Are you passionate about making a difference to the climate crisis by inspiring parents to take action on air pollution, fossil fuels and creating systemic change? Do you have experience of writing funding bids and community fundraising? Then this role could be for you!

We are particularly keen to hear from people who experience marginalisation and minoritisation or who are often excluded from decision-making processes. For example, people of colour; people from working-class backgrounds; people from LGBTQ and migrant communities; care-experienced young people and people with disabilities.

Background

Parents for Future Scotland began as a grassroots group of parents seeking to make climate action the norm among all parents in Scotland. We became a charity 2 years ago. We are in the midst of a big step change, increasing our influence and reach across the country, and we need you to help us in doing that. This post is based in Glasgow, therefore the ability to commute to Glasgow at least once per week is essential

We currently have 12 self-employed staff across Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We have around 12 funders, each of whom fund us for a 1 year span. We have one multi-year funder, from which this post is paid. In the next 2 years we want to move from a self-employed team to a staff team and must secure large multi-year funds to do this. We would also like to build our reserves to 3 years’ running costs in approximately 5 years time. We do not plan to expand into other geographical locales or pilot new schemes until our existing posts are secure, however we may choose to increase the time key team members have to work on programmes and your role will be essential to realising this.

The expectation is that the postholder will lead on fundraising for the organisation, supporting and advising the CEO, Admin Manager and Programme Manager on the fundraising strategy and devising the best approach for the organisation.

Main tasks

Fundraising

• Alongside the CEO create a robust fundraising strategy.
• Support the organisation to implement an evaluation framework across all its programmes which captures key information in order to write high quality bids
• Identify small and large funders which are a good fit for the organisation through research and phone calls, ensuring that every bid we write has the highest chance of success that we can achieve.
• Hook into key networks; Foundation Scotland, Environmental Funders, TSI’s etc. and, alongside the CEO, utilise networks to create a relationship with potential funders.
• Work with the programme staff and the CEO to ensure that our programmes are visible to key decision makers, making continuation funding more likely.
• Maintain relationships with existing funders alongside the Programme Manager and the Programme Team. Ensure that high quality reports are submitted and that communication with funders is on point.
• Support existing funders to visit our programmes in order to support understanding of the work taking place and the need for the work where appropriate/helpful.
• Alongside the Admin Manager, support with forecasting and ensure contingency plans are in place in order to continue existing contracts within the organisation.
• Write high quality, large funding bids that will support us in securing multi-year funding, providing more security for the organisation
• In accordance with the fundraising strategy create a portfolio of community fundraising events in the year for our movement members, schools and other audiences to take part in
• If appropriate create a fundraising working group with members from the movement
• Ensure that people signing up to become members with us have every opportunity to become regular donors. Maintain communication with all regular donors to thank them and inspire them appropriately.
• Work with the whole team to support the creation of a fundraising culture within the orgnaisation so that every team member thinks about fundraising opportunities in everything they do.
• Support our comms both on the website, socials and WhatsApp channel to ensure that these are effective fundraising tools.

Essential Experience

• A knowledge of the funding landscape in at least Scotland and the UK
• At least 3 years in a senior fundraising role
• Experience of writing funding bids and being responsible for a portfolio of funders worth £300,000 or more
• Experience of leading on and securing large multi-year funding bids
• Experience of creating and executing a fundraising strategy successfully within a growing organisation.
• Ideally experience of community fundraising and building a portfolio of events which are worth £10K or above
• An ability to package a varied portfolio of work to speak to different audiences including funders, donors and community members.
• Proven ability to strategise

Essential personal attributes

• Passion, drive and enthusiasm in our ability to tackle the climate crisis through system change and an understanding of what this might require.
• The ability to work well in a team and to make connections with trusts, donors, supporters, volunteers etc and understand what each want/need
• Ability to work with the self-employed staff team and support/empower them to support fundraising appropriately.
• Flexibility to work in a changing landscape in a small charity.
• Strategy - to bring ideas and creativity and to understand how these fit within the wider strategic goals of PfFS
• An ability to take instruction and to work independently/take self-responsibility

What we offer

• 4 days per week for 2 years (46 weeks per year at £200 per day.) Total per annum is £36,800. Total contract amount is £73,600.
• We offer a flexible working environment
• Working from home (we are in the process of finding an office in the next few months. Due to the role working so closely with colleagues we would recommend that this role spend time at the Glasgow office once established)
• We are a fledgling organisation so your skills/expertise will help shape our direction
• You will work closely with the CEO, who has a fundraising background and can support where needed
• Many fundraising roles are burn-out and unsustainable. This is a role where your creativity, passion and skills can shine and you will not be used like a commodity!

The Financial Wellbeing Worker will play a key role in delivering OPFS’s Whole Family Support offer, providing high-quality, person-centred and strengths-based income maximisation and financial wellbeing support to single parents and their families across Scotland.

