Garvald Edinburgh is a long-established Scottish charity supporting adults with learning disabilities through creative day opportunities, workshops, community participation, and public-facing social enterprise activities. Rooted in the principles of social therapy inspired by Rudolf Steiner, Garvald places creativity, respect, rhythm, individuality, and community at the centre of personal development.
The organisation exists to offer adults with learning disabilities meaningful opportunities to develop skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging, achieved through purposeful creative work, strong community integration, and innovative social enterprise.
Operating across multiple sites in Edinburgh, Garvald employs approximately 180 staff and has an annual turnover of over £4.5 million. The organisation is entering a period of important development, guided by a multi-year strategic plan that includes organisational review, enhancing financial stability, facilities planning, digital transformation, and the continued growth of social enterprise activity. This is a pivotal moment in Garvalds history, offering the opportunity to shape the organisation’s future while strengthening its values-driven culture.
The Board of Trustees is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead Garvald through this next phase. The CEO will provide strategic, operational, cultural, and organisational leadership, ensuring that Garvald continues to deliver high-quality, ethical, and person-centred services across all sites.
Reporting to the Chair and supported by a strong Senior Management Team, the CEO will shape and implement long-term strategy, embed a distributed leadership model, oversee financial sustainability, and strengthen governance, compliance, and risk management. They will also act as the organisation’s principal ambassador, building and nurturing relationships with commissioners, funders, partners, staff, members, and families.
The successful candidate will be someone who can hold complexity without losing clarity, lead change without compromising care, and inspire confidence and trust through their presence, integrity, and values-led approach. You will be confident in leading a large, multi-site organisation, with a strong understanding of regulation, finance, workforce dynamics, and governance. You will have experience of strategic leadership, organisational change, and financial sustainability, alongside the ability to engage effectively with all stakeholders—from trustees and commissioners to staff, members, and families.
Above all, the next CEO will be someone who combines strategic rigour with emotional intelligence, humility, and steadiness. You will be capable of setting direction, making difficult decisions, and developing innovation, while remaining grounded in Garvald’s values and the principles of social therapy.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected, innovative, and values-driven organisation at a transformative moment, ensuring that Garvald Edinburgh continues to be a place where adults with learning disabilities can reach their fullest potential and make a lasting contribution to the wider community.
Citizens Advice Edinburgh (CAE) are looking to recruit an Advice Services Manager to join our Management Team, in delivering high quality and accessable advice and support to people in Edinburgh and its surrounding communities.
You will be joining the largest network of advice providers in the UK, with excellent professional development opportunities and competitive remuneration packages.
You will also be part of a community led organisation, with a substantial profile, making a real difference to your local community and supporting those in greatest need.
Advice Services Managers oversee our day-to-day advice service, recruit, support and supervise a team of staff and volunteers, provide expert knowledge and quality assurance and represent the organisation in campaigning for changes to policies and legislation on the issues that impact the lives of people in Edinburgh and across the UK.
For more information, please see the detailed Job Pack, including Role Description and Person Specification and visit our website at citizensadviceedinburgh.org.uk
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop is seeking a new Curator for Research to work closely with individuals and groups within our overlapping communities to devise, fundraise for, deliver and communicate exceptional experiences for sharing ideas and new work.
The Curator for Research's role is to devise and deliver programme which furthers our support for artists and helps to define the role of ESW within the visual arts sector in Scotland and internationally, and to manage and evaluate this programme within the wider context of ESW's activities and ambitions. This is a highly practical role and one where there is scope to innovate and adapt, through a mode of joint reflection, experimentation and openness to create new ways to be ambitious for our stakeholders and for contemporary sculpture practice in general.
Flexible Working Considerations: We would consider Job Share applications but please contact us in advance so we have time to consider the proposed structure for covering the work. A proposal for shorter hours may be considered depending on the approach suggested by the applicant.
“They helped me through thick and thin. From when I came out of the hospital…they were there for me.” – James, Person Supported by Carr Gomm
Supporting people to live their best lives is at the heart of this role. As Service Manager, you’ll take a leading role in shaping high-quality, person-centred support within our Edinburgh and Lothians services for people living with enduring mental ill health in supported living environments.
Carr Gomm is a leading social care and community development charity working across Scotland. Every week, thousands of people rely on our support to live independently, stay connected to their communities and make choices that matter to them.
Our values of Choice, Control, Interdependence, Respect, Openness & Honesty and Kindness & Compassion shape our work. Joining us means being part of an organisation where every voice matters.
Why This Role Matters
In this Monday-to-Friday role, you will make a meaningful difference for people living with enduring mental ill health by supporting them to achieve their outcomes and live their best lives.
