About Open Seas

Open Seas (openseas.org.uk) is a small environmental charity working in Scotland and beyond to promote environmental recovery in our seas and champion sustainable seafood. Established in 2016, we conduct environmental and policy research to inform consumers, markets and decision-makers as well as generate campaigns to drive positive change for the environmental health of Scotland’s seas.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Communications, you’ll join a small, creative, and supportive team working to make a real impact for Scotland’s seas. This is a maternity cover position, offering an exciting opportunity to step into a dynamic role where you can quickly make a difference.

You’ll help craft engaging digital content and drive public campaigns that raise awareness of seafood sustainability and marine protection — inspiring both people and policymakers to take action.

A key part of your work will be supporting collaborative external campaigns and fi nding imaginative ways to grow Open Seas’ reach and infl uence. From storytelling through fi lm and design to building our online presence, your creativity will help showcase Scotland’s incredible marine life — and the urgent need to protect it.

You’ll contribute across a range of activities, from managing social media and improving SEO, to developing new website content and visual communications.

We’re looking for someone who’s agile, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment. You’ll be a positive self-starter and a collaborative team player who enjoys bringing fresh ideas to life and adapting as priorities evolve.

This maternity cover role is a fantastic opportunity to use your digital and creative skills for good — contributing to progressive, solutions-focused campaigns that help shape the future of Scotland’s seas.

Help us tackle the housing emergency.

It’s an exciting time to join SFHA’s external affairs team as we look ahead to a seismic election and work towards ending the housing emergency. If you’re passionate about social housing and politics, we want to hear from you.

SFHA is looking for a External Affairs Co-ordinator to support our engagement with politicians and Parliaments, with a key focus on the run-up to the 2026 Holyrood election and building relationships with new MSPs afterwards.

This role involves engaging with the political landscape to support SFHA’s election campaigns and promote the value of social housing across Scotland.

You will work to influence the political parties in the run-up to the election, monitor parliamentary and political developments, draft briefings to inform debates, and help newly elected MSPs understand the importance of social housing.

Enthusiasm and initiative are more important than extensive experience for this role, where you’ll have the chance to develop your policy, communications and lobbying skills in an organisation that’s driving real change.

Would you like to contribute to the vital supports in place for local families to thrive in Clackmannanshire? Home-Start Clackmannanshire are looking for vibrant, enthusiastic individuals, particularly those with knowledge/ skills relating to the Scottish Health system or Communications and Marketing, to join our board of trustees.

About us:

Home-Start offers guidance, friendship and practical support to families across Clackmannanshire who have at least one child under the age of twelve. We work with families to help them overcome issues impacting their lives, through a range of family support services. Our families are each unique, however common issues we support include: isolation and loneliness, mental health difficulties, bereavement, family breakdown, addiction, and physical ill-health. We’ve been supporting local families across Clackmannanshire since 1988. The Home-Start team (staff, volunteers and trustees) are committed to ensuring that children are given the best possible start in life as #childhoodcantwait.

The role of our trustees:

Charity trustees are responsible – and accountable - for the governance and strategy of their charity. They are responsible for making sure that their charity is administered effectively and can account for its activities and outcomes.

As a trustee on our board, you will contribute to:

1. Providing leadership and direction within the ethos of Home-Start.

2. Ensuring the scheme has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction.

3. Being responsible for the effective performance and management of the scheme.

4. Ensuring the scheme complies with legal and regulatory requirements, the objects of the scheme, the governing documents including the Home-Start Standards and Methods of Practice, the Home-Start Agreement and quality standards.

5. Securing and guarding the scheme’s assets and taking care of their security, deployment, and proper application.

6. Ensuring that the scheme’s governance is of the highest possible standard.

7. Undertaking an ambassadorial role for the scheme.

8. Appointing sub-committees and agreeing their terms of reference and membership.

Time Commitment:

Our board meets every 7-8 weeks, a hybrid approach where trustees can attend in-person meetings at our offices in Alloa or via Teams. Our offices are fully accessible.

As a trustee, you would also attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM) once a year.

Support:

Volunteers are the heart of Home-Start, and so in return for your time and commitment, you will be fully supported in role by our Chair. A full induction will be provided, and opportunities for both training and networking are also available.

All reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) is Scotland’s leading health charity working to help people with chest, heart and stroke conditions live life to the full. People with these conditions need and want to know how to manage them day to day and live as well as they can.

