Meet our team

Naomi Jefferies

Naomi Jefferies, CEO – Works 30 hours a week, usually Monday to Thursday.

“I am a trained organisational and occupational psychologist and have worked with a range of NHS teams. I am also a qualified teacher and SENDCO with many years’ experience of working with children, young people and their families in schools across North Devon. I have personal experience of how the death of someone you love can have a profound effect on every aspect of your life as I lost my twin sister to cancer at the age of 28. It is such a privilege to lead the FiG team and volunteers into the next chapter of our exciting story and to continue to develop our services, providing vital support to bereaved families when they are at their most vulnerable. We will all experience grief at some point of our lives and having the right people to support and understand you is an important part of processing and moving forward.”

Abi Mandeville

Abi Mandeville, Family Service Coordinator – Works 20 hours a week, usually Monday to Wednesday

“Supporting young people is my passion. Life can be particularly hard for teenagers, and so experiencing a death on top of the other challenges they face can be overwhelming. When the job at FiG was advertised I was working with young adult carers for another charity. FiG has a great reputation for the support they offer and they were in a position to grow as a service which I found really exciting. Having had a bereavement as a teenager I feel strongly about helping young people to build resilience and thrive despite any challenges that they have to overcome.”

Rebecca Symonds

Rebecca Symonds – Family Service Coordinator – Works 20 hours a week, usually Wednesday to Friday

“I have been married to Michael for 27 years and have two grown up boys. And a crazy 2 year old springer spaniel called Kobe!  I first became aware of FiG in the summer of 2006 when it was in its infancy. My parents hosted one of the first-ever fundraisers in their pub in High Bickington. At the time my mum was  very ill with cancer and sadly died within weeks of the event.

As a family we were immediately supported by Sue Williamson, a founding member, who lived in the village. After some time had passed, I attended a group with my children and I was blown away by the impact it had on all of us. So when I was asked if I’d like to come on board, I jumped at the chance.  I took a break after my father died in 2016 but have always tried to keep up to date with any FIG news.  I am very happy to be joining this amazing team, and to be supporting bereaved families again.”

Clare Maynard

Clare Maynard – Combined Administration & Communications Officer – Works 30 hours a week, usually Tuesday to Friday

“I started out as the marketing volunteer for FiG and now I’m a member of staff – it’s fantastic! My background is in communications and working with corporate charitable foundations.

FiG means a lot to me as I was bereaved as a child (back in the Middle Ages!) and at that time, there was no bereavement support available – it just wasn’t thought about.  I can see how the right help at the right time can make a huge difference when you’re young and struggling with grief. So, I’m particularly proud to work for a charity that sets about being a true friend to grieving families when they need it most.”

Tracey Elliott

Tracey Elliott, Chair of Trustees

“I became chair of trustees in December 2020 after volunteering for Families in Grief for a few years, mainly with the Teens group and Parents group. I have worked in my day job with teenagers for many years, firstly as a youth worker in my early 20’s and then as a nurse on a teenage cancer unit in London.

I moved to Devon in 2008 and now work as a specialist nurse in palliative care at North Devon Hospice; which means I have seen first-hand how valuable FiG is to our bereaved families. These last couple of years have been hard work but also so wonderful. I have immensely enjoyed helping FiG to grow and have loved working with the wonderful staff and volunteer team who – through dedication, hard work and buckets of care – give much needed support to bereaved families.”