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.
Current opportunities within the Trustee board are:
- Chair of Trustees
- Treasurer
- Lead for Information Technology development
- Lead for Marketing and Communications
- Lead for managing partnership opportunities
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 Thursday 14 December 2023
More information about becoming a Trustee can be found on the National Citizens Advice Website
This is a strategic role, providing leadership and direction for Citizens Advice Central Dorset (CACD) and for the CACD board of trustees.
The Chair will be an ambassador for and champion the cause of Citizens Advice and further develop CACD as a local charity that makes a difference to the daily lives of many, often vulnerable, people ensuring that CACD continues to be highly regarded in the local community.
What will you do?
As Chair of the Trustees, you will:
- set the direction and help secure the resources for CACD to be recognised as best in class for the services we provide
- ensure the effective and collaborative governance of the board, providing leadership and support to the Chief Officer, trustees, paid staff and volunteers and ensuring that the purpose and values of CACD are understood, shared and lived through the organisation
- be responsible for ensuring that CACD complies with its governing document and all relevant legislation
- be the ‘outward facing’ ambassador for CACD, representing the organisation with the priority contacts of Dorset Council and the Citizens Advice in Dorset (CAiD) trust board
- continue to collaboratively develop a clear, shared vision, strategy, strategic priorities and business plan that is reviewed annually
- ensure that there is a strategic plan in place for CACD which drives the operational work of the organisation, led by the Chief Officer and that progress against this plan is regularly monitored and reviewed.
- champion CACD and our aims and continue to build a sustainable and adaptable operating model
- work with CAiD, Dorset Council and the Chief Officer to ensure that the Council funded contract to deliver Citizens Advice services across Dorset is meeting all the required contract criteria and Key Performance Indicators
- facilitate the trustee board meetings by leading the meeting, ensuring that
agenda items are discussed, enabling all members to contribute their
views and take part and seeking clarification where necessary - ensure that the board decisions are made within the remit of the Citizens Advice membership agreement, governing documents and policies and the board is enabled to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of CACD
- together with the Treasurer, ensure proper management and control of CACD finances
- maintain a culture throughout the organisation which is collaborative, inclusive and supportive for all volunteers, paid staff and stakeholders.
- help identify and secure sustainable sources of funding and ensure the relevant contracts are in place
- arrange or provide support and supervision for the Chief Officer including an annual appraisal
- ensure that the Chief Officer and the management team appropriately implement the decisions of the trustee board
- establish a clear division of responsibilities between the role and that of the Chief Officer
- with other trustees and the Chief Officer, recruit a trustee board with a diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge with an aim to promote trusteeship to under-represented groups and people within the local community
As part of your responsibilities as a trustee you will also:
- complete an induction for your role
- undertake training to ensure that you can successfully fulfil your role as a trustee and chair
- review your own contribution and work of CACD and how effectively it operates including taking action for improvement
What’s in it for you?
- make a positive impact for people in your 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
- build on your governance, leadership and strategy skills
- use and improve your employability skills if relevant
- receive training and updating on current issues and practices
And we’ll reimburse expenses too.
What do you need to have?
- understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as trustees
- understand the type of work undertaken by CACD
- be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
- good leadership skills
- experience as a leader at a senior level in a public service/corporate organisation (preferably)
- ability to facilitate and lead meetings
- good interpersonal and relationship building skills
- have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
- be able to exercise good independent judgement
- be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection, have good numeracy skills to understand accounts with the support of the treasurer
- ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
- ability to manage conflict and negotiate challenging situations
- be willing to undertake training in your role
- have a commitment to promoting equity, diversity and impartiality throughout CACD and its work
How much time do you need to give?
Trustee boards usually meet in the late afternoon or evenings every quarter and you are likely to need to give approx 3 hours to attend these meetings. You will also need to have time to plan and prepare in order to effectively chair these meetings. You may need to attend other meetings if you’re involved in specific projects, or meet with volunteers and staff within the CACD offices.
There are also other meetings as Chair that you will need to prepare for and participate in as follows:
- Executive team – once per quarter (approx 2 hours)
- Trustee awayday meeting – once per annum
- Meetings with Chief Officer – monthly (approx 2 hours) in person or virtually plus regular contact via emails and phone calls
- CAiD meetings – once per quarter
- Meeting with Dorset Council – every 6 months
- Involvement in trustee recruitment, selection and induction – approx 1 per quarter (2 hrs)
- Trust AGM planning and meeting – 2 days per annum
- Attendance at National CA annual meeting – one day per annum
- Attendance at Regional CA meeting – quarterly by remote access
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).
What will you do?
General trustee responsibilities
The following are comprehensive and given to set out the entire responsibilities that trustees, individually and collectively, and the board overall have. You are not expected singly and individually undertake all without other trustees.
