Who we are and what we do

Citizens Advice Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent (CACBG) is one of the largest Citizens Advice services in Wales and across the Citizens Advice network. We are an established and well regarded local independent charity who provides free, impartial and confidential advice.

CACBG provides a variety of services across Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent, with a smaller number available further afield. Over the past six years, we’ve developed a successful contact centre in Caerphilly, which now accounts for more than half of our business.

We also undertake Research and Campaign work to influence policy makers and to effect change.

Our main office is in Bargoed. From here we operate a range of service delivery channels including drop-in sessions, appointments, telephone, letter and home visits. when feasible. We also run weekly outreach services across Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent.

We provide a range of specialist services to help people resolve their debt and welfare benefits problems and provide advice on energy issues. Help to Claim assists people with new Universal Credit claims. Other services target those experiencing mental health issues, or living with learning disabilities.

Our Caerphilly office is a 150 seat contact centre that provides a number of services under contract to national Citizens Advice.

The Trustee Board members are a group of volunteers who are jointly and severally responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and for developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.

The statutory duties of a trustee are:

• to ensure the organisation complies with its governing document;

• to ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document;

• to ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives;

• to contribute actively to the Trustee Board's role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets;

• to safeguard the good name and values of the organisation;

• to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation;

• to ensure the financial stability of the organisation;

• to protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation's funds;

• to appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor their performance.

In addition, with other trustees, to hold the charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:

• ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these;

• being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its “corporate” behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements;

• acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application;

• ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.

Person specification

All trustees, should also be aware of, and understand, their individual and collective responsibilities, and should not be overly reliant on one or more individual trustees in any particular aspect of the governance of the charity.

Experience:

• experience of building and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues to achieve organisational objectives;

• effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion;

• ability to think creatively and strategically, and exercise good, independent judgement;

• proven ability to work effectively as a member of a team;

• a history of impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences;

• a track record of commitment to promoting equality and diversity..

Knowledge, skills and understanding:

• commitment to the organisation and the availability to attend Trustee Board meetings;

• a commitment to the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service, including those relating to equal opportunities, independence, and research and campaigns

• ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and employers

• preparedness to make unpopular recommendations to the board, and a willingness to speak their mind;

• good, independent judgement and strategic vision;

• an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship;

• willingness to participate in democratic process which develops Citizens Advice policies by area and nationally;

• willingness and ability to learn, and to develop and examine their own attitudes;

• an understanding of the respective roles of the Chair, Trustees and Chief Executive.