Scottish Athletics Limited (scottishathletics) is seeking two new non-executive Director to join the diverse and experienced Board on an industry leading governing body of sport.

Our existing Board can be viewed by clicking here.

About Us

scottishathletics is the national governing body for athletics in Scotland. Our vision is to give everyone in Scotland the opportunity to participate in athletics and running and to achieve their personal ambitions.

Our mission is to deliver an integrated, inclusive and adaptable model of athletics and running provision that inspires everyone in Scotland to enjoy the sport and experience personal success. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of the work that scottishathletics leads, and the organisation works closely with all stakeholders in athletics in Scotland, to continue improving diversity in the sport and to be reflective of Scottish society.

Our strategy, Building a Culture of Success (2023-2027), captures the breadth or work that scottishathletics facilitates, from supporting performance athletes on the world stage to providing opportunities for people to participate in the sport within their local community. The members clubs play a crucial role in growing and developing the sport, and with the volunteer workforce, they are integral to the sports future success.

Everyone has a role to play in athletics in Scotland and scottishathletics strives to continuously evolve to deliver on our vision for the sport.

Key information for applicants

Conditions of Appointment

Non-Executive Directors are appointed for an initial period of four years, with a maximum of two terms of four years. Appointments are subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting.

Staff

scottishathletics employs 33 members of staff and 23 Club Together Officers.

Commitment

The successful candidate will be required to attend five Board meetings per year and contribute to Board sub-committees where appropriate. The expected time commitment is 5-8 days per year.

Remuneration

This is a voluntary role.

Travel and Subsistence

The post holder will be required on occasion to travel to meetings within Scotland. Travel and subsistence will be reimbursed in accordance with the scottishathletics policy.

Other Information

The successful candidate will be required to complete a fit and proper persons declaration and regularly update their declaration of interests.

Role 1: Non-Executive Board Director (including Board Equality Champion)

About the Role

Our Board is seeking a new Director with a background in equality, diversity and inclusion preferably either in a sporting context or through lived experience. Alongside the other members of our Board, you will be responsible for ensuring the best long-term interests and prosperity of (scottishathletics) by supporting and challenging the executive team in the direction of its affairs, while meeting the appropriate interests of its members, and relevant stakeholders, taking into account legislation, relevant regulations and commercial considerations.

General duties and responsibilities:

• Set objectives, define policy and work with the executive team to develop strategic direction;
• Incorporate good governance and ethical standards into daily activities and ensure compliance of policies, laws and regulations;
• Ensure the CEO provides excellent leadership, planning, organisation, control and succession;
• Monitor the performance of scottishathletics against the agreed goals and ensure present plans and actions provide for scottishathletics’ continuity;
• Manage risk; and
• Ensure the Board receives and reviews regular financial information concerning the management of scottishathletics and is informed in a timely manner about any concerns about the activities of scottishathletics

Specific duties and responsibilities:

• Assume the role of Board Equality Champion for scottishathletics leading and informing discussion and planning at Board level on equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Support the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded throughout the organisation and across the wider sport;
• Liaise with the Equalities Officer to provide the Board with updates, progress reports, information and advice relating to equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Support the Equalities Officer and senior management team to evaluate and continually enhance the work the organisation does to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in the sport; and
• Promote and demonstrate anti-discriminatory good practice.

Role 2: Non-Executive Board Director (Commercial)

About the Role

Our Board is seeking a new Director with experience and expertise in building, developing and retaining commercial relationships either in an executive and/or non-executive role. Alongside the other members of our Board, you will be responsible for ensuring the best long-term interests and prosperity of scottishathletics by supporting and challenging the executive team in the direction of its affairs, while meeting the appropriate interests of its members, and relevant stakeholders, taking into account legislation, relevant regulations and commercial considerations.

General duties and responsibilities:

• Set objectives, define policy and work with the executive team to develop strategic direction;
• Incorporate good governance and ethical standards into daily activities and ensure compliance of policies, laws and regulations;
• Ensure the CEO provides excellent leadership, planning, organisation, control and succession;
• Monitor the performance of scottishathletics against the agreed goals and ensure present plans and actions provide for scottishathletics’ continuity;
• Manage risk; and
• Ensure the Board receives and reviews regular financial information concerning the management of scottishathletics and is informed in a timely manner about any concerns about the activities of scottishathletics

Specific duties and responsibilities:

• Support the Board, CEO and Head of Communications to promote the scottishathletics brand, package commercial assets and secure sponsorship and strategic partnerships to further the organisations objectives;
• Advise and support the executive team on building, developing and retaining commercial and strategic partners;
• Support and influence the delivery of the ‘Commercial and Partnerships’ pillar of the scottishathletics strategy ‘Building a Culture of Success (2023-2027)’;
• Work with the Chief Executive Officer to oversee the sourcing, negotiating, evaluation and retention of sponsorship and partnership agreements;
• Ensure the Board is equipped to make well-informed commercial decisions; and
• Represent the Board of Directors on, and Chair, the Commercial Committee.

Duncan Place Community Hub in Leith is looking for up to six volunteer Trustees to make up a board of twelve. We are looking for Trustees willing to share their skills, knowledge and experience, and who can work in a team to ensure good governance and provide strategic direction to the staff team who carry out the day-to-day operations and management.

Trustees should be universally welcoming and supportive of our diverse community.

