Come and join our friendly Trustee Board at Central Dorset

  • A chance to make a difference within local communities
  • Use your skills and experience in a new context
  • Learn how a charity operates
  • Learn about the impact of high quality, impartial advice
  • Understand the strategic role of Trustee Boards
  • Contribute to the future direction and sustainability of a key local organisation
  • Work with people from a wide range of backgrounds engaged around a common purpose
  • Something a bit different to add to your CV!

Citizens Advice Central Dorset are looking for new trustees to help the service deliver on providing advice to people to help solve the problems they face. Working with our Chief Officer and other staff, our trustees shape strategy and give direction. Our Board of Trustees come from a variety of backgrounds who all have the passion and dedication to make a positive difference for people, who need help and advice on a wide range of matters, in our community. We are governed and managed locally but with the benefit of being part of the influential national organisation, Citizens Advice.

We’re currently looking for new trustees to strengthen our board – especially if you have experience in:

  • Finance – to support our Treasurer and the Finance & Premises sub-committee
  • Risk Management – to help us identify and navigate potential challenges

Trustee roles are voluntary, unpaid appointments, although reasonable travel expenses will be paid. Each role provides you with a great deal of experience and satisfaction, the opportunity to develop your skills and utilise your expertise and knowledge.

Come and join the dynamic team of professional people that makes up our friendly Board at Central Dorset. We welcome and encourage applications from every part of our community. You will be given all the support and encouragement to ensure you make the best contribution possible towards your community.

To find out more about each of these roles please select from the options below.

For any further information or an informal chat before applying please contact Tracy McGregor, Chair of People sub-committee, by email in the first instance, tracy.mcgregor@centralca.org.uk.

To apply for any of the positions please fill out the Trustee Application Form and Diversity Monitoring Form (microsoft Word documents) and send directly to hr@centralca.org.uk.

Applicants will be required to attend one or more interviews.

Closing date for applications 22nd April 2025

Trustee Application Form – CACD Volunteers Download
Volunteer Diversity Monitoring FormDownload

More information about becoming a Trustee can be found on the National Citizens Advice Website

We are looking for a trustee with experience of organisational risk management to lead on identifying, assessing and managing our risk as part of an approach to  good governance. This role will  contribute to the Business Planning and Risk management sub-committee as well as being part of the wider trustee board. 

As a trustee for Citizens Advice Central Dorset (CACD), you will take an active leading role in supporting the organisation’s work in helping people in our local communities.

What will you do?

The following are comprehensive and given to set out the entire responsibilities that trustees individually and collectively and the board have. You are not expected to singly and individually undertake all the responsibilities without other trustees.

  • complete an induction for your role
  • maintain an awareness of how CACD is operating
  • read papers for board meetings and attend quarterly board meetings each year
  • participate in one of the sub-committees by reading papers, preparing reports if required and attending quarterly meetings
  • work on specific projects with other trustees or staff to further the strategic objectives of CACD
  • take an active discussion during board meetings and work with other trustees to: 
  • set policy and strategy direction, targets and evaluate the performance of CACD
  • ensure that all the finances and supporting financial control systems of CACD are in order including that full financial records are kept for all transactions, that money is only spent for the purpose given, and that proper financial controls are in place to safeguard the organisation’s resources
  • monitor the financial position of CACD ensuring that it operates within its means and objectives, ensuring that there are clear lines of accountability for day to day financial management
  • seek the views of all sections of the community and monitor how well CACD meets the needs of the local communities
  • ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers 
  • Review the agreed business plan for CACD and how effectively it operates including identifying action for improvement
  • review your own contribution to the work of CACD  and how effectively CACD operates including taking action for improvement

What’s in it for you?

  • make a positive impact for people in our local area by ensuring CACD is sustainable and meeting the needs of the community
  • meet people and build relationships with trustees, staff and other volunteers
  • use and improve your governance, leadership and strategy skills
  • improve your employability if it is relevant to you
  • receive training and updating on current issues

And we’ll reimburse expenses too.

What do you need to have?

You don’t need specific qualifications but you’ll need to:

  • understand the type of work undertaken by Citizens Advice Central Dorset
  • understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as trustees
  • be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that may be different to your own
  • have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
  • be able to exercise good independent judgement
  • have good numeracy skills to understand accounts with the support of the treasurer
  • be willing to learn about and follow the aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
  • be willing to undertake training in your role
  • demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to CACD, our strategic objectives and causes
  • work collaboratively as part of a team
  • have a commitment to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion throughout CACD and its work.

How much time do you need to give?

CACD board usually meet in the late afternoon or early evenings once per quarter. There will also be a quarterly sub-committee meeting to attend and you will probably be asked to give more time to any role you take on; you may need to attend other meetings if you’re involved in specific projects, or meet with volunteers and staff occasionally within CACD offices. 

Valuing inclusion

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary people, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds (EMB).

We are looking for a trustee with experience of  budget management and understanding of financial management information to support the Treasurer and to contribute to the Finance and Premises sub-committee as well as being part of the wider trustee board. This role will help the board manage our resources responsibly.

As a trustee for Citizens Advice Central Dorset (CACD), you will take an active leading role in supporting the organisation’s work in helping people in our local communities.

What will you do?

The following are comprehensive and given to set out the entire responsibilities that trustees individually and collectively and the board have. You are not expected to singly and individually undertake all the responsibilities without other trustees.

  • complete an induction for your role
  • maintain an awareness of how CACD is operating
  • read papers for board meetings and attend quarterly board meetings each year
  • participate in one of the sub-committees by reading papers, preparing reports if required and attending quarterly meetings
  • work on specific projects with other trustees or staff to further the strategic objectives of CACD
  • take an active discussion during board meetings and work with other trustees to: 
  • set policy and strategy direction, targets and evaluate the performance of CACD
  • ensure that all the finances and supporting financial control systems of CACD are in order including that full financial records are kept for all transactions, that money is only spent for the purpose given, and that proper financial controls are in place to safeguard the organisation’s resources
  • monitor the financial position of CACD ensuring that it operates within its means and objectives, ensuring that there are clear lines of accountability for day to day financial management
  • seek the views of all sections of the community and monitor how well CACD meets the needs of the local communities
  • ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers 
  • Review the agreed business plan for CACD and how effectively it operates including identifying action for improvement
  • review your own contribution to the work of CACD  and how effectively CACD operates including taking action for improvement

What’s in it for you? You will:

  • make a positive impact for people in our local area by ensuring CACD is sustainable and meeting the needs of the community
  • meet people and build relationships with trustees, staff and other volunteers
  • use and improve your governance, leadership and strategy skills
  • improve your employability if relevant
  • receive training and updating on current issues and practices

And we’ll reimburse expenses too.

What do you need to have?

You’ll need to:

  • understand the type of work undertaken by Citizens Advice Central Dorset
  • understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as trustees
  • be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that may be different to your own
  • have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
  • be able to exercise good independent judgement
  • have good numeracy skills to understand accounts with the support of the treasurer
  • be willing to learn about and follow the aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
  • be willing to undertake training in your role
  • demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to CACD, our strategic objectives and causes
  • work collaboratively as part of a team
  • have a commitment to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion throughout CACD and its work.

For this trustee role we are looking for someone who has:

  • experience of managing budgets
  • good understanding of financial management information

How much time do you need to give?

CACD board usually meet in the late afternoon or evenings once per quarter and you are likely to be asked to give more time to any role you take on. If you’re involved in specific projects or meet with volunteers and staff occasionally within CACD’s offices.

Valuing inclusion

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary people, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds (EMB).