Working within the OPFS My Life and Me framework, the postholder will support parents to understand their financial circumstances, maximise household income, manage essential expenditure and build financial resilience.

The role will involve working with single parents experiencing financial pressures including low income, benefit changes, debt, rising household costs, insecure employment and childcare costs.

Key responsibilities

• Provide high-quality one-to-one income maximisation and financial wellbeing support.
• Assess household income, expenditure, financial circumstances and priorities.
• Identify opportunities to maximise income through welfare benefits, grants and other financial support.
• Support parents with welfare benefit applications, renewals and changes of circumstances where appropriate.
• Undertake benefit entitlement checks and calculations.
• Provide early intervention and preventative financial wellbeing support, helping parents identify and address financial pressures before they escalate into crisis or unmanageable debt.
• Support parents to budget effectively and identify opportunities to reduce household expenditure and essential living costs.
• Provide Better Off in Work calculations to help parents understand the financial implications of employment or changes to working hours.
• Support parents to understand the financial impact of changes in circumstances.
• Identify and respond appropriately to immediate financial hardship, including food,fuel and other essential needs, supporting parents to access relevant crisis assistance, grants and emergency provision.
• Provide income maximisation and financial wellbeing support within the agreed scope and competency of the role, identifying where specialist welfare rights, debt or regulated advice is required and ensuring timely referral to the appropriate OPFS or external service

Supporting single parents and families

• Build positive, trusting and respectful relationships with single parents, recognising their individual circumstances, strengths and aspirations.
• Use a person centred, strengths based and trauma informed approach.
• Work alongside parents to identify financial goals and develop realistic action plans.
• Support parents to build confidence, knowledge and skills in managing household finances.
• The postholder will take a holistic, whole-family approach, recognising the links between financial wellbeing, employment, housing, childcare, health and wider family circumstances. They will identify wider needs, strengths and goals and connect parents to appropriate OPFS and partner support, ensuring families can access the right support at the right time.
• Empower parents to make informed financial decisions and develop greater financial resilience.
• Recognise the wider impact of financial hardship on parents, children and family wellbeing and identify needs which may require support beyond the presenting financial issue.
• Take a whole-family approach, connecting parents to appropriate OPFS services and external support including family support, employability, childcare, welfare rights and debt services.
• Identify safeguarding, wellbeing or other concerns and respond appropriately in line with OPFS procedures.

Information, advice and signposting

• Provide accurate and accessible financial and benefits information within the remit of the role.
• Keep up to date with changes to welfare benefits, Scottish social security and relevant financial support.
• Make appropriate internal and external referrals to specialist services
• Work closely with OPFS Debt Service, Advice and Information, Family Support, Employability and other services to provide coordinated support.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant national and local services and resources.

National outreach and partnership working

• Deliver income maximisation support nationally across Scotland through face-to-face, telephone and digital approaches.
• Undertake proactive outreach and develop flexible and accessible approaches to engage single parents who may experience barriers to accessing traditional advice and support services.
• Develop effective relationships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations.
• Represent OPFS at relevant partnership meetings, events and networks.
• Promote the OPFS income maximisation service and wider support available to single parents.

Administration, monitoring and evaluation

• Maintain accurate, confidential and timely case records in line with OPFS policies and data protection requirements.
• Record outcomes and progress and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, case studies and funder reporting.
• Record evidence of the financial impact of the service, including income maximised and savings achieved where appropriate.
• Contribute to reporting requirements associated with the Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund.

Capture parent feedback and identify emerging issues affecting single parents.

Service development

• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of OPFS’s national income maximisation offer.
• Share learning, good practice and emerging issues with colleagues and managers.
• Contribute to developing accessible financial wellbeing information, resources and workshops.

Health, safety and safeguarding

• Comply with OPFS policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, confidentiality, equality, diversity, inclusion, health and safety and data protection.
• Promote the wellbeing and safety of single parents and their children and ensure concerns are appropriately identified, recorded and escalated.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when working with parents and families.

General responsibilities

• Attend team meetings, supervision, training and development opportunities.
• Share learning and good practice and contribute to effective team working.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the role.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as requested by the Service Manager.

The Advice and Information Service is a national support service for single-parent families and professionals across Scotland. It provides multi-channel advice on a wide range of topics, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.

The Advice & Engagement Worker plays a key role in increasing awareness, accessibility and engagement with the OPFS Advice and Information Service.

Working collaboratively with colleagues, partner organisations and professionals across Scotland, the postholder will promote the service, build effective partnerships and improve access to high-quality advice and information for single-parent families.

Working within the OPFS My Life and Me framework, the postholder will provide high quality advice and information through a range of channels, deliver outreach activities, facilitate online practitioner webinars and advice clinics and build the confidence and knowledge of professionals supporting single-parent families. The role will also identify emerging issues affecting families and contribute to service development, policy and campaigning by highlighting trends and barriers experienced by those accessing the service.

