oAdults 18+ Fife-wide (Regulated Role)

You will be joining a small Fife-wide team, with a big reach, to assist individuals to identify and potentially access the right level of support and provision which aims to meet their own circumstances and aspirations. To help facilitate this you will work with individuals and, where appropriate, their networks, stakeholders and wider communities to help grow resilience and capacity which encourages opportunity and might reduce/delay the need for statutory interventions.

o Are you able to evidence meaningful experience of providing one-to-one support using a Good Conversation and/or person-centred approach which offers people relevant information, signposting and assistance?

o Are you able to self-motivate and work with a degree of autonomy to manage your workload safely and efficiently within a prescribed framework?

o Are you passionate about working to promote equality, inclusion and engagement?

o Are you able to effectively record and report on your work activity which includes the use of IT software and systems?

o Do you possess the creativity, energy and commitment required to work with a broad spectrum of people including those who are vulnerable and/or experiencing challenging circumstances?

Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL) is the Third Sector Interface (TSI) operating in West Lothian. Our primary purpose is to promote, develop and support West Lothian`s Third Sector. We work in partnership with the voluntary sector and key statutory and public stakeholders to improve the lives of individuals and communities across West Lothian.

Role Overview

We are seeking maternity cover for an enthusiastic and dedicated Development Officer (Employability) to support individuals in West Lothian in securing their journey into positive destinations such as sustainable employment or volunteering roles.

You will work closely with a range of third sector organisations that provide employability services in the West Lothian Third Sector Employability Forum. You will build and maintain strong relationships with employers and training providers to secure job placements and volunteering opportunities, particularly for individuals with additional challenges, such as long-term unemployment, disability, or lack of confidence.

You will support the CEO in the wider contribution to development of employability strategy via the West Lothian Local Employability Partnership (LEP).

Contract:This is a fixed-term maternity cover appointment, expected to be a minimum of six months. The actual end date may be brought forward or extended depending on the substantive postholder’s return date. Any change to the end date will be subject to the notice provisions set out in the contract.

About Healing for the Heart

We are a Glasgow-based mental health charity promoting emotional health and wellbeing, seeking to transform lives. We provide a range of services including counselling, training, and we work in communities where we raise awareness of mental health issues, seeking to reduce stigma and build resilience.

Job Overview

As a Community Development Project Worker, you will work with the Community Development Department in local communities to develop and deliver projects, and build strong, supportive networks.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development and Delivery (8 hrs)

• Develop, deliver and evaluate projects and initiatives which address identified needs and promote mental health and well-being.
• Building and maintaining relationships with community members, local organisations, and stakeholders as well as facilitating groups, training and community meetings.
• Evaluation & Reporting (2 hrs)
• Evaluate own projects and collect relevant date for Community Development Reporting.
• Other (as and when required)
• Raise awareness about mental health issues and the services offered by Healing for the Heart in local or regional forums as in when required.
• Collaborate with Community Development Coordinator and Fundraiser to identify new partner and funding opportunities.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Experience in working with people and groups.
• Strong understanding of mental health issues and community dynamics.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Desirable:

• A relevant qualification in community development, social work, or a related discipline.
• Experience working within the charity sector.
• Knowledge of the Glasgow community and local resources.
• Proficiency in using MS Office and other relevant software.

Age Scotland is the national charity for older people.

Our vision is that no one in Scotland faces the challenges of older age alone.

We provide older people, their families and carers with high quality information and advice services and we tackle loneliness through our dedicated friendship programmes.

We campaign and influence on the issues older people tell us they care about. We support and fund hundreds of older people’s groups and community initiatives across the country and deliver workshops to improve people’s quality of life.

We involve and empower people affected by dementia and host national forums for older people from ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community to help address the inequalities they face.

We're looking for a passionate and talented Trusts, Foundations & Philanthropy Officer to join our Fundraising team.