You will create the conditions for good support to happen by guiding and empowering a team of Support Practitioners, so they feel confident, supported and equipped in their work. You ensure support plans and risk assessments remain relevant and person-centred, and you keep day-to-day arrangements running smoothly so people receive consistent, high-quality support.
Above all, your leadership helps create an environment where people feel listened to, respected and able to access the support they need.
“I think Carr Gomm is very good at putting the needs of people at the forefront, and that’s what’s important.” Rab, Person Supported by Carr Gomm
Who We Are Looking For
We’re looking for a compassionate and effective leader who can engage, inspire, and support others. You should have experience in adult social care, excellent communication skills, and a creative approach to problem-solving. You’ll bring:
Why Join Carr Gomm?
You’ll be part of a supportive and forward-thinking organisation that invests in its people. Staff have opportunities to shape how we work through specialist working groups and our Futures innovation programme, and we proudly hold the LGBT Charter for our commitment to inclusion.
You’ll also receive:
Background
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a charity which exists to celebrate and share the power of writers, their ideas, and the words they craft to illuminate, challenge, and inspire.
Since 1983, we have welcomed millions of visitors into conversations with the world’s greatest and most exciting emerging writers, thinkers, artists, and performers. Iconic figures such as Margaret Atwood, Alain de Botton, Oliver Burkeman, Noam Chomsky, Seamus Heaney, Kazuo Ishiguro, Toni Morrison, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, and Benjamin Zephaniah have appeared on our stages over the years, alongside a wide range of debut and early career authors.
Across the hundreds of events in our Adults, Young Adults, Schools, and Children’s programmes, the Book Festival offers audiences aged from 0 to 100 an active opportunity to engage with new and different perspectives on the world, create lasting memories through storytelling, fill their minds with fascinating knowledge, and discover the creative secrets of writers and artists.
We strive to be a safe and supported environment for people to have difficult discussions and lively debates in an atmosphere of curiosity and consideration, where different opinions can be respectfully shared. We are proud to platform voices and stories which are often overlooked, and are committed to breaking down barriers to access for those who may not initially consider themselves as a Book Festival audience.
Beyond August, the Book Festival is a year-round force for literary engagement. Working with partners in the local community – including schools, libraries, prisons, hospitals, and other community hubs – we foster a lifelong love of reading, embrace the life-changing potential of creativity, and develop engaged, informed audiences of all backgrounds and ages.
2025 was a bumper year for the Festival, with significant growth in site visits, ticket sales, and new audience members, all of which we aim to build upon in 2026, particularly through delivery of a new website and ticketing system, as well as grassroots audience development initiatives, and data-informed marketing campaigns.
The team
The Book Festival has a permanent staff of 25 throughout the year, expanding over the spring and summer to a peak of around 150 staff during the Festival. All staff members play a role in the ongoing development of the organisation through several full team planning and debrief meetings during the year.
The Development team is made up of 7 roles: Development Director, Sponsorships & Partnerships Manager, Sponsorship & Partnerships Officer, Development Manager (Trusts & Foundations), Development Manager (Individual Giving), Events & Digital Marketing Officer, and Development Assistant.
The role
Purpose of Role
To support income generation and stakeholder engagement by delivering high-quality stewardship and engagements events, and by supporting digital marketing activity for the Development Team. The role combines hands-on event coordination with creative digital communications to strengthen relationships with supporters, members, sponsors and stakeholders, and to grow the Festival’s supporter base.
Background
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a charity which exists to celebrate and share the power of writers, their ideas, and the words they craft to illuminate, challenge, and inspire.
Since 1983, we have welcomed millions of visitors into conversations with the world’s greatest and most exciting emerging writers, thinkers, artists, and performers. Iconic figures such as Margaret Atwood, Alain de Botton, Oliver Burkeman, Noam Chomsky, Seamus Heaney, Kazuo Ishiguro, Toni Morrison, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, and Benjamin Zephaniah have appeared on our stages over the years, alongside a wide range of debut and early career authors.
Across the hundreds of events in our Adults, Young Adults, Schools, and Children’s programmes, the Book Festival offers audiences aged from 0 to 100 an active opportunity to engage with new and different perspectives on the world, create lasting memories through storytelling, fill their minds with fascinating knowledge, and discover the creative secrets of writers and artists.
We strive to be a safe and supported environment for people to have difficult discussions and lively debates in an atmosphere of curiosity and consideration, where different opinions can be respectfully shared. We are proud to platform voices and stories which are often overlooked, and are committed to breaking down barriers to access for those who may not initially consider themselves as a Book Festival audience.
