Barry Taylor

Why Citizens Advice Gateshead?

I have always had a keen interest in social policy and helping people improve their lives - the work of the charity is key to this, so anything I can do to support I will.

What experience do you bring the board of Trustees?

I worked in the Probation Service for almost 40 years. I started as a Probation Officer working directly with offenders and spent the last 20 years of my career in various senior management roles focusing on service and policy improvements with one of the best performing Probation Trusts in the country. One of the key reasons behind our success was our ability to work successfully with key partners and stakeholders in order to maximise resources and impact. I believe all this experience can be used to help further the aims of the charity, both at the 'front-end' and my later roles as Director of Performance and Business Development of Northumbria Probation Trust and Head of Business Development of the National Probation Service Northumbria.

What can you tell as about your role as a trustee?

I was appointed as a Trustee in 2015 and Chair 3 years later. I have also served as Director and Chair of Society Matters cic, the trading subsidiary social enterprise of the charity, overseeing the transition towards our ambition to become a key organisation that influences social policy and delivers services that impact positively on people’s lives. 

I passionately believe we should be striving for a fair society in which everyone has the opportunity to live their lives to their full potential. A big ask but small steps can make a difference hence the reason why I am so keen to support the charity and its associated entities.

Read about other trustees here