Chair and Trustee Appointment Brief 2020
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Chair and Trustee
Appointment Brief
2020
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in joining Citizens By helping people with the underlying cause of
Advice Gosport as our new Chair or Treasurer. their problems and making sure they don’t get
worse, we save the government and public
At Citizens Advice Gosport we believe no one services hundreds of millions of pounds every
should have to face problems without good year. We also look out for people as the
quality, independent advice. That’s why we’re statuatory consumer watchdog for the energy
here: to give people the knowledge and the and post industries.
confidence they need to find their way forward - We show where things are going wrong and how
whoever they are, and whatever their problem. to help make it better for people.
We are part of a network of independent We are looking for individuals that share our
charities offering confidential advice online, over ambition and have the skills and ability to
the phone, and in person, for free. When we say contribute to our Organisation. Please find
we’re for everyone, we mean it. People rely on us further information about us, our work,
because we’re independent and totally impartial. organisation and specific role profiles in this
We also give advice on consumer rights on appointment brief.
our consumer helpline, support witnesses in
courts through the Witness Service and We are a charity that is capable of making an
give pension guidance to people aged over 50. impact in our community. If you are interested in
joining us in either of these key roles, we would
No one else sees so many people with so many be delighted to hear from you.
different kinds of problems, and that gives us a
unique insight into the challenges people are
facing today. With the right evidence, we can Yours faithfully,
show big organisations – from companies right
up to the government – how they can make Valerie Kelly,
things better for people. We see how problems Chief Officer
can be linked.
Chair and Trustee | 2
About Citizens Advice
Our Vision Our Values
Everyone will be able to access advice to find a We’re inventive: We’re not afraid of trying new
way forward. things and learn by getting things wrong. We
question every idea to make it better and we
Our Mission change when things aren’t working.
We provide free, confidential and independent We’re generous: We work together, sharing
advice to help people overcome their problems. knowledge and experience to solve problems.
We are a voice for our clients and consumers on We tell it like it is and respect everyone.
the issues that matter to them.
We’re responsible: We do what we say we’ll do
and keep our promises. We remember that we
work for a charity and use our resources
effectively.
Chair and Trustee | 3The difference
Citizens Advice makes
Last year Citizens Advice helped to solve the Millions of people every year receive advice from
problems of 8 in 10 of the people who we gave us. In total we helped 2.8 million people in
advice to directly. 9 in 10 said that our advice had person, by phone, email or web chat.
helped them find a way forward and 9 in 10 Our advice website had over 34.5 million visits
would recommend us to a friend. Our service and the site had 54.5 million pageviews. We
saves society money. In 2018-19 the advice we provide support in 2,540 locations across
delivered directly saved government and public England and Wales with 21,400 volunteers and
services at least £435 million - that’s £2 for every 8,150 staff.
£1 spent on the service.
Chair and Trustee | 4The impact made by
Citizens Advice in 2019-2020
34,500,000 visits to our
website
1,344,000 people helped
face to face
1,010,000 people using our
phone service
483,000 people contacting our
consumer helpline
436,000 people getting help by
email or webchat
97,000
witnesses through the
Witness Service
Chair and Trustee | 5Citizens Advice
Gosport
Governance Our Trustees duties and responsibility
We are an independent charity, part of the Set the overall direction and support the
national Citizens Advice network, which values development of the organisation
diversity, promotes equality and challenges Hold the staff to account to make sure we are
discrimination. meeting the needs of the local community
Work to maintain the Performance and
Our service puts clients at the heart of all we do. Quality Framework set through the national
We employ 9 paid staff, some on specific Citizens Advice network
projects. Over 40 volunteers bring many Employ our staff and control the finances
different skills, experiences and diversity to our Earn and retain the respect of key local
organisation, and deliver most of our frontline individuals and organisations
services. All our staff and volunteers benefit from Give local people a say on our work through
thorough training, to meet the national Advice our public Annual General Meeting and other
Quality Standard. We are committed to equality feedback and consultation methods
and diversity. Make sure our work complies with relevant
charity and other law
Our Trustee Board
As an independent charity, we have our own
board of trustees, who are ultimately responsible
for the quality and type of services we provide.
Chair and Trustee | 6Becoming a trustee for
Citizens Advice Gosport
What does a trustee do? How much time is involved in volunteering as
a trustee?
