For over 50 years, Cyrenians has tackled the causes and consequences of homelessness.

We understand that there are many routes into homelessness, and that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to supporting people towards more positive and stable futures. That’s why all our work is values-led and relationships-based. We meet people where they are and support them towards where they want to be.

Our mission: To tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness through learning from lived experience; by delivering targeted services which focus on prevention, early intervention and support into a home; and by influencing changes in legislation and policy.

Compassion | Respect | Integrity | Innovation

Read more about us and our values

About the team

Our Policy & Participation Team helps develop Cyrenians’ work to influence policy and systems change through learning from lived and professional experience.

Based within Cyrenians’ Outreach pillar, we work closely with services across the whole organisation, as well as external stakeholders and partners, including national and local government, funders and other third sector organisations.

The team currently consists of a Policy & Participation Manager and Youth Participation Lead.

We cover three main projects:

• The Scottish Frontline Network: Part of a UK wide network for frontline professionals who support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We facilitate free events and training opportunities, providing a regular opportunity for frontline workers in Scotland to network, share expertise and link to policy makers.
• All in for Change: A platform for lived and professional experience of homelessness in Scotland. The programme is co-facilitated by Cyrenians and Homeless Network Scotland and led by the Change Team – a group of around 25 people who bring their own unique experience and expertise of homelessness to influence policy change.
• Youth Participation: taking a youth work approach, we provide opportunities for young people supported by Cyrenians to share their experience and expertise and influence change in policy and practice in areas such as youth homelessness, The Promise, neurodiversity etc.

In addition to delivering the projects above, the team works closely with the Press & Public Affairs Manager on influencing opportunities and – when capacity allows – supports other policy and participation initiatives across Cyrenians’ services, e.g. cross-organisational responses to public policy consultations.

About the role

This is a new role created to mainly support delivery on two of our participation projects: the Scottish Frontline Network and All in For Change.

Working closely with the Policy & Participation Manager, you will deliver activities across both projects. The main focus will be to create safe and inclusive ways for people with experience of homelessness and frontline staff to share their expertise and influence change. Key activities will include organising and facilitating various types of engaging events, workshops, focus groups and meetings (both online and in-person) for frontline professionals and people with lived experience of homelessness.

As this is a new post and there will be scope to shape the position depending on your own interests and experience. We are keen to support you to try things out and bring your own ideas to the table.

We are looking for someone who can listen to, and learn from, people from all walks of life; has a passion for participation and co-production; and a desire to make a difference and create change at policy and systems level.