Chair of Board of Trustees

Do you have the vision to steer Citizens Advice Woking’s future? Can you lead with purpose and bring the vision to life? If you thrive in a leadership role, are committed to helping others and making a difference in your community, this is the volunteering opportunity for you.

CAW is a local, independent charity and a member of the national network. We provide free, confidential and impartial advice to anyone who needs it, but particularly to those more vulnerable members of our community. During 2023/24, our team of 15 experienced staff and 60 volunteers helped almost 10% of the adult population in Woking with information and advice.

Governed by a Board of 7 trustees, we are looking for someone to join our Trustee Board as Chair, as our current Chair is standing down after 9 years of great service; someone who would be really interested in steering CAW’s strategic direction and growing our services, which are needed more than ever in these challenging times.

Your key responsibilities would be to - • Lead the Trustee Board and provide leadership to CAW in setting its strategic direction • Support the Chief Officer and management team • Ensure compliance with laws and regulations and good governance • Represent CAW externally • Promote Trustee development • Liaise with Chairs of other Surrey Citizens Advice offices

If you are interested in finding out more, our current Chair, Laurence Oates, would be only too willing to discuss the role further. To arrange a time to speak to Laurence and ask for a copy of the full role profile, email Laurence at laurenceoates1@outlook.com

What skills do I need?

The Chair of Trustees should: 1. Understand governance and charity law to ensure compliance and accountability. 2. Have strong leadership skills to guide the board effectively. 3. Be impartial and fair, ensuring decisions are made collaboratively. 4. Communicate effectively with trustees, staff, and external stakeholders. 5. Be strategic to focus on the charity’s long-term goals while addressing day-to-day challenges