In this key role, you'll secure funding from a diverse portfolio of charitable trusts, foundations, statutory and lottery funders, and mid to high value donors. You'll identify new funding opportunities, build strong relationships with supporters, develop compelling funding applications and reports, and help demonstrate the impact of our work across Scotland.

Working closely with colleagues throughout the Charity, you'll create persuasive cases for support and ensure funders and donors see the difference their contributions make. Your work will play a vital role in growing sustainable income, strengthening supporter relationships with professionalism and integrity, and helping Age Scotland deliver its ambitious plans for the future.

If you're an excellent communicator with strong relationship-building skills and experience of securing income through trusts, foundations or philanthropy, we'd love to hear from you.

The post will be Scotland-based, with a blend of office (Edinburgh-based) and home working. As a hybrid role the intention is that office-based and external facing work will constitute 40% of working time over each month. Age Scotland is a flexible employer, and flexible work patterns are available.

In return for your hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to our values you’ll receive a generous benefits package:

• Generous holiday allowance of 39 days (FTE)
• A range of learning and development opportunities
• Company sick pay
• Healthcare benefit through BHSF
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts from major retailers
• Contributory pension scheme with employer contributions of 9%
• A comprehensive package of support though our Employee Assistance Programme
• Group life cover up to three times your annual salary
• Cycle to work scheme
• Paid carers leave and dependents’ support
• Enhanced family life policies.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join our Carer Information & Engagement Team. You will play a key part in delivering our commissioned information, advice and campaigning services, ensuring unpaid carers across North Lanarkshire have the support, information and voice they need.

You will provide accessible information, signposting and referrals to appropriate support including short breaks and Carer Support Plans; deliver Carer Aware training; work in partnership with health, social care and third sector organisations; gather feedback from carers through forums and consultations; and help organise key events such as Carers Week and Carers Rights Day. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.

About you

Essential criteria:

Minimum 2 years’ experience in a similar information, support or engagement role

Ability to analyse and present information clearly for different audiences

Strong verbal and written communication skills, able to engage with people from all backgrounds

Proficient in Microsoft Office 365

Understanding of the challenges faced by unpaid carers and knowledge of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016

Able to work on your own initiative and as part of a team

Empathetic, non-judgmental approach and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Willingness to travel and work flexibly as required

Desirable criteria:

Experience within the third sector or carer services

Knowledge of Charity Log

Relevant qualification in health, social care or community work

Understanding of local health and social care structures

Bi or multi-lingual

What we offer

25 days annual leave plus 12 public holidays

8% contributory pension scheme

Death in service benefit of 2x annual salary

Blended working – mix of office, home and community-based

Full IT equipment provided

Supportive supervision and access to training and development

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our strategic vision is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual lifelong relationship-based independent advocacy and a range of local and national participatory and engagement opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and communities to broaden understanding and create change. We work with policy makers, leaders, and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy, and practice, working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

The Advocacy and Participation Worker will provide independent advocacy supports to all of Orkney’s children and young people, including children who are identified as being vulnerable, children who are involved in complex decision-making processes (including both formal and informal processes), looked after children (including those who have been formerly looked after), children subject to child protection and child in need processes.

The Advocacy and Participation Worker will provide independent advocacy support to children and young people to help amplify their voices and share their views, especially within decision-making forums.

Advocacy and Participation Workers will also inform children and young people about their rights, ensuring that rights are upheld and respected by others.

At the heart of the advocacy relationship is trust – built through transparent, honest, accountable and reliable interactions between the child and their Advocacy and Participation Worker. Skilled at developing positive relationships with children and young people, you will place young people at the heart of everything you do.

As the Advocacy & Participation Worker, you will also help facilitate participatory opportunities via the Young Persons collective group. The group brings young people together, allowing them to develop confidence, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to identify common issues. You will help ensure the collective voice of the group is heard by Corporate Parents via the Promise Board.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively – bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you.

