Trustee

Trustee Information Pack

Our aims

● To provide the advice people need for the problems they face
● To improve the policies and practices that affect people's lives

Our principles

The Citizens Advice service provides free, independent, confidential and
impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. It values
diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination.

2026

Introduction from the
Chair of the Trustee Board

Thank you so much for your interest in becoming a
trustee for Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire. This pack
will tell you about what trustees do, the experience and
skills that we seek, and what you can expect of us.

It also includes biographies of the current trustees.

We serve our community from offices in Grantham,
Spalding and Stamford, and multiple outreach centres.
We are proud of the commitment and professionalism
of our staff and volunteers, who deliver a tremendous
service in challenging times.

I am privileged to be joined on the Board by a committed, experienced and
skilled team of other trustees who share our vision. The Board provides
leadership and support for our CEO and senior managers, while properly
exercising its governance responsibilities.

We are now looking for new trustees to join the Board, to enhance its
diversity and its breadth of skills and experience. We will provide a full
induction, so you do not need previous experience as a trustee or company
director.

If you have a passion to serve your community, we would very much like to
hear from you. I would be happy to speak with you informally. You can
contact me via email at: monica.stark@citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk

Monica Stark
Chair of the Trustee Board
Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire

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About the Charity

Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire (CASL) is an independent registered charity.
We serve over 225,000 people in South Holland and South Kesteven. South
Lincolnshire is a rural area covering 1,700 square kilometres. Our offices are at
Grantham, Spalding and Stamford. We have outreach sites at Bourne, Deeping
St James, Holbeach, Long Sutton, Market Deeping and Sutton Bridge, and
food banks in Grantham and Stamford.

We support clients with debt, benefits, housing, relationships, employment
and immigration problems. We offer information and advice, empowering our
clients to find a way forward. We influence policymakers with evidence from
our research. We train our volunteers and staff to help with a wide range of
issues. If we cannot offer help ourselves, we refer clients to specialists.

We help people on the phone, via email and online chat, and we also offer
face-to-face advice. We campaign locally and nationally. We have about 40
staff, most of them part-time, and over 80 volunteers, including 9 trustees.

We deal with nearly 60,000 client issues a year. The value of our volunteers’
work is more than £700,000 a year and in 2024/25 we helped to secure a total
income gain for our clients of £7,160,015.

CASL is a member of the national Citizens Advice organisation, which
celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2024. CASL is one of over 200 independent
charities operating under the Citizens Advice umbrella.

The tough economic climate limits funding for local services, but CASL's
finances are comparatively strong..

Three local councils provide our core funding: Lincolnshire County Council,
South Holland District Council and South Kesteven District Council. Their
support enables us to operate our core services. We also receive a wide range
of specific funding to provide targeted advice services to clients.

CASL was founded in 2016, following the merger of the local Citizens Advice
charities for South Holland and South Kesteven. Predecessor Citizens Advice
charities had operated locally for many years.

Our website offers more information about our work and our services:
www.citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk

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Our offices and outreach sites

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right

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Trustee role description

  What do trustees do?

Collectively, trustees have three key functions: setting direction; holding to
account and managing risks; and engaging people and influencing culture.

Individually, trustees act in the organisation’s best interests; manage its
resources responsibly; manage risks; and promote a healthy culture.

Effective trustees have insight into the organisation; challenge
constructively; weigh up conflicting opinions and decide; and participate
actively on the Board and its subcommittees.

Trustees also accept collective responsibility for Board decisions; use
impartial judgement; and comply with the Code of Conduct.

In greater detail, you will:

● complete a structured and supported induction for the role, with

mentoring from a current trustee

● read papers for meetings and attend four Board meetings. four or five

sub-committee meetings a year and some other events

● take an active part in Board discussions and work with other trustees to

fulfil the Board’s collective responsibilities, including:
‣ deciding strategic direction and evaluating CASL’s performance
‣ monitoring CASL’s financial position and financial controls
‣ ensuring planned recruitment of staff and volunteers
‣ reviewing CASL’s effectiveness and planning improvements.

  What’s in it for you?

You can:

● join a well-known, respected national charity
● make a positive impact for people in your community
● meet people, work in a team and build relationships
● gain valuable governance and Board experience
● build on your leadership and strategy skills, and
● increase your employability.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers, but we can reimburse expenses.

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What do you need to become a trustee?

Trustees don’t need specific qualifications, but we expect all trustees to
have six core skills:

● Insight into the organisation: considering CASL’s objects and its

public benefit strategically

● Challenging constructively: clarifying facts; stimulating thought
● Analysing issues: being objective; evaluating risks; using evidence;

planning ahead

● Weighing up opinions: using evidence; balancing long- and short-

term; prioritising value

● Interpersonal skills: communicating clearly; listening actively;

supporting a healthy culture, and

● Confidence and self-awareness: collaborating with others;

treating everyone with respect.

