Member Article

Citizens Advice Welcomes New Trustees

One of the region’s leading information and advice charities has expanded the experience on their board with a number of new key appointments.

Citizens Advice Gateshead is an independent charity that delivers local services to help transform lives, by supporting people to move forward during times of upheaval and uncertainty.

The latest trustees to join the board, Andrew Marsh, Anthony Tunmore, Scot McHarg and Richard Lee bring a plethora of experience in putting people first.

Andrew is an award-winning chair of Vistage for the North East and Northumberland, NED for numerous businesses and charities, and a successful entrepreneur. He spends his days helping business leaders achieve goals and find opportunity. Having recently retired from his six-year long role as Chair at Age UK Northumberland moving to the position of President, Andrew discovered he had the availability and a hunger to continue to help vulnerable people in local communities. The voluntary position at Citizens Advice Gateshead came at the perfect time.

CEO of the charity, Alison Dunn, says Andrew’s appointment is instrumental during a period of change and new challenges for both the organisation and for the local community. She said:

“At the heart of everything we do, is people. We promote the need for a fair society for all, so it is important that people on our board not only understand that but also live and breathe the belief.

“Having known Andrew for a number of years, through a peer group where he helps people perform to their best and through his association working with the organisation in a mentoring capacity, I am delighted to welcome him. I am confident that his forward-thinking outlook, determination for equality and the way he demonstrates inclusion means he will be a valuable addition. His attention to detail and strategic understanding of governance will add weight to our current experience too.”

As charities face harder times to raise relevant funds, and the general community face a cost-of-living crisis, the organisation is looking into ways to support more people and increasingly look after its employees. Andrew, who is looking forward to contributing to future success, said:

“The driver behind every working day for me is making a difference to people. If I go to bed at night and I haven’t helped at least one person, then it hasn’t been a good day.

“Citizens Advice Gateshead is a quality charity delivering important services to a community. Having recently implemented the four-day week, freeing up more personal hours for staff whilst maintaining their income, and enabling the extension of hours to deliver local services, it is an exciting time for the organisation and therefore, a great time for me to join. It is fabulous to have this opportunity to continue making a positive impact.”

Anthony Tunmore, Corporate Finance Manager at Northland Properties & Sandman Signature, has also joined the board, having helped on the charity’s financial subcommittee for the last 12 months. This is Anthony’s first trustee role at the age of just 29, but he is bringing his solid financial expertise to look at forward strategy and help real people. He said:

“This is my chance to give back to the North East community in which I live and work. Citizens Advice Gateshead is a great employer and is focused on helping people which appeals to me massively. I am looking forward to working with the other trustees to really make a difference.”

Scot McHarg is an expert in people, bringing his understanding via his years in recruitment and latest role at NRG. Scot operates across all business disciplines but has a strong track record within HR, finance, sales & marketing, operations and supply chain. Assignments have typically been at senior executive level but have covered mid-tier Project Managers, Managing Directors, Chief Executives and Non-Executive Directors.

Prior to moving into recruitment Scot had over 20 years of experience within a variety of plc organisations in the banking, leisure and automotive sectors. During this time, he has had considerable board level exposure and has gained a great insight into organisational behaviour and strategy during periods of start-up, change & development and acquisition & disposal.

Scot who is also a trustee at Toby Henderson Trust hopes to use his developed network and contacts around the region to benefit Citizens Advice Gateshead. He said:

“Having been involved with the charity’s CEO., Alison Dunn, to recruit a commercial director, I was surprised at the extent of the services offered and the potential to help the number of people impacted. I find the commitment to people’s health and wellbeing attractive and am keen to support where I can with salary, benchmarking and success in recruitment.”

Richard Lee also joins the board at this exciting time for the charity. An experienced leader with 15 years commercial experience at leading multiple products from inception to a fully-fledged SaaS platform, Richard brings people management and scaling for growth knowhow.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Toms .