What is it like being one of our Trustees?

I’m Laura Milner, I became a trustee in November 2021. I am a solicitor and currently work at the University of Hull as the Director of the Legal Advice Centre. Prior to this, I was a family legal aid solicitor. I have lived in the East Riding for over 12 years, and previously studied at the University of Hull, so to return to live and work in the area feels like coming home.

I have had a very long association with Citizens Advice, both through my time in practice and at the University, so when the opportunity came up to join the trustee board I didn’t take too long to think about it. The values of an organisation are very important to me. That Citizens Advice champions a fairer society, free from injustice and is there for everyone has never been more important, given the challenges of the last few years. I hope that my skills and experience as a lawyer add value to the Board.

I am the current Vice-Chair of the Board. This involves attending Board meetings every three months, and standing in for the Chair when he is not available. We also have an AGM each November. There can be additional commitments between Board meetings as we also have a number of sub-committees, however how much a trustee is involved in these is very much up to them.

The Trustee Board is welcoming and supportive, our varied backgrounds make for positive and interesting discussions. We work closely with the Chief Executive. I have recently been involved in contributing to the Volunteer Strategy. I attended a board meeting as an observer before I was co-opted, and this was really insightful as it helped me understand the nature of the role. I have learned so much about the organisation as a trustee.

I’m Adam and have been a trustee 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.