Chair and Vice Chair (Voluntary), Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau

There is a rare opportunity to join the Board of Citizens Advice Bureau, Musselburgh as Chair or Vice-Chair. These are both excellent opportunities to contribute to the community through an organisation that provides vital help and support to local people.

The posts are voluntary, requiring attendance at six Board meetings per year, with some additional time commitment.

The Bureau, located on Musselburgh High Street, operates during normal business hours as well as providing outreach services. There is a drop-in service for general advice, delivered by a team of dedicated and highly skilled employed and volunteer staff, such as specialist money/finance, benefit and employment advisers. The Bureau is a charity and governed by a Board of (currently) 8 Trustees. More details of the organisation, including relating to its aims and ethos, can be accessed on: https://www.musselburghcab.org.uk/

The Chair will direct and draw the Board together, as well as providing a communications and support link between the employed Bureau Manager and the Trustees. Further, the Chair presides over Board meetings and ensures that appropriate governance is undertaken. In addition, the Chair represents the Bureau at public events and negotiates for funds where required or appropriate. Hence, particularly for the Chair position, relevant experience relating to governance, leadership, negotiation, delegation and line management is sought, as well as excellent communication skills.  The Vice-Chair will deputise in the absence of the Chair.

Both positions shall take an active role as Trustees within the Board, discussing, considering and deciding upon issues in relation to the governance of the Bureau. Hence, experience from a business, management, finance and/or legal background would be welcome, although, not essential.

Although, not financially remunerated, the roles are high profile and respected within the community. They make a valuable contribution to the aims of the Bureau, so that local people do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, or of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their need effectively. Further, they contribute to the development of social policies and services to help and support the public.