If you have the following skills and experience, let’s talk:

• Charity management and Development
• Community and Membership Development
• Marketing and Communications
• Social Impact Measurement
• Accountancy / Finance / Investment
• Staff Development

We welcome other skills and experience too and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences who can add value to the organisation.

Duncan Place offers some activities for children. Whilst day to day contact is unlikely, Trustees are involved in safeguarding via policies and procedures, so are therefore required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) Scheme. Duncan Place will organise this at no cost to the Trustee. More details are available here: mygov.scot/pvg-scheme

About Duncan Place Community Hub

Duncan Place Community Hub is a registered charity operating as a social enterprise. Through offering a range of inclusive and low-cost community events, we aim to promote well-being, reduce social isolation, and build social connections in Leith and the surrounding areas.

We also provide affordable office space to organisations making a positive social impact in the area, and hourly room hire for local groups, businesses and individuals.

The organisation has grown from the potential demolition of a very tired council owned community centre, to a fully refurbished hub owned by the charity and serving the people of Leith. The income we generate from tenancies and room hire is used to maintain our building, employ our team at the real living wage, and to subsidise our community events. This innovative model means that the charity is financially healthy, has decent reserves and is able to use funds raised to respond to the communities’ needs without the need to rely on short-term funding.

Our Vision, Mission

Our Vision

Our vision is for a happy healthy community where people are welcomed to take part in what we offer.

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote well-being, reduce social isolation, and build social connections in Leith and the surrounding areas.

We do this through

Offering a range of inclusive and low-cost community events and activities covering a wide range of ages and interests.

Providing affordable office space to organisations making a positive social impact in the area, and hourly room hire for local groups, businesses and individuals.

Generating income from tenancies and room hire to maintain our building, employ our team at the real living wage, and to subsidise our community events.

Our Values

Maintaining Duncan Place Community Hub as a welcoming and inclusive space takes kindness and effort from all of us. We thank all building users for sharing in our values and being part of making it such a great space.

Inclusion: We are committed to creating a space and providing services where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.

Community: The people that use our building, our tenants, room-hirers, staff and visitors are central to all that we do. We are proud to be a part of the diverse and exciting community that is Leith. We will continue to build strong relationships within and outside our organisation to support our community.

Diversity: We celebrate the unique backgrounds and experiences of those that use our community hub.

Wellbeing: We prioritise the health and happiness of all hub users and employees. Physical, mental, social, and emotional health are equally important and underpin the decisions we take.

Making a difference: We strive to create a positive impact on the lives of our members, visitors, employees, tenants and the broader community.

Training Details

Current board members and the chief executive of the charity will provide induction and ongoing support. We will support you to access online training for the role of a charity trustee which is available through Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) and will explore other training opportunities as required and as budget allows.

About Our Board

We are keen to continue developing the organisation by welcoming up to six new Trustees, bringing fresh eyes with a range of skills, experience and perspectives. New Trustees will join our current board of committed and engaged individuals who have been with the charity for between two to six years. Our current chair is reaching the end of their maximum length of service and will be retiring at the next AGM. The board will be appointed at the AGM (18th June) and then, at the first meeting following the AGM, the board themselves will decide on the office bearing roles. Current trustees have skills in organisational management, facilities management, staff support, strategic planning, policy development, treasury skills, funding and more.

Expected Commitment

There are 8-10 in-person board meetings per year. These are currently monthly on a Thursday evening and approx. 1.5-2hrs long. Following a mission and values day last October we will be progressing through our next phase of growth. The frequency of board meetings will be under review with the intention of reducing the number held each year.

Trustees are expected to attend the board meetings and to also join and contribute to sub-groups to oversee ongoing areas of work in line with their interests and/ or organisational need. Depending upon the area of work, the sub-group can be short lived, medium or longer term. The times of the sub-group meetings are flexible and decided by the sub-group members. We hope that potential candidates will commit to a 3-year term of office, but we are realistic and know that ‘life happens!’

The estimated commitment is 4 to 6 hours per month e.g.

• Reading papers in advance of meetings
• Attending and contributing at meetings
• Progressing action points
• Sub-group commitments

Trustees are expected to be confident and self-sufficient in using digital tools, including email, WhatsApp, shared document platforms (such as SharePoint) and video conferencing (teams/ zoom or similar). Board papers and organisational documents are managed digitally; trustees are expected to access these independently using their own device. This means having reliable access to a laptop, tablet, or similar device capable of running a current web browser and accessing cloud-based platforms. A smartphone alone is unlikely to be sufficient for this purpose.

If you have any concerns about meeting these requirements, please contact us to discuss before applying.

Location/Travel Details

Duncan Place Community Hub, 4 Duncan Place, Leith, EH6 8HW

Expenses

Reasonable travel expenses are available. All other expenses must be agreed prior to spending.

Accessibility Details

Disabled parking space available. Ramp access. Accessible loos. Wide corridors and doors. Lift access to upper floors. Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments needed.

What happens next?

Duncan Place is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) – a type of charity that is run by and for its members. The constitution specifies the recruitment process.

• Potential trustees should complete the form linked below.
• We will then invite you to an info session with some of our current trustees and register you as a member. (Candidates must be registered as Ordinary Members of Duncan Place in order to stand for election).
• We will share some info on potential Trustees with our members.
• At the AGM, potential Trustees stand for election and are voted for by our members.
• The Trustees provide good governance for the charity and leadership to the team of paid staff.
• The staff carry out the day-to-day operations of running the organisation.