Experiencing a life-changing event like a heart attack or stroke or being diagnosed with a chest or heart condition or Long Covid, can mean that people are scared and alone. Many people do not know where to turn. Nobody in Scotland should have to face their health journey on their own. CHSS will deliver a community where people with its conditions can support each other, secure the expert help they need and advocate for the care that matters to them. Central to delivering the No Life Half Lived strategy, the Strategic Communications Manager plays a key role in helping CHSS reach 175,000 people annually by 2028, ensuring all design and content reflects the charity’s mission and values.

The Strategic Communications Manager will lead and align all external and internal communications to build and protect the reputation of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS). This strategic role covers brand campaigns, media, partnerships, services marketing, crisis communications and internal communications.

Working closely with the Head of Communications & Marketing, the post-holder will position communications as a strategic enabler of CHSS’ ambition that there should be No Life Half Lived in Scotland. A key focus is to establish CHSS as a trusted source of health information and thought leadership, particularly in relation to Chest, Heart and Stroke conditions.

The role will provide expert media advice, supports senior spokespeople and leads a team of specialists to deliver integrated, impactful communications. It will oversee strategic media partnerships, evidence-led content and proactive relationship building to enhance CHSS’s visibility and credibility.

The Strategic Communications Manager will collaborate across departments to develop tailored marketing plans and strengthen internal communications.

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Line manage a team of four
• Oversee team workflow, development and performance reviews
• Provide coaching and strategic oversight to ensure media activities align with CHSS goals

Strategic Communications

• Develop and deliver integrated communications plans across media, brand, services, crisis comms and internal channels
• Lead brand campaigns including FAST and Advice Line, ensuring alignment with CHSS values
• Manage proactive and reactive media strategies, including crisis response protocols
• Use audience insight to inform planning and improve engagement metrics

Internal Collaboration

• Work with departments across CHSS to co-develop communications plans that support strategic priorities
• Provide media advice to senior leaders including the Chief Executive
• Collaborate with Evaluation & Impact, Data and Service Delivery teams to ensure evidence-led messaging
• Support Income Generation teams with marketing initiatives for fundraising and retail

External Relationships

• Build and manage relationships with media, creative agencies and public/private sector partners (e.g., NHS, Network Rail)
• Manage contracts with media monitoring and distribution services
• Represent CHSS externally with professionalism and credibility

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure all communications comply with GDPR, NLA and CLA regulations
• Maintain oversight of media monitoring tools and ensure supplier compliance
• Provide training and guidance on legal standards to internal teams

External Engagement

• Lead communications for high-profile campaigns and joint initiatives with external stakeholders
• Use the External Engagement Toolkit to enhance CHSS’ reach and reputation
• Promote CHSS’ mission and services to increase stakeholder awareness and referrals

Volunteer Engagement

• Highlight volunteer impact through strategic communications and storytelling
• Collaborate with the Volunteering Team to develop case studies and recruitment campaigns
• Promote volunteer opportunities to stakeholders and ensure positive volunteer experiences

Preferred Candidate Background

The ideal candidate for the Strategic Communications Manager role will be a seasoned communications professional with a strong track record in strategic media relations, brand leadership, and cross-channel campaign delivery. They will bring a blend of creativity, technical proficiency and strategic insight, coupled with a collaborative mindset and the ability to lead and inspire teams. With at least five years’ experience in communications within the charity or public affairs sector, they will be confident advising senior stakeholders, managing complex projects and driving impactful, evidence-led communications that align with organisational goals.

Required Skills:

• Supportive and effective line management style; able to motivate teams to deliver challenging projects
• Skilled at translating complex information into engaging, audience-appropriate content
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across varied audiences
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Creative and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to grow internal and external networks
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex issues in a fast-paced environment
• Confident advising senior stakeholders on sensitive or strategic communications
• Strong project management skills for own and team workload
• Skilled in maintaining message discipline across large projects or organisations
• Effective working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders

Required Experience:

