Scotland’s Citizens Advice Network is the largest independent advice service in the country
providing free, impartial and confidential advice. We use people’s real-life experiences to
influence policy and drive positive change. Our vision is for a fairer Scotland where everyone
has the advice and information they need to realise their rights, and where the barriers to
accessing those rights are effectively challenged.
The Citizens Advice Network was born in the shadow of the Second World War and we have
over 80 years’ experience of helping people through crises. We have emerged from the
pandemic lockdowns into the immense challenges of the cost of living crisis which has
brought a further increase in demand for advice as inflation soared, energy bills went up and
incomes remain flat. We are currently delivering a three year strategy from 2022-2025 which
focuses on rebuilding resilience after the impact of COVID so that the Network can respond
to the demands of the cost of living crisis, embedding our progress in digital services
achieved during that period, promoting the value of locally led service delivery, and building
the Network to deliver more effective outcomes for the people of Scotland.
The current Board shaped this strategic direction following extensive consultation with
Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland staff and we are looking for new
Trustees who share our vision and who will promote and support the delivery of this strategy.
The positions on offer are not remunerated but the real reward is being part of our
extraordinary team and knowing you will play a key role in shaping Scottish society for the
better.
Together with the rest of the Trustees you will help ensure the highest levels of governance
and strategy development for CAS. You will be responsible for acting in the best interests of
the organisation and its beneficiaries, and along with fellow Trustees for managing strategic
risk and ensuring compliance and accountability with the articles of association, external
regulators and the law. You will be a team player with a passion to make a difference to the
lives of people in Scotland.
You will have a commitment to our Vision, Aims and Mission and will be prepared to
contribute your time, skills and experience to support success of the organisation and the
wider Network. Central to our current strategy are a set of values which set out who we are,
how we work and what we believe in – person-centred, empowering, supportive, inclusive
and collaborative. You will be expected to demonstrate these values in your leadership.
We are committed to representing the diversity within the communities that we serve, and
having conducted an Inclusion and Diversity assessment of our Board we would particularly
welcome applications from the following groups:
? People from ethnic minority backgrounds
? LGBTQ+ people
? People with a disability
Having conducted a skills audit of the Board we are also particularly interested in receiving
applications from people with the following professional backgrounds:
? Finance and Accountancy
? Law
The CAS Board is made up of an independent chair and twelve trustees. Six of those
trustees represent Citizens Advice Bureaux (internal trustees) and six of those trustees are
otherwise independent of the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland (external trustees). We
are currently recruiting for 1 internal trustee and 2/3 external trustees.
If you would like to discuss the roles in further detail please contact Debbie Shields or Lauryn Pringle
on 0141 212 7555.
Closing date for applications: Friday, 12 th May