colleague’s latest adventures or favourite hobbies.

A music enthusiast and a fan of holidays and travel, you’ll often find her at gigs or off exploring new places with her family - either in their VW van or further afield. When she’s not on the move, she’s likely reading, watching a new series, or staying active while making time for the things she loves most—good food, good company, and meaningful conversations.

Christine is originally from Cranwell, and spent her formative years moving around the UK before settling in Plymouth at the age of 11. She was delighted to join PEC in October 2020, after gaining considerable experience supporting those most vulnerable in society in her previous roles.

Having always felt passionate about the impact of government policies on families and individuals lives, she completed a degree in Social Policy, gaining a First Class Honours with the Open University. She then went on to work in numerous roles, including in a Women's Refuge, volunteering at Plymouth Mind, working as a Life Enhancement Advisor at Twelve's Company, working for the Alzheimer's Society and has spent the last 4 years working within the management team of a domiciliary care agency.

In her spare time Christine likes to play music, is in a band playing saxophone, and has several guitars and ukuleles that she plays, without an audience! She also endeavours to keep fit by swimming, being a gym member, and loves waling in nature with her much loved pug!

Donna has lived in various places around the country but has lived on the edge of Plymouth for the last 27 years. It is such a wonderful place with lots to do on the doorstep. This is only her third ever job, the first being with the DWP, and the second working in mental health as a welfare rights worker.

She is now looking forward to new challenges that working at PEC will bring whilst being able to use the skills to help lift people out of fuel poverty.

She enjoys spending time with her family and cats. It is rare that you will see Donna without Dr Marten boots of various colours!

Raised in Cornwall, Emma moved to Plymouth to study at Marjon University, where she achieved a First-Class Honours degree in Education Studies and Psychology. She lived in the heart of the city for three years and quickly fell in love with Plymouth’s vibrant community.

With previous experience in both retail and education, Emma has always had a passion for helping others. Making a positive difference in people’s lives has been at the heart of everything she does, which naturally led her to join the PEC team in a Project Support role. She thrives on building connections, supporting meaningful projects, and being part of a team committed to creating positive change within the local community.

Outside of work, Emma loves nothing more than going for walks at the beach with her dog, spending quality time with friends, and staying active through reformer Pilates.

With a background in education, Jacob shares PEC’s values of social empowerment, community, and sustainability.

Originally from Essex, Jacob lived in Kenya before moving to Plymouth in 2015 to complete his degree in English with Creative Writing at the University of Plymouth. He then worked as an English Teacher in Cornwall before joining PEC in 2024 as Project Support.

Jacob is an avid bookworm and in the time that he isn’t reading he enjoys bouldering, hiking, sea swimming and playing music.

Kate joined PEC in 2021 as Project Support in the Energy Advice Team.

Kate feels strongly that work should give you a warm glow and a sense of purpose. Her role at PEC ticks all the boxes!

Kate’s a dedicated recycler, a regular litter-picker and always looking for ways to live more sustainably.

When she’s not working, you’ll find her enjoying time with her family and friends, walking her dog ,or happily getting lost in a charity shop.

Katie has lived in several places around the UK and New Zealand, but spent most of her childhood in Surrey. After many happy childhood holidays in South Devon, she moved to Plymouth to study Psychology in 2011. She immediately knew she wanted to make the city her home, and has lived here for most of the last decade. Katie has worked in the dementia care sector, and while studying she took a variety of summer jobs including the London Olympics and (her favourite) Tinside Lido. Katie joined PEC from Citizens Advice, which is where her desire to help people manage their energy use was born. Katie loves to find ways to save money or bring more money in, hunting out the best deals in order to help people change their lives for the better.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys computer games, wild swimming, going to gigs and spending quality time with her cats.

Born and raised in Plymouth, Liam has a strong connection to the city and the South West in general. He studied history at Cardiff University before returning to his hometown, where he worked Front of House at the National Marine Aquarium, sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world and community engagement.

Liam joined PEC as an Energy Advisor in September 2023 and now works as a Project Coordinator within the Energy Advice Team. His role allows him to support residents with energy advice, helping people reduce their energy costs and live more sustainably.

Outside of work, Liam loves trying new foods, finding old pubs, and travelling as much as he can.

Tom has lived in the Midlands most of his life, studied chemistry at the University of Leicester and worked in labs for a couple of years before travelling South East Asia. He came back due to the pandemic and decided he wanted to live by the sea and so moved to Plymouth to study Applied Marine Science. He has always had a passion for the environment and wanted to make a difference in the world but never knew how, so is hoping PEC will be the perfect avenue.

Tom's hobbies include playing the piano, reading, and rock climbing.