Citizens Advice Guildford Seeking New Trustees

Published on: 10 Sep, 2017
Updated on: 13 Sep, 2017

Citizens Advice Guildford is looking to add up to four new trustees to its board.

Its trustees play an important role in ensuring it fulfils its objectives, operates within its means and complies both with Citizens Advice membership requirements and the law. Day-to-day running of the bureau is delegated to the chief officer. The role of trustee may be summarised as:

Setting overall direction and supporting the development of the bureau.
Ensuring the bureau meets the needs of the local community and membership standards.
Employing staff.
Controlling finances.
Earning and retaining respect of important and influential people and organisations in the community including funding bodies.
Ensuring the bureau complies with relevant laws including in relation to charities law, company law, employment law, health and safety, safeguarding and data protection.

All applicants must have:

Good communication and inter-personal skills.
Independent thinking skills.
Strategic vision.
Empathy and commitment to the aims and policies of Citizens Advice Guildford.

Candidates with skills in one or more of the following areas are particularly being sought:

General commercial experience.
Fundraising (negotiating grants/finding donors/fundraising and events).
Local Citizens Advice background (especially with advisor training).
Information technology, digital skills, research and campaigning, media/public relations, website design, communications, health and safety.

There are six trustee board meetings per annum, usually in the evening and around two hours in length plus preparation time for those meetings. The role is unpaid although reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

The aim is expand the existing board with particular focus on improving skills and diversity across it. Applications will be welcome from candidates from all backgrounds regardless of age, disability, gender, religion, beliefs, ethnicity, marital status or sexual orientation. Its aim is to properly reflect the community that it represents. Applications from women and from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates would be encouraged as these groups are currently under represented on the board.

Those interested are asked to send an email to john.evans@guildfordcab.org.uk who will reply with further details and an application form.

Citizens Advice Guildford is a medium-sized bureau with around 12 staff and 75 volunteers. During 2016-17 it assisted more than 4,300 clients, dealt with more than 11,000 issues and gained £2.7 million for our clients.

Citizens Advice aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. It provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. It campaigns for policy changes both locally and nationally. It values diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.