Volunteer Trustee

What will you be doing?

Cambridge Money Advice Centre (MAC) are a small Cambridge-based charity who provide free regulated debt advice to the people of Cambridgeshire. Founded in 2004, we are helping to meet the ever increasing need for debt advice with volunteer advisers who work with our clients to find the best resolution for often complex issues. The charity is a member of Community Money Advice (CMA) who support over 150 debt advice centres in the UK.  As a member of the trustee board you would work with the board of trustees who together are responsible for ensuring good governance of the charity ensuring that we adhere to all the relevant rules and regulations.  General trustee responsibilities:

Attend quarterly trustee meetings With other trustees, contribute to the good governance of MAC including policy review, strategic direction and operational matters

Some of our trustees are also debt advisers or have specific tasks within the team such as treasurer, by bringing together a team with varied skills and knowledge we are able to cover the many requirements of the trustee board to enable MAC to both run smoothly and continue to develop and grow in the work we do. We would seek to grow your talents in a similar way. MAC is a Christian based charity, as such although we do not expect you to be a believer we would ask that you are comfortable and understand how our beliefs may on occasion influence our decisions in a different way than other charities might consider things.  If you would like to know more about what we do check out our most recent Charity Commission Report on our website where you will also see more about how we support our clients.  We would anticipate that you would be spending perhaps 10-15 hours a quarter working on items for the charity. The time will vary as will the tasks depending on the latest requirements. For example the need to formulate and review new procedures or looking at budgets or supporting the team in producing reports. We have a wonderful team each with their own skills to bring we would endeavour to use your own particular gifts to further support the charity.   

What are we looking for?

Skills and qualities needed for the role: We are ideally looking for someone who has experience in one or more of the following areas:

Experience of volunteering at a managerial/decision-making level or professional experience at a managerial/decision-making level Experience in charitable/not-for-profit organisations We would be interested in hearing the particular skills you could bring to the role, for example fundraising, Data protection, health and safety, safeguarding. 

The trustees work closely as a team under the lead of the chair you would be expected to combine team work with willingness to work on areas on your own with minimum support.  Although you will not be working directly with our clients we would expect you to share our passion for those who are struggling under the burden of debt. 

What difference will you make?

Volunteering with MAC is a great way to give something back, improve your skills and share existing ones, meet new people and make a difference in the local community. We are a charity established in 2004 to provide free, confidential advice to individuals struggling with problem debt. We have a small trustee team, a Centre Manager, and a group of volunteer advisers, so we have a disproportionate impact providing hope to people at their most vulnerable.  As a trustee you will be enabling MAC to provide our life changing service to our clients, you will be a key part of the team making decisions and sharing the vision for how we can truly make a difference. Each year we are supporting around 50 people in their journey to financial stability, releasing them from the enormous burden of impossible debt. Cambridge has the unenviable position of being one of the most unequal cities in the UK - that is to say we have the largest divide between rich and poor and this shows in the huge amount of need which we are helping with.  As a small charity, our turnover is low (<£25k) and our volunteer team small, but we need a volunteer with the time and enthusiasm to keep on top of the various requirements of a trustee board. As part of the trustee team your input will bring a huge difference enabling the smooth running of MAC and hence the relief to our clients.