Early Years Scotland has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Project Manager to lead and support the delivery of Rise & Shine, an innovative whole-family wellbeing programme delivered through a collaborative, multi-agency approach.

Early Years Scotland is a registered charity and Scotland’s leading national specialist organisation dedicated to supporting our youngest children, from pre-birth to age five. With nearly sixty years of experience as an expert Third Sector organisation, we take immense pride in our long-standing commitment to those who work for and on behalf of Scotland’s youngest children.

The Project Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for Rise & Shine, ensuring the effective delivery, quality, sustainability and ongoing development of the service.

The postholder will oversee a relationship-based Stay, Play and Learn model supporting children from birth to five and their families through early learning, family engagement, attachment-focused practice and community-based support. Working closely with local authority, health and third sector partners, the Project Manager will drive positive outcomes for children and families, strengthen partnerships, evidence impact and support future growth and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development and day-to-day management of Rise & Shine.
• Ensure delivery aligns with key national policies and frameworks, including GIRFEC, The Promise, Realising the Ambition, the Infant Pledge and Whole Family Wellbeing.
• Drive continuous improvement through evaluation, family feedback and emerging best practice.
• Manage programme budgets, resources, performance targets and reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR and organisational policies.
• Line management and support of Family Engagement Practitioners, Parent Connectors and project staff.
• Promote a culture of reflective practice, professional development and staff wellbeing.
• Champion high-quality early years practice, attachment-informed approaches and children’s rights.
• Support inclusive pathways for children and families, including those with additional support needs.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with local authorities, health services, community organisations and funders.
• Develop effective referral pathways and integrated approaches to family support.
• Represent Rise & Shine at strategic meetings, partnership forums and stakeholder events.
• Lead monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting, including the use of outcome measurement tools such as Family Star Plus.
• Produce high-quality reports and evidence of impact for funders, partners and senior leaders.
• Support the development of the Parent Connector model and promote pathways into volunteering, training and employment.
• Ensure the voices and lived experiences of children, parents and communities inform service delivery and development.
• Identify opportunities for service growth, sustainability and expansion.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead a highly impactful early years and family support programme that is improving outcomes for children, strengthening families and building resilient communities.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience of leading and managing early years, family support, community development or wellbeing services.
• Experience of managing staff, volunteers or multidisciplinary teams, with a commitment to coaching, support and professional development.
• A strong understanding of child development, attachment theory, parental engagement and relationship-based practice.
• Knowledge of current Scottish policy and legislation impacting children and families, including GIRFEC, The Promise, UNCRC, Realising the Ambition and Whole Family Wellbeing approaches.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with local authorities, health services, third sector organisations and community groups.
• Demonstrable experience of project management, including budget management, performance monitoring and reporting against outcomes.
• Experience of monitoring, evaluation and impact measurement, using data and evidence to inform service improvement and demonstrate outcomes.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, services and stakeholders effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, build relationships and represent the service at a strategic level.
• Confidence in producing high-quality reports, presentations and funding updates for a range of audiences.
• Understanding of safeguarding, child protection and risk management within services for children and families.
• A commitment to children’s rights, participation and ensuring the voices of children, families and communities shape service delivery.
• Experience of supporting families facing poverty, inequality, trauma, social isolation or additional barriers to engagement.
• A collaborative and solution-focused approach, with the ability to work closely with colleagues, partners, funders and local communities.
• A passion for improving outcomes for children and families and a commitment to Early Years Scotland’s values

What Early Years Scotland will offer

• Competitive salary and generous annual leave
• Family-friendly policies that support work-life balance
• 5% employer pension contribution after 3 months
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing professional learning and development opportunities
• A supportive, collaborative team culture where your contribution is valued
• The opportunity to build a genuinely new function for the organisation, with lasting impact for children and families across Scotland beyond the funded period

Qualifications

Applicants’ qualifications should be consistent with those required to register as a Manager with SSSC (e.g., BA Childhood Practice, PDA Level 9). Membership of the PVG Scheme will also be required.

