It’s Trustees’ Week – could you help drive our charity forward?
It’s #TrusteesWeek– the time of year when we celebrate the amazing contribution made by trustees for their charities and recognise the difference they make.
Trustees are the volunteers who lead charities and decide how they are run. At Citizens Advice Hull & East Riding, we currently have six amazing trustees helping to guide our work as a local charity which last year helped more than 24,000 people resolve over 112,000 issues.
And we’re recruiting more trustees to help drive us forward! The roles are voluntary, with expenses paid. We are seeking people with strategic vision, independent judgement and a willingness to give time and commitment to being a trustee.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people with knowledge and experience in some of the following areas:
- the legal and advice sector
- developing strategies for increased financial sustainability in the third sector
- how technology and social media can support service delivery and promote the organisation
- A knowledge of/relationship with key stakeholders
- HR and managing people in fast changing times
- An understanding of the economic and social drivers of poverty in society and an ability and interest in supporting Hull and East Riding residents
Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK. Thank you for the time, commitment, and effort you bring to your charities to help them thrive. Test your trustee knowledge here.
The Charity Commission provides guidance to help support charity trustees along with information for anyone looking to find out more about trusteeship.
The 5-minute guide series linked here gives short and clear advice on key topics and are a quick read to help you increase your knowledge and understanding.
Help tackle society’s biggest challenges
As a trustee, you directly shape organisations that tackle society’s biggest challenges – your decisions create lasting positive impact in your community. Trusteeship can help you:
- Bring your passions to life, use your skills to make a difference to a cause you care about
- Play a crucial role in the charity sector – help deliver a positive impact to those in need and across communities
- Develop skills in leadership, problem solving and decision making
- Expand your professional network and enhance your career prospects
You can find out about this week’s range of events and access free guidance and resources at www.trusteesweek.org.
‘Citizens Advice seemed like an obvious choice’
I’m Adam and have been a trustee of Citizens Advice Hull & East Riding since 2021. I grew up in Driffield before venturing all the way to Scarborough where I did my degree course in music. I work in the UK Space Agency, a Government body representing the UK’s interests in space. I’m a huge music lover – I have a diverse music library, but I’m also a complete sci-fi geek.
I am passionate about tackling poverty in all forms. There are plenty of charities doing some incredible and essential work, but I believe Citizens Advice offers something much more. Therefore, when I was looking for a way to utilise my experience in policy and governance for the benefit of my local area, Citizens Advice Hull & East Riding seemed like an obvious choice.
The trustee board meet every quarter and any decisions made will then be trusted to the Senior Leadership Team to carry out. Fortunately for the trustees, we have some truly brilliant leaders throughout the entire organisation, and this enables the trustees to really understand and focus on the things that matter.
Being a trustee can be challenging when difficult decisions must be made or where there’s uncertainty, for example when we were under pressure to find a new CEO. However, being able to read the many success stories of how our staff and volunteers have made a real and significant difference in the lives of our clients is the highlight of being in the role!
Above everything, the main quality of any trustee should be a genuine passion and interest in providing information and advice to the people of Hull and East Yorkshire. The trustees welcome anyone from any background and experience – I myself joined the role as a 29-year-old with no previous experience of being a trustee. However, I am passionate about helping to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.