Becoming a Trustee
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee with Citizens Advice Cheshire West. This information pack should provide you with useful and important information about our organization and what it means to be one of our Trustees.
Citizens Advice Cheshire West Aims
- To ensure the right advice for everyone, ensuring people do not suffer because they do not understand their rights and responsibilities, or because they are unable to express their needs effectively.
- To improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives by campaigning about issues that affect our clients and influencing decision-makers locally and nationally.
Our vision
- To be THE go-to charity for advice & support in Cheshire West
Our mission
- We advise, support and empower people to improve their lives
- We are accessible and known to all for the best, impartial advice
- We influence policy for a more equal and inclusive society
Our values
- We care about what we do and the people we work with
- We champion justice, fairness and equality
- We adapt to keep pace with a changing world
What skills/experience do you need to have?
You don’t need any specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to:
- Understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities of being a trustee.
- Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different from 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 Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection.
- Be willing to undertake training for your role.
What’s in it for you?
- Make a positive impact for local people by ensuring Citizens Advice Cheshire West is sustainable and able to meet the needs of the community.
- Build relationships with staff, volunteers and other trustees.
- Build on your governance, leadership and strategy skills.
- Increase your employability.
And we’ll reimburse expenses too.
Citizens Advice Service
The Citizens Advice service is made up of national Citizens Advice and a network of around 290 local Citizens Advice members.
The Citizens Advice service is based on four principles:
- Independent - We will always act in the interests of our clients, without influence from outside bodies
- Impartial - We don’t judge our clients or make assumptions about them. Our service is open to everyone and we treat everyone equally.
- Confidential - We won’t pass anything on what a client tells us, or even the fact they have visited, without permission.
- Free - No client has to pay for any part of the service we provide.
We help resolve people’s problems by accessing a large electronic information system to ensure our clients are given accurate, up-to-date information on their rights and responsibilities. We also aim to change policies and practices that affect our clients, and we call this Research and Campaigns.
What does Citizens Advice Cheshire West do?
Citizens Advice Cheshire West provides general and specialist legal help to everyone in the Cheshire West area.
We give advice to help people overcome the problems they face, in areas such as benefits, debt, employment, housing, relationships and immigration.
We use our knowledge about our clients’ problems to identify trends and campaign to improve the policies and practices that affect people's lives.
We have specialist services including money advice, welfare rights, and energy advice, Help to Claim and Pension Wise service.
Our local service has over 100 trained volunteers and paid staff. We deal with over 15,000 clients each year, via face to face interviews, over the telephone and through email & webchat.
Our aim is to provide “impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities”, irrespective of who they are and what background they are from. We encourage all staff and volunteers to welcome diversity, to respect the individuality of each person and value their contributions.
Everyone that uses or needs our service needs to know that we are free, impartial, confidential and independent. We want people to feel comfortable using our service, know that they can get advice when they need it and receive a good service that meets their needs.
What does a trustee have to do?
- Complete an induction.
- Gain and maintain an awareness of how Citizens Advice Cheshire West operates.
- Read papers for Board meetings and attend 7 meetings per year.
- Be willing to work on projects with other trustees and/or paid staff.
- Attend 1 Trustee Development Day per year.
- Take an active discussion during board meetings and work with other trustees to:
- set policy and strategy direction, set targets and evaluate the performance of Citizens Advice Cheshire West;
- Make a positive impact for local people by ensuring Citizens Advice Cheshire West is sustainable and able to meet the needs of the community;
- Build relationships with staff, volunteers and other trustees;
- seek the views of all sections of the community and monitor how well the service meets the needs of the local community;
- ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers; and
- review its own work and how effectively it operates including action for improvement.
- monitor the financial position ensuring that it operates within its means and objectives, ensuring that there are clear lines of accountability for day to day financial management;
- ensure that all the finances and supporting financial control systems 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;
How much time do you need to give?
- There are at least 5 two-hour Trustee Board meetings per year, usually held between 5pm and 7pm.
- 1 day per year to attend a Trustee Board Development Day.
- Trustees may be asked to attend additional meetings from time to time, including during office hours.
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 Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
If you are interested in becoming a trustee and would like to discuss flexibility and how we can support you, please contact us.
Contact details
If you would like to discuss the role further please contact Nicki Berg, Head of People:
To apply
To apply, please download and complete our application form on our website.
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About us
ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation working to transform the global food system by replacing 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040.
ProVeg engages with all relevant stakeholders to create a food system where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet.