Beyond August, the Book Festival is a year-round force for literary engagement. Working with partners in the local community – including schools, libraries, prisons, hospitals, and other community hubs – we foster a lifelong love of reading, embrace the life-changing potential of creativity, and develop engaged, informed audiences of all backgrounds and ages.
2025 was a bumper year for the Festival, with significant growth in site visits, ticket sales, and new audience members, all of which we aim to build upon in 2026, particularly through delivery of a new website and ticketing system, as well as grassroots audience development initiatives, and data-informed marketing campaigns.
The team
The Book Festival has a permanent staff of 25 throughout the year, expanding over the spring and summer to a peak of around 150 staff during the Festival. All staff members play a role in the ongoing development of the organisation through several full team planning and debrief meetings during the year.
The Development team is made up of 7 roles: Development Director, Sponsorships & Partnerships Manager, Sponsorship & Partnerships Officer, Development Manager (Trusts & Foundations), Development Manager (Individual Giving), Events & Digital Marketing Officer, and Development Assistant.
The role
Purpose of Role
To provide essential administrative and supporter care support across the Development Team, ensuring efficient use of the CRM system, excellent service for donors, members and supporters. This role is central to maintaining accurate data, delivering outstanding supporter care, and supporting income generation across the whole Development Team.
About you
We’re looking for someone to join our team with a strong belief in equality, human rights and social justice. You will have an understanding of the experiences, strengths and challenges faced by refugees, people seeking asylum, and other New Scots communities, and the motivation to support the development of the New Scots Edinburgh Refugee Integration Strategy, working closely with key stakeholders and statutory partners.
You will also work with colleagues to produce responses to public consultations and policy proposals from statutory partners in partnership with key third sector stakeholders.
About us
EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) is a charity that was established in 1868. In July 2025, we published a new strategic plan to guide our work for the next five years.
Our purpose is to serve the needs of people and communities across Edinburgh by supporting our members and third sector organisations to be effective and drive the change they need.
We work in three areas - advocacy, capacity building and collaboration - underpinned by research and analysis to inform our work to support third sector organisations and the communities they serve.
EVOC is a living wage employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity and welcome applications from members of all communities.
Benefits:
Partners in Advocacy has established itself as one of Scotland’s leading providers of independent advocacy, delivering exceptional advocacy services since 1998.
We are thrilled to present a wonderful opportunity within our supportive and welcoming Edinburgh team. As an independent advocacy worker, you will have the privilege of providing one-on-one independent advocacy to individuals aged 16 and above with learning or physical disabilities, autism as well as older people. Through this role, you will ensure that their voices and wishes are heard, enabling them to make informed choices, protect their rights and have a meaningful impact on decisions that affect their lives.
We strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you believe your skills, experience, and expertise align with the criteria outlined in the person specification, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please complete the application form, ensuring that you provide examples of how your knowledge and experience fulfil each aspect of the person specification.
Partners in Advocacy takes pride in being a Disability Confident Employer, fully committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment.
The Advice Place is a free, professional, impartial and confidential advice service for students at the University of Edinburgh, operated by Edinburgh University Students’ Association. The service deals with a wide variety of topics (finance, accommodation, academic and personal issues) and provides basic information as well as more complex casework advice, advocacy and support.
The role of Deputy Manager is to ensure effective service delivery on a day-to-day basis and to act as a clear point of responsibility and decision making for the team and to represent the service in external and cross departmental working in clear areas of responsibility and as delegated by the Advice Place Manager.
You will line manage our Frontline Advice team and our Academic Caseworker. You will support the team to deliver a consistent and high standard of service to students. You will support the frontline team to deliver initial service responses in line with our service delivery plan.
Alongside this you will have a caseload of specialist cases, providing support and advice to individual students on a range of issues. This will involve advocacy and representation for students at University meetings and in navigating university policies and processes. You will offer practical support to students in very challenging emotional circumstances, always operating in the best interests of the student.
You will manage the delivery of our volunteer programme, recruiting, training and supporting a team of advice volunteers to provide customer service, information and frontline advice to students.
You will coordinate our outreach activities, arranging for staff or volunteers to attend events, run information stalls and promote the work of the service
The role is predominantly in-person/on site at our main Potterrow office on central campus and occasionally at our King’s Buildings campus office. Some home working can be accommodated when service demand allows.
EARS is an independent advocacy provider – our mission is to ensure that people’s voices are heard, and their rights are respected.
This is a hybrid-based post. Working hours will be spent with a mixture of providing advocacy within Edinburgh and the Lothian communities with the people who seek your support, working once per week from the West Lothian office and the rest of the time from home. Mileage expenses are reimbursed for travel within work.