Trustee role and responsibilities

We are looking for up to three trustees to join our team. Trustees’ statutory responsibilities are set out in the Charity Commission’s publication: "the essential trustee" and include:

• Serving as a member of the Board, which is responsible for directing the charity, ensuring that it delivers its charitable purposes and is well-run and solvent;
• Setting the strategy and monitoring performance to ensure the charity makes a positive impact to society;
• Ensuring the charity is accountable and able to demonstrate its compliance with the law and other regulatory requirements; this includes setting overall policy, financial plans and budgets, and effectively managing risk.
• Shaping and monitoring the charity’s culture and values to best deliver its vision;
• Being an ambassador for the charity, supporting and promoting its work, whilst safeguarding its name and reputation;
• Participating in board meetings and board committees, working in partnership with trustees and the executive team to shape the charity’s development and ensure the Board reaches sound decisions. This involves considering board papers, participating in discussions, focusing on key issues, and providing advice and guidance

About you

To join our Board, you don’t need to have been a trustee before, but you will need to:

• Have a wholehearted commitment to the vision and values of the charity, together with an understanding of, and empathy for, the experiences of people struggling with the everyday problem of debt
• Think strategically and creatively
• Make sound independent decisions
• Listen to and welcome alternative opinions, experiences, and have a continuous learning mindset
• Work effectively as part of a team
• Have sufficient time and commitment to fulfil the role

Whilst we welcome applicants with a range of skills and experiences, we are particularly keen to hear from people with skills in the following areas:

• Public affairs
• Social media marketing
• Fintech
• Information technology and digital
• Accountancy
• Risk

Time commitment

The time commitment for our trustees is a minimum of 12-15 days per year, although this may increase where trustees opt to undertake additional roles. The role includes participating in five Board meetings per year and recognises that most trustees also join one of our committees which meet three to four times per year. Meetings are usually held during working hours at our London office, although from time-to-time some trustees do attend remotely.

There is also a two-day strategy meeting held in Leeds in July, which provides a brilliant opportunity for trustees to consider the strategy more closely with the executive team and meet some key stakeholders.

New trustees are normally appointed for an initial three year term, which can be extended by a further two, three year terms, to a maximum of nine years. As is common in the charity sector, these roles are unpaid, however full expenses are paid in accordance with our expenses policy.