Trustees Needed

Message from the Chair  

Sonya Dougherty

Dear Candidate,  

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee on the Board of Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot (CASNPT).  It is an opportunity to be a leading part of a charity which helps some of the least well-off people in our community. 

I have been a trustee of CASNPT for just over four years and I am continually impressed by the dedication and enormous passion our volunteers and paid staff have for helping people to find a way forward with the problems they face. 

Each year we help over 4,500 local people, and give advice on around 17,000 different issues. We offer a range of specialist advice and support services, such as debt, welfare benefits, budgeting, fuel advice, for people of all ages and conditions.   

The role of the Trustees is to make sure that the organisation lives within its means and plans for the future. We take ultimate responsibility for the work of our volunteers and paid staff.  It is sometimes challenging, but always rewarding to be part of an organisation which is able to help and advocate for some of the most disadvantaged members of our community.  

As you will appreciate, with the current Cost of Living crisis the work of CASNPT has never been more desperately needed, demand from the public is significantly high, and we operate in a very challenging financial environment.  So, we have to become: 

  • More innovative in our approach,  
  • More accessible to people who need our help, 
  • More effective in harnessing the talents of local people interested in joining our team, and   
  • More vociferous in our Research & Campaigning work (our advocacy).  

In response to the upcoming retirement of one of our Trustees, my fellow Trustees and I wish to appoint a Treasurer and another Trustee with ANY of the following experience and/or skill sets:  

  • A connection with Swansea Neath Port Talbot 
  • Lived experiences of the types of issues affecting our clients  
  • Partnership working within Public Health/NHS/Local Authority 
  • Marketing and Communications 
  • Welsh Language Development
  • Finance 
  • Legal  

Experience of working with boards or committees is not essential. If you share our values we’d love to hear from you, we offer support and training.

My fellow Trustees and I are also committed to increasing the diversity of our Board (and our thinking) at CASNPT and so we would particularly encourage applications from women and any underrepresented groups.  

If you are interested in any of these roles then please do get in touch to discuss the opportunity further or you can download the application form by clicking here. 

Sonya Dougherty

Chair of Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot Board

About Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot  

Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot is a registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee.  Members of the Board are both Charity Trustees and Company Directors.  

We give independent, impartial, free and confidential information and advice to help people overcome the problems they face, 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 peoples’ lives. 

At CASNPT we also have specialist services such as debt advice, welfare benefits tribunal representation, employment casework, financial capability.  

At Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot we have over 30 trained volunteers and 40 paid staff operating from our office in Swansea and remotely and each year they help over 4,500 people in a range of ways including face to face, over the phone, by email and web-chat. 

graph rising heritageblue

2023-24 Key Statistics 

  • Supported 2,337 cases with Benefits and Tax Credits,
  • Supported 959 cases with Debt,
  • £494,167 debt written off
  • £3.9 mil other financial gains

 

trustee recruitment january 2025 (3) trustee recruitment january 2025 (1) trustee recruitment january 2025 (2) trustee recruitment january 2025 (4)

We are recruiting regular trustees and specifically a treasurer

Trustee Role Description

What will you do?

  • Complete an induction for your role
  • Maintain an awareness of how Swansea Neath Port Talbot Citizens Advice (CASNPT) is operating
  • read papers for Board meetings and attend 4 meetings per year, In addition to Board development days and the AGM
  • Work on specific projects with other trustees or staff within CASNPT to further our strategic objectives
  • Actively contribute to the annual Leadership Self-Assessment
  • Take an active part during Board meetings and work with other trustees to:
    • set policy and strategy direction, set targets and evaluate the performance of CASNPT
    • monitor CASNPT’s financial position and ensure that it operates within its means and objectives
    • ensure that all the finances and supporting financial control systems of the CASNPT 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
    • review board’s work and how effectively it operates suggesting action for improvement
  • attend annual meetings with the Chair to discuss aspects of being a trustee with Citizens Advice SNPT and any training needs
  • Complete and update mandatory training within required timescales

Treasurer Role Description

What will you do?

  • complete an induction for your role
  • maintain an awareness of how the local Citizens Advice is operating
  • be a signatory to accounts as specified in Financial Procedures
  • respond promptly to on-line authorisations requested by the Finance Officer or Chief Officer, as specified in the Financial Procedures
  • read papers for board meetings and attend 4 meetings a year, plus meetings of the Officers’ Group, Trustee Development days and the AGM per year
  • be a member of the Officers’ Group (together with the Chair and vice-Chair); there are Terms of Reference that specify the remit of the Officers’ Group
  • explain, guide and advise the board on the key assumptions and financial implications of the local Citizens’ Advice budgets, operational and strategic plans
  • ensure that the organisation has an appropriate reserves policy and a realistic budget that meets the services’ needs
  • oversee 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/or Registrar of Companies, and check suitable arrangements are made for them to be audited or independently examined as required
  • keep the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities
  • monitor the organisation’s income and expenditure position and in conjunction with any paid finance officer present accessible reports at least quarterly to ensure 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 Citizens Advice staff, such as the Chief Officer or Finance Officer to give information and advice on financial matters
  • work together with other trustees or staff within the local Citizens Advice to further the strategic objectives of the local Citizens Advice, including developing a fundraising strategy
  • to undertake, with the Vice-Chair, the annual appraisal of the Chair
  • 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 the local Citizens Advice
    • 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
    • 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 local Citizens Advice ensuring that it operates within its means and objectives, ensuring that there are clear lines of accountability for day to day financial management
    • review its own work and how effectively it operates including action for improvement

The term of office is usually a maximum of 6 years, with a review after 3 years

What’s in it for you?

