We are seeking an enthusiastic and confident volunteer to join our Board of Trustees.

Trustees help make good decisions, keep the charity on track, and ensure it is run properly and responsibly.

Coventry Independent Advice Service is a small charity offering free advice, information and support on welfare benefits, debt and other social welfare matters. We hold the Advice Quality Standard, a national quality mark for organisations providing free, independent advice to members of the public.

About the role

Trustees have overall control of a charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. Trustees of Coventry Independent Advice Service (CIAS) are also known as Directors, because CIAS is a company limited by guarantee as well as a registered charity.

Trustees lead the charity and decide how it is run. By being a trustee of CIAS, you will be making a difference to your local community and to wider society. Trustees use their skills and experience to help CIAS achieve its aims. Trustees also often learn new skills during their time on the board.

You will need to be able to attend trustee board meetings, which are usually held every 6-8 weeks and last around 2 hours, plus preparation time (reading reports and management accounts, for example). We also have an annual trustee strategy session which generally lasts for half a day.

The role is a voluntary, unpaid, position but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Personal criteria

Good communication skills and experience of team working.
Empathy and understanding.
An ability to be objective, honest, non-judgemental and able to deal with issues of a confidential nature.
A commitment to CIAS.
A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
Good, independent judgement
An ability to think creatively.
A willingness to speak your mind.
An ability to work effectively as a member of a team

We are committed to a board that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. All backgrounds and employment histories are welcome.

Using Your Skills and Experience

Each trustee should contribute their own skills and experience to help the Board make good decisions. This might include:

Supporting new ideas or initiatives
Reviewing and questioning Board papers
Contributing to discussions and decisions
Helping focus on key issues and priorities
Offering advice in your area of expertise