The Advice & Information Service is part of OPFS Support for Families Services, providing holistic support to single parents and their children across Scotland. Our work is guided by the six My Life and Me priority areas

• Money
• Health & Wellbeing
• Home
• Work, Education & Training
• Children
• Relationships

Through a person-centred, strengths-based approach, guided by our organisational values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion, we work alongside families to:

• Involve them in shaping the support they receive.
• Strengthen their skills, confidence and resilience.
• Support them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
• Influence positive change in their lives and communities.
• Challenge the barriers and inequalities that impact them.

The Advice & Engagement Worker will contribute to these outcomes by increasing awareness of OPFS services, ensuring families can access the right support at the right time, strengthening partnership working across Scotland and empowering both parents and professionals with the knowledge and confidence to navigate services and improve outcomes for single-parent families.

Role and Responsibilities:

As an Advice Worker at OPFS you will:

• Work to the agreed priorities of the service, providing clear, compassionate advice on key areas including housing, money, parenting, relationships, health & wellbeing and employment/training.
• Help develop and deliver an outreach programme that promotes OPFS's advice services within communities, partner organisations and professional networks.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations to increase awareness of the service and improve referral pathways.
• Plan and deliver engaging online practitioner webinars on topics relevant to supporting single-parent families.
• Facilitate regular online advice clinics, providing advice, guidance and support to parents across Scotland.
• Promote OPFS services through presentations, networking events, partnership meetings, outreach clinics and any other community engagement opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to identify opportunities to improve access to advice for underrepresented or harder-to-reach communities.
• Contribute to and deliver advice over the digital advice channels, ensuring information is accessible and responsive to the needs of single-parent families.
• Signpost single parents and professionals to relevant services and resources.
• Accurately record all interactions, outreach activity and engagement using Salesforce CRM and other agreed systems.
• Participate in monitoring, evaluation and training to support continuous improvement and demonstrate the impact of outreach and promotional activity.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold safeguarding, data protection and health & safety policies.
• Contribute to team meetings, service development and quality assurance activities.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusive practice in all aspects of your work.
• Ensure the voices and experiences of single parents inform your advice, outreach activity and contribute to OPFS's policy and advocacy work.
• Demonstrate flexibility, a positive attitude and a commitment to OPFS's core values: Justice, Equity, Trust, Compassion and Collaboration.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specification

We're looking for someone who is passionate about supporting single-parent families and confident engaging with communities, professionals and partner organisations. You'll enjoy building relationships, sharing knowledge and helping improve access to advice services across Scotland.

Essential

• Experience in an advice, support, community engagement or customer-facing role.
• Experience of delivering presentations, workshops, training sessions or group information sessions, either online or in person.
• Interest in and an awareness of topics including housing, benefits, parenting, wellbeing and employment.
• Understanding of the challenges single parents face, or a strong desire to learn and put this into practice.
• Some knowledge and understanding of both UK and Scottish benefits systems.
• Demonstratable experience of building positive relationships with partners, stakeholders or community organisations.
• Ability to organise and deliver outreach or engagement activities.
• Must respect sensitive information and understand the need for it to be handled with care and professionalism.

Practical Skills

• Strong communication skills that are clear, engaging, empathetic and nonjudgmental.
• Confidence presenting information to groups and facilitating discussions online.
• Good listening and questioning skills to understand people's needs.
• Ability to build productive relationships with professionals and partner organisations.
• Good organisational skills with the ability to plan and prioritise competing demands.
• Confident using IT tools (Word, Outlook, Excel, Office 365, Microsoft Teams) and open to learning systems such as Salesforce.
• Able to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team.

Personal Qualities

• Enthusiasm for promoting services and improving access to advice.
• Empathy and respect for the lived experiences of single parents.
• A confident and approachable communicator.
• A team player who is flexible and open to change.
• Self-motivated and committed to continuous learning.
• A strong belief in equality, inclusion and diversity.
• A non-judgmental approach to supporting families from all backgrounds.
• Alignment with OPFS values: Justice, Equity, Trust, Compassion and Collaboration.

Desirable

• Experience delivering welfare rights advice or undertaking benefit calculations.
• Experience delivering webinars, online learning or practitioner development sessions.
• Experience planning and delivering community outreach or promotional campaigns.
• Familiarity with Salesforce, SharePoint or multi-channel advice platforms.
• Knowledge of partnership working across the third sector and public services in Scotland.
• A clean driving licence and access to a car.

Terms & Conditions

Confirmation of Appointment: Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, two references and a PVG check.

Salary: £29600 - £34042 (pro rata)

Hours of Work: up to 35 hours per week (typically from 9.15am – 4.45pm)

Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public Holidays (pro rata).

Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 3% contribution from you and 7% contribution from OPFS.

Training, Support and Supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive regularly scheduled individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.

Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors in People GOLD status.

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

This role offers the opportunity to work directly with children and young people with experience of care in a variety of settings including at home, in residential care, kinship care or secure care. The Advocacy & Participation Worker will provide individual relationship-based advocacy support and will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team, supporting young people across the Dundee area to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard.

In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes. In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.

The role will also include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people within the Dundee area. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities, throughout the Who Cares? Scotland local and national networks.

The post holder will raise awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services to children, young people, professionals, third sector partners and carers. You will also help facilitate training to Dundee’s Corporate Parents alongside our national Corporate Parenting team.

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt your approach to a wide range of contexts. Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you will prioritize and meet deadlines. You will take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative changes happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You can demonstrate knowledge of the current structure, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland.

You will be flexible in your approach, be able to work occasional evening and weekends (with prior agreement), and have a full driving license, and access to own transport.

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.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Leanne Murdoch, Advocacy and Participation Manager lmurdoch@whocaresscotland.org.

Passion4Fusion is looking for a compassionate and culturally aware Social Worker to join our team. In this role, you will support Black, Brown, and multi-ethnic parents /carers and families within Scotland’s social care system. You will play a critical role in promoting equitable care and fostering understanding of cultural differences while advocating for systemic change.

This position is ideal for someone committed to social justice, cultural competence, and improving outcomes for ethnically diverse communities.

Key Responsibilities

Family-Centered Support

• Build trusting relationships with parents/carers and families from diverse backgrounds, ensuring their voices are central to decision-making.
• Provide culturally safe parenting support, tailored to a families’ needs; e.g. early intervention to prevent crisis escalation; cultural expectations & children’s rights in Scotland; parenting an adolescent in a new culture; alternatives to physical punishment.
• Collaborate with families to develop care plans that respect and integrate their cultural values and traditions.

Cultural Competence and Advocacy

• Support parents/carers through advocacy in meetings with social care, helping them to articulate their views and challenging bias & discrimination where necessary.
• Identify and address cultural barriers in social care interventions, ensuring all children and families receive equitable treatment.
• Provide insights and advice on cultural best practices to colleagues and other professionals within the care system.

Community Engagement

• Partner with external stakeholders to bridge gaps between communities and the social care system.
• Actively participate in training sessions, workshops, and community programs designed to improve cultural awareness within social work.

Training and Development

• Attend and lead cultural competence training programs to improve understanding of unconscious bias, anti-racism, and systemic inequities.
• Act as a champion for anti-discriminatory practices within your team, organization & across the social care system.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and analyse care outcomes to ensure they are equitable and free from bias.
• Provide feedback to management on systemic barriers affecting families from Black, Brown, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, contributing to organizational change initiatives.
• Collect and share data on your project for example case studies and testimonials

Partnerships and Networking

• Collaborate with community leaders, advocacy groups, and other organisations to create holistic support networks for children and families.
• Represent the organization in community forums, fostering relationships to improve trust between communities and social care services.

Essential Qualifications

• A degree in Social Work and registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) OR significant experience providing community/parenting/therapeutic support to children & families in a professional context.
• Proven experience working with diverse and multi-ethnic communities.
• Understanding of Scotland’s safeguarding & child protection legislation.
• Strong understanding of cultural competence, anti-racism practices, and systemic inequities in social care.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and understanding with diverse families.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience delivering or participating in training.
• Experience (lived or professional) of Scotland’s care system.
• Multilingual skills are a plus.

What We Offer

• Ongoing professional development, including cultural awareness and anti-racism training.
• Opportunities to work closely with advocacy groups on a regional and national level
• A supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and innovation.
• Flexible working arrangements to promote work-life balance.

Home-Start Dunfermline supports families with young children through challenging times, providing practical and emotional support to help parents build confidence and give their children the best possible start in life.

Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and we are looking for a friendly, enthusiastic and proactive Volunteer & Community Engagement Officer to help us grow and strengthen our volunteer community and build connections across the local area.

This is a varied, people-focused role. You will help recruit and welcome new volunteers, coordinate and support volunteer training, and help ensure our volunteers feel valued, supported and connected to Home-Start.

You will also get out into the community, building relationships with local groups, organisations and businesses, attending events and networking opportunities, and raising awareness of Home-Start Dunfermline, our services and volunteering opportunities.

We are looking for someone who is confident meeting new people, enjoys building positive relationships and can encourage others to get involved. You will be organised, proactive and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

You should have experience of recruiting, supporting or coordinating volunteers, building relationships with people from a range of backgrounds, and organising or delivering training, presentations, workshops or group activities. Strong communication and digital skills are also important.

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes are essential.