Get to know our Senior Leadership Team
*PLEASE BE AWARE THIS IS AN OLDER POST AND THERE MAY BE A MORE UP TO DATE POST, OR UPDATED INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ *
Who are you and what is your role at CAWB?
Lisa: “I’m Lisa and I’m the Chief Officer.. I’m responsible for the running of the organisation which includes activities such as: strategic business planning and ensuring that actions are completed to meet our objectives; budget setting; seeking and applying for funding; monitoring performance; keeping the Board of Trustees informed; ensuring compliance with policies and procedures; having overall responsibility for staff, including their health and safety; representing the organisation at events and meetings; and ensuring we meet requirements under Company and Charity law.”
Clare: “My name’s Clare and my role is Deputy Chief Officer. My role is very diverse and no two days are the same. I help develop new services, and review them regularly to ensure they are running as planned. I support the Chief Officer with possible funding bids to help widen and strengthen the services we provide to the clients of Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield. I also help make links with other local groups to improve the services we offer to those who may struggle to access our help.”
Kendal: “I’m Kendal and I’m the Finance and Office manager at CAWB. My main responsibilities include: dealing with all finances and the payroll; HR responsibilities; line managing the Administration team, the Client Services Officers (First Response) team, and the IT support function; and dealing with the general management of the office and facilities management.”
What made you decide to work in the charity/advice sector?
Lisa: “I was looking for something to do after I left university and was unemployed. I saw an advert in my local paper for a volunteer recruitment day at a Citizens Advice office and decided to have a look. As soon as I started volunteering, I knew what I wanted my career to be!”
Clare: “I worked in the Financial Services sector for 23 years before making the change 9 years ago. I always wanted to help people, but I was unsure as to how I could do it. Following redundancy, I started working for a very small charity before seeing an advert for Pension Wise. This gave me the perfect way of using my financial background, whilst helping people at the same time.”
Kendal: “I started working at CAWB on a 6 month placement in 2010 and have been here ever since. During my time here I have been an admin assistant, adviser and now my current role of Finance & Office Manager. In all honesty, when I started working here I was young and didn't know what I wanted to do long term; however, what made me stay is seeing the difference we make to people's lives on a daily basis and knowing the good we are doing.”
What do you enjoy the most about your role?
Lisa: “I love the variety of what I do. The people I work with are amazing and give so much to help others. They don’t get enough credit for what they do.”
Clare: “The diversity! Every day is different.”
Kendal: “Seeing my team develop and their confidence grow in their own abilities to continue providing the support and assistance our clients so desperately need.”
What’s been your most rewarding moment in your role?
Lisa: “The way we rose to the challenge of Covid-19, getting our staff set up to work remotely in a very short time frame in the first lockdown and putting various things in place to try and ensure their mental well being led to me co-writing an article which was published in Forbes. Then I was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award by our team which was lovely.”
Clare: “This is such a rewarding environment, that it is hard to choose. Working within a charity often means managing services within strict financial constraints is hard, but when I hear of the clients we have helped it keeps me motivated to do more.”
Kendal: “I wouldn't say there is one particular thing that springs to mind, but I would say it's my resilience to change and always looking at how we can move forward as a service, to ensure we are the most efficient and effective as possible, to enable us to provide a top quality service.”
Why do you think charities and organisations like ours are so important?
Lisa: “We are here to offer free advice to anyone who needs it, without any judgement. This is especially important during the current economic climate. People have nowhere else to turn to. It's a shame though that we just don't have the resources to be able to help more people. The voluntary sector is excellent at making do with what we have, and our uncomplicated structures make decision making quicker and easier, enabling us to act quickly to respond to events and opportunities.”
Clare: “People are facing real hardship on the back of a major pandemic which impacted lives in a way many of us have never faced. Places like CAWB are vital to give people access to quality and accurate advice, to help ensure they are treated fairly and to have a place of support when they need it most. “
Kendal: “I believe that without vital services like CAWB and others alike, who provide clients with the information and advice they need to find a way forward, then they would have nowhere to turn to; unless they can afford to pay for specialist services, and could fall deeper into whatever situation they find themselves in.”