ProVeg has received the United Nations’ Momentum for Change Award and works closely with key UN food and environment agencies.
ProVeg creates global impact, with offices in 15 countries across five continents and more than 220 employees.
In the UK, our focus is on public sector food. Through our School Plates programme, we support major school caterers in their transition to healthier and more sustainable school menus. Since its launch in 2018, we’ve supported over 90 major school caterers, responsible for the food in over 8,000 schools, feeding over 1.3 million children every day, helping almost 50 million school meals become meat-free or plant-based. We plan to launch a sister programme in the healthcare sector, Hospital Plates, later this year.
Do you share our passion for transforming the food system? Are you impact driven and prefer to take a pragmatic approach? And do you have the skills and experience to help us? Then we’d love to hear from you!
Board Competencies
We’re looking for a new Board member who can demonstrate the following personal characteristics and behaviours:
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Respects and internalises the principles of accountability
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Makes informed judgement
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Listens actively with an open mind
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Participates in debate, providing relevant comments
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Speaks own mind candidly but respectfully
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Demonstrates initiative and insightfulness
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Thinks both logically and creatively
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Makes decisions independently
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Advises from own experience base
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Teams with others, forming collaborative relationships with other Board members and, where appropriate, providing guidance and advice to staff
Meetings
The Board aims to hold around four Board Meetings per year (generally 1.5 hours per meeting, although subject to change, as necessary). Meetings are usually held virtually, although we now aim to hold one in-person meeting per year, and it is expected that Board Members read the necessary board materials prior to each meeting.
Board positions carry no remuneration but travel and other out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed. In return for your contribution, we offer the chance to work with and on behalf of people who are passionate in their commitment to our Mission and are constantly inspiring in their energy and creativity to achieve positive change.
The Role of the Board
In line with ProVeg International's Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles, the ProVeg C.I.C. Board is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of ProVeg in the UK, and monitoring delivery by the Director and their staff. The Board members of ProVeg C.I.C play a critical role in acting as a check and balance for the organisation, giving strategic direction, and acting as a sounding board for strategy and priorities as required. Board members can typically help an organisation with their skills and experience, their networks and/or by other means. The Board member will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team of ProVeg C.I.C. and work closely and harmoniously alongside the International Board to support joined up and unified global strategic delivery of objectives.
Duties
Board members are bound by a combination of statutory duties and organisational duties:
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Ensure that ProVeg C.I.C. complies with its governing document, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations
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Board members agree to contribute the necessary time to effectively govern ProVeg C.I.C. in the UK. (The total commitment tends to be around 4h per quarter, but is subject to change in line with necessary duties)
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Ensure that ProVeg C.I.C. pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
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Ensure ProVeg C.I.C. uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: ProVeg C.I.C must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are
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Contribute actively to the Board in giving firm strategic direction to ProVeg C.I.C, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
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Safeguard the good name and values of ProVeg C.I.C.
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Manage conflicts of interests
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Ensure the effective and efficient administration of ProVeg C.I.C.
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Ensure the financial stability of ProVeg C.I.C.
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Protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation’s funds
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Monitor the performance of the Director, UK (and if required, appoint the role)
Board Member Person Specification
Essential:
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Educated to degree level or equivalent with relevant business, Community Interest Company, or Charity experience
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Commitment to and willingness to work in accordance with ProVeg International’s principles and values
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Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to effectively fulfil the role of Director
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An ability to have strategic vision in line with available market factors and resource
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A history of proven good, independent judgement
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Ability to think creatively
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Willingness to speak their mind professionally and respectfully
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Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively across all levels, such as Board, Senior Leadership Team, Staff and Volunteers
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Knowledge of good governance practice
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Solid understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Directors.
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Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
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Willingness to adhere to ProVeg International’s Director’s Code of Conduct
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Eligible under Company Law to be a Board Director (e.g. not barred from taking up such positions)
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Follows a plant-based lifestyle
Desirable:
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Senior Management/Executive experience
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Salaried or Board experience in a similar organisation
We specifically seek great board members with expertise or assets in one or more of the following areas:
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Fundraising and income generation
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Government/policy or B2B sector including food services
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Legal
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A network of influencers and ambassadors
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People & Culture
Diversity Statement
ProVeg is committed to equal employment, volunteering and governance opportunity for all, regardless of race, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, refugee background, genetic information, disability, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, HIV status, gender identity, or gender expression. People of colour, women, people with disabilities, people from LGBTQIA+ communities, elderly people, refugees and people living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.