The Board also values specialist skills as assets among its members:

● experience or qualifications in:
‣ business or charity leadership
‣ equity, diversity and inclusion
‣ facilitation
‣ finance and accountancy
‣ human resources
‣ IT, AI or digital media
‣ law or governance
‣ local government
‣ marketing, PR or communications
‣ risk management, or
‣ strategy development

● past experience as a client or service user of this (or a similar)

organisation

● a track record of charitable fundraising, or
● being an effective chair.

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Finally, competent trustees should have these six personal qualities to
some extent, and demonstrate them in their behaviours:

● Committed - motivated, dedicated, persevering; plays an active

role.

● Responsible - accountable, independent, reliable; accepts collective

responsibility.

● Trustworthy - ethical, principled; is a critical friend and focuses on

continuous improvement.

● Collaborative - team-oriented, approachable; builds relationships

and seeks consensus.

● Confident - independent; contributes constructively and expresses

opinions courageously.

● Thoughtful - curious, adaptable, open-minded; appropriately

challenges the status quo.

(This section is based on our Competency Framework for Trustees, which defines the
functions of the Board as a whole, the role of individual trustees, and the competencies that
the Board and its members require to perform effectively.)

How much time do you need to give?

The Trustee Board usually meets in the evening, four times a year. There is an
annual half-day strategy meeting and a full-day all-hands meeting. Trustees
also join one of our sub-committees, according to their interests. Each sub-
committee meets four or five times a year, usually by video call. There will be
some initial induction and training.

Most trustees also take on a leadership role, guiding the charity in an area
where they have experience or specialist expertise. You may also attend other
meetings if you take part in projects, or meet with CASL volunteers and staff.
There are occasional social events.

Valuing inclusion

We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, people with
physical or mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary people, and
people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

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We operate an open application process. If you are interested in becoming a
trustee and would like to discuss flexibility in location, time, what you will do
and how we can support you, please contact us (details below).

Some people are prohibited by law from becoming a trustee. During the
application process, you will be asked about relevant factors, including
unspent convictions, but this will not necessarily disqualify you from becoming
a trustee.

Contact details and next steps

After reading this pack, especially the role description,
if you:

can bring the necessary skills, knowledge and passion

•
• are available to be part of a committed Board of Trustees, and
• will enjoy the opportunity of supporting the communities we serve,
then we would love to hear from you.

For further information or an informal discussion,

please contact our Chair, Monica Stark, at
monica.stark@citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk
who can supply a copy of our Trustee Application Pack,
if you do not already have it.

To apply, please complete the Trustee Application Pack:

the Trustee Skills Questionnaire

• our short Application Form
•
• and a Diversity Form (which is not used for selection)
• and add your CV,
then send them to: monica.stark@citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk

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Meet the trustees

Monica Stark — Chair of the Trustee Board

I grew up in North London and started my career as a
teacher. I became Head of Business Development for
NSPCC East inLeicestershire in 1991 and then Director
of Fundraising & Communication for the national
charity Home-Start UK.

My most fulfilling role was as Chief Executive of
Leicestershire Cares. This is an organisation of
employers who want to get their employees to
volunteer. I developed projects to address poor literacy
and numeracy and to support vulnerable groups into
work or training.

On retirement, I worked as a consultant supporting
charities with their strategy, fundraising and governance.

I live in Oakham with my husband and have a son in South Witham and a
daughter in London. At CASL, I also lead on business continuity, business
development, leadership self-assessment and fundraising. I am also a trustee
of Citizens Advice Lincolnshire. I love painting in watercolour and am a keen
gardener and dog walker.

Sameena Alladin — Trustee

Undertaking voluntary work is an important part of my
life and my association with Citizens Advice has been a
rewarding one, spanning more than 25 years. I began as
a volunteer Advisor, a role I enjoyed thoroughly whilst a
housewife. I have served as a trustee of three Citizens
Advice charities. I am also a volunteer with the Gibberd
Garden.

In my non-voluntary work, I am a solicitor, specialising in family law, and I am
a Law Society-accredited All Issues Family Mediator. It is a continuing privilege
to be part of an organisation that offers such excellent and much needed

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support to our communities, endeavouring to improve the lives of those who
often have nowhere else to turn for assistance.

I lead on Research and Campaigns.

Annie Butler – Vice Chair

I am deeply rooted in our local community, where I reside
with my husband and our children. Professionally, I have
had a rewarding 35-year career, mainly in senior
management roles in the financial services industry. Seven
years ago, I started my own business, which has given me
experience in leadership and problem solving.