Trustees are volunteers who are expected to use
their skills, knowledge and experience to help Most trustee boards meet in the evenings to
guide and govern their local Citizens Advice. They allow people to fit around full-time employment
work with the Chief Officer and other staff to or studying. However, outside of meetings,
shape strategy and give direction.This includes trustees may be required to give additional
making sure that their local Citizens Advice is: support, such as working with members of staff
on key projects (such as budgeting, recruitment
Doing what it was set-up to do, such as or communications).
offering high quality advice services to the
local community. What are the criteria required to become a
Complying with the law, including upkeep of trustee?
premises, insurance, recruitment and
equipment. Local Citizens Advice trustee boards welcome
Securing money to meet current and new people of all ages, backgrounds and experience
demands, and that all funds are used who are passionate about advice services and
responsibly. can bring innovative ideas, unique perspectives
Recognised and valued by local and good judgement. Sometimes, a local Citizens
organisations, funders and people, who are Advice will be looking for a trustee with a specific
aware of the vital service their local Citizens skill-set, such as experience in law, advice
Advice provides. services or fundraising. If so, this should be
outlined in the role profile and description.
Attendance at regular meetings is expected by all
trustees. Sometimes trustees will get involved in What are the benefits of becoming a trustee?
additional governance projects, such as
supporting fundraising, developing strategy or Training - all trustees are given training so that
overseeing HR procedures. you know what is expected of you and how to
carry out your role.
Within a board, some trustees will have a specific Experience - being a trustee is a good
role, such as being the Chair, Treasurer or experience to put on your CV. It shows that you
Secretary. These positions have defined can hold a position of responsibility, work with
responsibilities, such as chairing and facilitating others and help to lead and guide an
meetings (Chair), overseeing the budget organisation.
(Treasurer) and taking and circulating minutes Satisfaction - as a trustee, you would be helping
(Secretary). to deliver a vital local service that, along with
other local Citizens Advice, helps millions of
people every year to find a way forward.
Chair and Trustee | 7Chair Role
Description
About this role within the Board of Trustees External relations:
Act as a confident, fluent ambassador for the
The Chair will hold the Board and Senior cause, the charity and its work
Management Team to account for Citizens Maintain active relationships with key
Advice Gosport's Strategic Focus, providing stakeholders
inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, Act as a spokesperson for the organisation
ensuring that each Trustee fulfils their duties and Represent Citizens Advice Gosport at external
responsibilities for the effective governance of functions, meetings and events
the charity.
Efficiency and effectiveness:
The Chair will also support the Chief Officer and Chair meetings of the Board of Trustees
ensure that the Board functions as a unit, and effectively and efficiently, bringing
achieve agreed objectives. The Chair will act as impartiality and objectivity to the decision
an ambassador of Citizens Advice Gosport. making process
Ensure that Trustees are fully engaged and
Responsibilities that decisions are taken in the best, long-
term interests of Citizens Advice Gosport and
Strategic leadership: that the Board takes collective ownership
Provide leadership to Citizens Advice Gosport Work closely with the Chief Officer to give
and its Board direction to Board policy-making and to
Ensure that the Board operates within its ensure that meetings are well planned,
charitable objectives, and provides a clear meaningful and reflect the responsibilities of
strategic direction Trustees
Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to Monitor that decisions taken at meetings are
ensure financial accountability implemented
Governance:
Ensure that the governance arrangements
are working in the most effective way
Develop the knowledge and capability of the
Board of Trustees
Encourage positive change
Ensure that the Board of Trustees
incorporates the right balance of skills,
knowledge and experience needed to govern
and lead effectively
Chair and Trustee | 8How to apply
To apply to become a trustee for Citizens Advice Recruitment
Gosport or express your interest in the role of
Chair, follow the three easy steps: Trustee Role: ongoing.
Chair Role:
STEP 1 - Go to our Citizens Advice Gosport
website www.gosportcab.org and click on our Closing date: November 2020
volunteering opportunity page or type the Prospectus interviews: December 2020
following URL Final panel interview: January 2021
https://www.gosportcab.org.uk/citizensadvicegos
port_volunteerinfo.html Queries
STEP 2 - register your interest by clicking on If you wish to have an informal discussion about
‘Apply now’, which will take you to an online form the opportunity to become a trustee, have any
where you can submit your contact details queries on any aspect of the appointment
process, or need additional information please
STEP 3 - Our team at Citizens Advice Gosport will contact our Office Administrator on
then get in touch with you, letting you know 02392 604605 or email
more about the role and the application process. volunteering@gosport.cabnet.org.uk or
This will probably involve filling out an admin@gosport.cabnet.org.uk
application form and attending an interview.
Chair and Trustee | 9Citizens Advice helps people find a way forward. We provide free, confidential and independent advice to help people overcome their problems. We are a voice for our clients and consumers on the issues that matter to them. We value diversity, champion equality, and challenge discrimination and harassment. We’re here for everyone. www.gosportcab.org.uk © Citizens Advice Gosport, September 2020. Gosport Citizens Advice Bureau is an operating name of Citizens Advice. Registered charity number 1116994
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