• Proficiency in media monitoring and distribution tools (Onclusive, Meltwater, Vuelio)
• Experience with project management and collaboration platforms (Trello, Asana, Slack)
• Familiarity with digital content creation tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
• Strong understanding of social media platforms and digital PR strategies
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in strategic communications, media relations or public affairs
• Proven track record of securing national and regional media coverage across broadcast, print and digital platforms
• Experience integrating communications across digital and traditional channels
• Experience in the charity sector and understanding of its diverse business functions
• Experience coordinating colleagues and external partners to deliver impactful content
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategies for high-quality publicity
• Experience planning and delivering external communications projects across teams
• Experience improving systems and processes to increase communications efectiveness
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality work within tight timescales
• Experience developing and working within brand guidelines
• Proven line management experience
• Experience managing and reviewing contracts with external suppliers to ensure value for money

Join Our Board – Trustee Opportunities at Soundplay Projects

Soundplay Projects creates playful, creative and accessible experiences for children and young people through sound, music and technology. As we grow, we’re inviting new trustees to join our Board and help shape a future rooted in creativity, care and inclusion.

We’re looking for people who believe in shared leadership, thoughtful governance and the power of play. You don’t need previous trustee experience for all roles, just curiosity, care and a commitment to our mission.

Trustee Roles

Board Chair

Supporting the collective leadership of the Board, helping trustees work well together and ensuring Soundplay remains well-governed, strategic and values-led.

Treasurer / Finance Lead

Providing oversight and guidance on Soundplay’s financial health, sustainability and long-term planning, helping the Board understand and steward resources confidently.

HR & Safeguarding Trustee

Supporting strong people practices and safeguarding, ensuring Soundplay is a safe, fair and nurturing environment for staff, volunteers and young people.

Fundraising & Partnerships Trustee

Helping develop sustainable income through relationships, fundraising strategy and philanthropic support.

Marketing & Communications Trustee

Strengthening Soundplay’s voice, visibility and reach through thoughtful, inclusive and engaging communications.

Digital & Technology Trustee

Providing insight and oversight around digital systems, safety, infrastructure and innovation.

Trustee – Lived Experience / Community Voice

Bringing lived experience to the Board to ensure Soundplay’s decision-making remains grounded, accessible and representative of the communities we serve.

What it means to be a Soundplay Trustee

As a trustee, you will help guide Soundplay’s direction, support strategic thinking and contribute to a culture of care, creativity and collaboration. You will work alongside other trustees and the staff team to ensure the organisation remains ethical, sustainable and responsive to the people it serves.

We are particularly keen to hear from people who bring diverse perspectives, lived experience and voices underrepresented in governance spaces.

Support & Access

We are committed to making this experience welcoming and accessible. Support includes:

• Full induction and governance training
• Buddy trustee support
• Hybrid and accessible meeting options
• Expenses covered

Water Witness is seeking a Senior Communications Lead

We are seeking an energetic and enthusiastic individual to lead our communications function in our small but mighty team.

We need an experienced, innovative and proactive comms all-rounder with a passion for our mission, and the ability to reach audiences with the right information, in the right way, in the right place and at the right time to activate public demand and political action- for a fair water future for all.

This senior role will lead our press, social media, content and digital approaches to grow awareness in key audiences, build our brand, land our policy asks, collaborate with our partners and networks, and deliver measurable public and political engagement.

You’ll bring your talent for identifying and landing press stories, your experience of creating great content that cuts through, and your expertise in purposeful storytelling that informs, inspires and engages target audiences. We’ll support you with development opportunities, trust in your authority, and a brilliant working culture with a bundle of staff benefits. We live our core values: Justice, Tenacity, Truth and play to our strengths: Strategic, Resilient, Influential &Trusted.

If you’re an experienced NGO comms professional or journalist who can demonstrate a track record of comms that influence real world change, we want to hear from you. Even if you don’t match every single one of the items on the person spec, please tell us about your relevant experience and transferrable skills.

Join Our Board and Help Shape the Future of North Lanarkshire Disability Forum

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

Do you want to use your skills and experience to help a Scottish charity grow and thrive?

North Lanarkshire Disability Forum is seeking new volunteer Board Members to join our governing body. We are a community led organisation supporting and raising the voices of people living with a long term condition, disability and those affected by cancer including carers.

As a trustee, you’ll play a vital role in guiding our strategy, ensuring strong governance, and supporting the Management and staff team to deliver real and lasting impact.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences — especially those who can bring diverse perspectives or lived experience relevant to our work. We’re particularly interested in candidates with skills in finance, law, fundraising, communications, or HR, but enthusiasm and commitment are just as important.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a respected Scottish charity while gaining valuable experience in governance, leadership, and strategic decision-making.