- complete an induction for your role
- develop and maintain an awareness of how Citizens Advice Central Dorset (CACD) operates and how your role supports the organisation’s plans and goals
- 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 within CACD 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 community
- ensure that CACD 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 and work of CACD and how effectively it operates including taking action for improvement
Specific responsibilities for Treasurer
- be the Finance and Premises Sub Committee Chair leading sub-committee meetings to plan the budget and monitor the day-to-day finances and take an overview of CACD’s premises
- explain, guide and advise the board on the key assumptions and financial implications of CACD budgets, operational and strategic plans
- ensure that CACD has an appropriate reserves policy and a realistic budget that meets the services’ needs
- support the Finance Manager to explain, guide and advise CACD on the approval of budgets, accounts and financial statements within the organisation’s framework
- present the accounts at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in an accessible way for volunteers, staff, partners, stakeholders and the public
- ensure that annual accounts are prepared in compliance with SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) Accounting for Charities and submitted by the deadline to the Charity Commission and Registrar of Companies, and make arrangements for them to be audited or independently examined as required
- keep the Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities
- monitor CACD’s income and expenditure position and in conjunction with the Finance Manager present accessible reports quarterly to ensure that Board members understand the accounts and implications
- understand the accounting procedures and key internal controls to be able to assure the Board that the charity’s financial integrity is sound
- work with CACD staff, the Chief Officer and Finance Manager, to give information and advice on financial matters
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 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:
- have financial qualifications or experience
- some knowledge or experience of charity finances, fundraising, financial consequences and pension schemes
- good numeracy skills to understand accounts
- be able to explain complex financial information in an accessible way, 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
- ability or develop skills to facilitate and lead meetings
- good interpersonal skills
- have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
- be able to exercise good independent judgement
- be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
- be willing to undertake training in your role
- have or develop excellent written and verbal communication skills
- demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to CACD, our strategic objectives and causes
- exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable as a role model for CACD
- a collaboration mindset and willingness to work as part of a team
- have a commitment to promoting equity, diversity and impartiality throughout CACD and its work
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).
What will you do?
General trustee responsibilities
The following are comprehensive and given to set out the entire responsibilities that trustees, individually and collectively, and the board overall 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 CACD 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
Responsibilities for trustee with lead for marketing and communications
- to prepare and refresh/update the CACD marketing and communications strategy and budget
- to modernise the look and feel of CACD (in line with National guidelines) with the smart use of social media and Artificial Intelligence
- to raise the profile of CACD as a charity as a preferred local employer and place to volunteer and as an attractive and worthy prospect for donor funding
- to help manage effective and timely communications with CACD stakeholders (internal and external)
- to oversee the preparation of the annual marketing and communications plan including messaging, events, multichannel use, media messaging and presence and campaigns.
- to support the income generation work of CACD
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 our communities
- 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 we’ll reimburse expenses too.
What do you need to have?
You’ll need to:
- understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as a trustee
- understand the type of work undertaken by CACD
- be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that may be different to your own
- have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
- experience of or qualifications in marketing or communications role or experience of campaigns including digital marketing and social media
- 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 Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
- be willing to undertake training in your role
- have or develop excellent written and oral communications skills
- demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to CACD, our strategic objectives and causes
- exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable as a role model for CACD
- develop good networking capabilities
- have or develop experience of working with partners at a strategic level
- a collaboration mindset and willingness to work as part of a team
- have a commitment to promoting equity, diversity and impartiality throughout CACD and its work
It is desirable but not essential to have or be willing to gain working at a strategic level.
How much time do you need to give?
CACD board usually meet in the late afternoons or evenings once per quarter and you are likely to 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’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).
If you are interested in becoming a trustee and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.
What will you do?
General trustee responsibilities
The following are comprehensive and given to set out the entire responsibilities that trustees, individually and collectively, and the board overall 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 the quarterly board meetings per year
- work on specific projects with other trustees or staff within CACD 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
- monitor the financial position of CACD ensuring that it operates within its means and objectives, ensuring that there are clear
- 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 the service meets the needs of the local community
- ensure that CACD 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
Specific responsibilities for trustee with lead for IT
- to lead on strategy development and implementation for our Information Communciations Technology (ICT) service developments and improvements
- to maintain oversight that the planning, implementation and operation of IT is fit for purpose
- to advise on the security and integrity of operating systems including risks to ensure uninterrupted data security in line with legal, customer and Citizens Advice requirements
- to help develop appropriate IT policies
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 our communities
- 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 don’t need specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to:
- understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as a trustee
- 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 Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
- be willing to undertake training in your role
- have or develop excellent written and oral communications skills
- demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to CACD, our strategic objectives and causes
- a collaboration mindset and willingness to work as part of a team
- experience of IT systems strategy development, implementation and/or operation
- have a commitment to promoting equity, diversity and impartiality throughout CACD and its work
It is desirable but not essential to have or be willing to gain working at a strategic level. Knowledge of or experience of ICT/cyber security or information assurance is desirable but not essential. Experience of project or system management is also desirable.
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: you may need to attend other meetings 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).
If you are interested in becoming a trustee and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.
What will you do?
General trustee responsibilities
The following are comprehensive and given to set out the entire responsibilities that trustees, individually and collectively, and the board overall have. You are not expected singly and individually undertake all 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 per 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 within one of the local offices to further the strategic objectives of CACD
- participate appropriately during board meetings and work with other trustees to:
- set policy and strategy direction, targets and evaluate the performance of the local Citizens Advice
- ensure that all the finances and supporting financial control systems of the local Citizens Advice 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 the 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 the service meets the needs of the local communities
- ensure that CACD plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers
- review your own contribution to the work of CACD and how effectively CACD operates including taking action for improvement.
Responsibilities for trustee for partnership opportunities
- to identify strategic partners that CACD should be engaging with to fulfil its strategic objectives
- to help develop relationships with strategic partners in conjunction with the senior management team in order to attract potential funding and support the visibility of CACD
- to ensure that the CACD has an ongoing and positive profile with existing and potential partners
- to uphold CACD’s reputation with partners
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 our 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 and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as a trustee
- 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 Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
- be willing to undertake training in your role
- have or develop excellent written and oral communications skills
- demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment CACD, our strategic objectives and causes
- exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable as a role model for CACD
- develop good networking capabilities
- have or develop experience of working with partners at a strategic level
- a collaboration mindset and willingness to work as part of a team
- have a commitment to promoting equity, diversity and impartiality throughout CACD and its work.
It is desirable but not essential to have or be willing to gain working at a strategic level.
How much time do you need to give?
CACD board usually meets in the late afternoons or evenings and you are likely to 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’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).
If you are interested in becoming a trustee and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.