Make a positive impact for people in your local area by ensuring CASNPT is sustainable & meeting the needs of the community

  • Meet people and build relationships with trustees, staff and other volunteers
  • Build on your skills, in governance and leadership
  • increase your employability

We also reimburse reasonable, out of pocket expenses.

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 trustees
  • Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
  • Have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
  • Be able to exercise good independent judgment
  • Have good numeracy skills to understand accounts
  • 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

How much time do you need to give?

Our Trustee Board usually meets in the evenings and you’ll need to allow at least 2 hours for these; there are usually 4 Board meetings a year. In addition, there are regular meetings that take place once a year – our AGM and accounts approval, as well as Board Development Days or if you’re involved in specific projects.

We can be flexible about the time spent and how often you volunteer so come and talk to us.

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 around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.

Complete an application form

Complete the short application & diversity monitoring forms, which you can download by clicking here. 

We’ll invite you for an informal interview to discuss the role. 

This is nothing to worry about, it’s a chance for you to find out more about the role, and Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot and decide if you’d like to volunteer with us.  

It’s also a chance for us to find out more about you and to see if the role you’re interested in is a good fit for you. 

 

Ex-offenders 

Citizens Advice have an ex-offenders policy to ensure that ex-offenders are treated fairly.  

Having a criminal record is not in itself a barrier, and we will only take relevant convictions or sexual offences into account. We consider each offence individually, looking at issues like risk to staff and clients, how long ago it took place, the circumstances and whether they are relevant to the volunteer role. Some roles may require DBS checks. 

Anyone with a caution or conviction for a sexual offence against a child or vulnerable adult is considered unsuitable to volunteer. 

We will ask about unspent convictions as part of the application process. If you’re concerned or would like to discuss your individual circumstances further, please contact us. 

 

Entitlement to work or volunteer 

If you are from outside the EU / EEA, it’s important you check you are permitted to volunteer as a Trustee or carry out ‘unpaid work’ in addition to your main reason for entering the country, to avoid jeopardising your visa status.  

If you cannot find the answer clearly on your immigration documentation, contact the UK Border Agency (www.gov.uk/contactukvi-inside-outside-uk )

How we will use your information on your Application Form 

The information you give us on the Application form will be used to help us decide whether to recruit you as a Trustee. It will only be seen by staff involved in the recruitment process, and will be stored securely. We do not retain unsuccessful application forms. 

If you are recruited we will retain your contact information in order to involve and support you. We will also collect additional information, such as next of kin details, and over time records of training, support meetings and where relevant, appraisals. Again, it will be kept securely, and only those people who need to see your information in order to involve you will have access to it. 

All use of volunteer information will be relevant to their involvement, and may include: 

  • Contacting volunteers when necessary 
  • Making changes to role, support or equipment to improve accessibility 
  • Monitoring statistical details of our volunteers 
  • Providing ongoing support to volunteers 
  • Monitoring the quality of advice given to clients 
  • Addressing problems or complaints 

If you have any questions about the use of your data, please contact us.  

 

Background 

CASNPT values diversity, promotes equality, and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage volunteer applications from people of all backgrounds, age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation. 

Monitoring recruitment and selection procedures is one way that helps us to ensure that there is no discrimination in this process. To do this we need to know about the diversity profile of people who apply for volunteer roles.

Data protection overview 

  • If you are happy to provide it, we will use this information for the sole purpose of allowing us to monitor equality of opportunity and treatment as necessary to maintain or promote equality within CASNPT
  • The information you give us will be kept securely, won’t be shared outside the service and is confidential. 
  • It will not be seen by anyone responsible for making recruitment decisions or have any impact on you directly.  
  • If you are successful in your application and we require this information for other purposes, you will be asked to provide it separately – i.e. this form will not be used for other purposes.   
  • If you would prefer not to answer any of the questions we ask, please leave them blank. If you would like us to stop using the information you provide, please contact us.  

Application Process

Please note that we do NOT accept CVs and do not routinely reply to candidates who are NOT shortlisted

Share this with others

Related Information

This section is in

Volunteer with Citizens Advice

21,300 highly trained volunteers support the delivery of our service. Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and find volunteering rewarding, challenging and fun. We have a range of roles in local Citizens Advice and Witness Service, want to find out more?