My commitment to public service extends beyond my
professional life. I recently served as a District Councillor in
South Kesteven and enjoyed three years serving on the Cabinet with
responsibility for People & Safer Communities. I am a current Trustee of
Grantham Ark, a homeless charity, and a Member of Kesteven Girls Grammar
School. This experience has given me valuable insights into the needs and
challenges of our community.

The sense of purpose and well-being that comes from helping others has been
a driving force for me. I chair the People sub-committee.

Jeremy Gibbs — Trustee

Volunteering has been important to me throughout
my working life, including as a trustee in human rights
charities.

I spent most of the 2010s setting up a new university
in London, as CEO. Before that, for 15 years I was a
director of multiple companies, including an AIM-listed
electronics manufacturer and chairing a US-listed
software developer. In my early career, I led an IT
organisation and managed large numbers of people in
heavy engineering. I moved to Stamford in 2006.

I lead on complaints and trustee recruitment. I am also a trustee of Age UK
Lincolnshire.

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Mark Hallewell — Trustee

I have extensive experience of financial
services, including senior roles in debt
collection, risk management and retail
banking. I also spent five years in Public Policy
at a UK bank, and three years as Senior
Strategic Stakeholder manager at the Money
Advice Service (now MaPS).

I and my wife moved to the area to be closer
to our two sons and enjoy the wonderful
countryside.

I joined Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire in December 2019, having worked
with Citizens Advice in previous roles and seen the fantastic work they do for
their communities. I lead on business development, GDPR and information
assurance, and healthcare sector development. I chair the Finance and General
Purposes sub-committee.

Vicky Haw — Trustee

I grew up in North Nottinghamshire before
relocating to Bourne, where I have been since 2004.
I am lucky to have 2 children, one girl and one boy
who are amazing!

I have worked in Food Retail for over 20 years in
senior positions, leading large teams as well as
being involved in future business strategy and
operational execution. This is my first trustee role.
Making a difference to colleagues and customers is

incredibly important to me at work, which is why I was keen to join Citizens
Advice as a Trustee to make a difference more locally.

I worked for The Co-op for more than 20 years and I am now Head of Retail
for Waitrose. I have lived in the area for over 15 years. I have a genuine
interest in community support, particularly equality of access to support and
breaking down barriers for disadvantaged groups.

I lead on equity, diversity and inclusion, and on health and well-being.

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Heather McLoughlin - Trustee

I grew up in Rutland and attended Stamford High
School for Girls. I completed undergraduate and
master’s degrees at Trinity College, Dublin. My focus
is on helping charities to understand governance
and strategic needs.

I have worked for the Charity Finance Group, the
Charities Aid Foundation, the Fundraising Regulator
and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. I am
currently Corporate Governance Manager at the
Legal Services Board.

I began volunteering with Oakham First Brownies while in school. I was a
Games Maker for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. In 2015, I
volunteered in Kenya with Voluntary Service Overseas, working to help
internally displaced refugees to access government support.

I have recently moved back to Rutland and seized on the opportunity of
becoming a Trustee with Citizen Advice South Lincolnshire. I am excited to be
able to help support CASL to continue to deliver the amazing work they do for
the local community.

I lead on governance, risk management and our risk register.

Clare Wadsworth – Treasurer

My early years were spent in the West
Country. I relocated to Hertfordshire, where I
qualified as a Chartered Accountant, auditing
various companies, principally in London and
Amsterdam.

I relocated to Peterborough to work at Bauer
Magazines. I worked there for 32 years,
starting as Chief Accountant in the finance
department, then moving across into the
magazine business. I retired in May 2021.

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My key aim throughout my working life has been simplifying complicated
spreadsheets and ensuring that financial data is easily available and
understandable.

Since retirement, I wanted to continue to use my knowledge and experience
for the benefit of all. When I saw that Citizens Advice needed a finance
trustee, the role fitted my abilities and aims.

I live in Bourne with my husband. We have three children who have now all
left home. We enjoy our garden, walking our dog, being able to visit the coast
and we both sing with the Peterborough Choral Society.

As Treasurer, I guide and advise the Board on the key assumptions and
financial implications of CASL’s budgets, operational and strategic plans. I also
chair the Remuneration sub-committee.

Sue West — Trustee

I bring 20+ years’ Human Resources and
employment law expertise to the CASL Board of
Trustees.

With a foundation of experience in large blue-
chip organisations, I have spent the last 10
years supporting SMEs with their people
management through my own consultancy.

I aim to champion and engage the wider
workforce, including our volunteers, to ensure
CASL continues to effectively deliver a range of
advice needs across our region.

I lead on human resources and trustee recruitment.

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