At the Cairngorms National Park Authority we have an ambitious programme of delivering transformational change as we tackle the climate emergency and nature crisis and strive to be the best small public sector organisation in Scotland. We know we can only do this if we are fully inclusive and representative of all our visitors, staff and communities. We have a strong foundation in equality and inclusion coupled with a proud history of developing a Park for All but we also know we can do better and aspire to lead the way locally and nationally in our sector.

We are inviting applications for members to join our Equality Advisory Panel to support us in our journey to create a fully inclusive Park Authority. We want members who have background knowledge and experience in equality and diversity and who can give us evidence based advice on best practice so we can truly deliver the best for our visitors, communities and staff across all protected characteristics.

Who are you?

You have a passion for equality and diversity and a desire to influence organisational strategy. You will have experience of delivering equality approaches for protected and disadvantaged groups either in your work or voluntary roles. You’ll know how to signpost to best equality practice and challenge us to improve. You may be looking for some experience working with National Parks or public sector organisations at a strategic level.

Our panel is currently under represented by Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, young people (18 – 24), and LGBTQ+ communities and we would encourage applications from candidates with professional or personal knowledge, skills and experience in these areas. We are also interested in having members who have knowledge of or work with immigrant communities.

Why join the panel?

This is a volunteer role is not remunerated, but existing members have stated the following with regards to why they joined the panel, and what they get out of it:-

• Having grown up abroad and moved to Scotland five years ago, I have come to appreciate how accessible nature feels here and the strong sense of wellbeing and freedom that outdoor spaces can provide. As a solo female traveller and someone working in the nature conservation sector, I joined the EAP to help ensure the National Park remains welcoming, inclusive and safe for everyone, including those from underrepresented communities. Being part of the panel has allowed me to contribute different perspectives while also broadening my own understanding of inclusion and accessibility in Scotland's landscapes.
• I joined the panel as I am a regular visitor to the Cairngorms National Park. I have noticed some of the barriers that face disabled people and people on low incomes - from accessing and getting the benefits (physical, mental health, wellbeing) from the National Park and seen this as an opportunity to use my skills. expertise and knowledge to influence the development of our park with the aim of making it more accessible and affordable for all.
• I value contributing to decisions that shape how people access and experience nature. I benefit immensely from the knowledge of our dedicated EAP members and from being part of a like minded group. I am gaining an understanding CNPA’s organisational priorities and hearing from staff, plus helping to further meaningful change.
• I’ve lived in and worked in the Cairngorms National Park area for over 25 years and keen to support efforts to make the Park work for all.
• I originally applied to join the EAP through my passion for promoting fair access to our countryside and wild places for everyone. This was combined with my love of outdoor learning and experiencing the barriers that often exist for young people accessing nature. I thought long and hard about applying to the EAP. It represents a fantastic opportunity to understand the workings of this very special place, and an opportunity to broaden my own perspectives and worldview. During my time on the EAP I have learned so much from my fellow panel members and from the many presenters at our monthly meetings. I hope I have balanced being an analytical, critical friend, as well as showing effective allyship for under-represented groups within the Park environments.
• I joined the Panel to share both my professional and personal perspectives, contribute to the Authority’s direction of travel, and learn from others who are equally passionate about inclusion. The Cairngorms is a special place, and I feel deeply grateful to play a part in helping shape its future, as it has helped shape mine.
• I have enjoyed being on the panel. I have gained confidence in getting my point across and my critical thinking skills have improved. My eyes have been opened to the views and needs of other groups too, eg access difficulties of those in poverty

Commitment

We want people to give advice and guidance through a virtual forum which meets nine times a year as well as providing support outside of scheduled meeting. The overall commitment is no more than 2 hours a month.

This is a voluntary role however all reasonable expenses incurred will be covered.

If you this sounds like you and you want to know more please contact us at equalities@cairngorms.co.uk