Become a Director

CGDT is always looking for new directors, both to increase the quota of enthusiasm for Community Development in ColGlen on the board, and augment our present skillsets.

Our current Board:

Alongside volunteers with the skills and time to fulfil the board offices of Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, the trust is always seeking expertise in Human Resources, Finance, Project Management, New Media/Technologies and the Third Sector as a whole.

At the time of writing, we are also seeking individuals with particular knowledge of and contacts in broadband / connectivity and forestry management, particularly the design and development of native woodland.

These skills are of course important, but more critical for the board is a willingness for directors to throw themselves into the projects that the trust is already running, developing and discussing, as well as suggesting other projects that haven’t been considered.

Of course you can contribute as much or as little time as you are able, but as a rule of thumb, you’ll be committing to 2-2.5 hours a month at board meetings, perhaps an hour preparation before each one, and then a variable amount to help deliver projects etc.

For example, during their stint, a director with detailed HR skills developed and updated all CGDT’s policy documents – documents which are still used five years later. In contrast, a long-serving director with deep contacts in the council as well as in Argyll provided critical liaison and knowledge of ABC’s decision-making processes which enabled in the commission of several projects. And lastly, we have had a couple of especially committed directors who have spent up to 50 hours a week managing particular projects to great effect.

If you become a director the trust will expect several commitments from you:

• to fulfill your duties as best you are able
• to ensure you declare your interest in items the trust discusses
• to ensure that good governance is applied in all situations – as far as you understand it
• to treat all matters at board level confidential until the board agrees to publish them
• to represent the decisions of the trust to the community fairly.
• to abide by the majority decision of the board
• to treat both directors and staff, including contractors with respect.

In turn the structure of the Trust, which is a charity and bound by company and charity law, will ensure your liability as a director is limited in all matters.

If you would like to become a director, please contact us at info@cgdt.org