Feniks is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Polish Community Link Worker to support mainly the Polish community in Edinburgh to access public and third-sector services. This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established organisation working to improve the wellbeing and protect the rights of Central and Eastern European communities.

About the role

The Link Worker will provide information, advice and guidance to individuals, helping them overcome barriers and access appropriate services. The postholder will support clients with practical, emotional, health, education and welfare needs, and where necessary accompany them to appointments.

Working closely with healthcare professionals, social services and community organisations, you will play a key role in social prescribing and advocacy. You will also contribute to awareness-raising through social media, maintain accurate case records in line with GDPR, and support monitoring and reporting processes.

The role forms part of Feniks’ wider advocacy work supporting the rights of the Polish community in Scotland.

About you

You will have at least two years’ experience in a similar role working directly with marginalised or hard-to-reach groups.

You will demonstrate:

• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals facing complex issues
• Strong assessment and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Fluency in both English and Polish (essential)
• Good knowledge of issues affecting CEE communities, including mental health, social exclusion and immigration matters

A relevant qualification (for example, in social work, healthcare, psychology, community development or similar) is desirable.

Additional information

The role may involve occasional evening or weekend work. Some office and face-to-face work will be required. The successful candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme.

Feniks offers a supportive team environment and in-house clinical supervision in recognition of the emotional demands of the role.

If you are passionate about equality, human rights and supporting communities to thrive, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Provide expert policy support to the MP, leading on key policy areas including responding to policy casework, delivering high‑quality briefings, drafting speeches and PQs, shaping lines to take, and engage stakeholders to progress constituency and national priorities.

Applicants should have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a small team. Awareness of public policy and strong written skills are essential. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, responsible, able to use initiative and capable of working under pressure to meet deadlines.

Key responsibilities

• Provide responses to policy casework.
• Analyse, evaluate and interpret data to ensure Member is accurately informed on key issues.
• Assist in writing external communications including speeches for the MP.
• Develop and maintain current knowledge on relevant areas of parliamentary business including Motions, legislation, Hansard, debates etc. This would include issues of importance both nationally and in the local constituency.
• Give advice on policy issues.
• Have working knowledge of relevant legislation and upcoming business including how they impact on the constituency.
• Help draft amendments for reports and prepare briefing material.
• Prepare and present briefing notes for committees, press releases, parliamentary questions etc.
• Progress casework as required.
• There may be a requirement for the role holder to work outside of normal working hours and travel for work occasionally.
• To advise and ensure the MP is fully briefed on potential questions and motions to be put to the House.
• Undertake research on relevant subjects as directed.
• Work with colleagues in communications/casework to identify potential impacts from the research work and disseminate them effectively.

The following skills are essential:

• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
• Able to deal with sensitive issues in a confidential and timely manner;
• Ability to work quickly and calmly under pressure in a small team or individually;
• Competent use of IT including proficiency in using Microsoft Office, Outlook, SharePoint, and the internet;
• Good knowledge and understanding of local and national political issues and how Parliament works;

Driving licence essential

Upon appointment you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO) page for further info. MPs generally pay staff in accordance with IPSA guidelines.

As a result of planned retirements and Board renewal, we have two opportunities to join our Board as Trustees for Shelter Scotland:

Role 1 Trustee

Role 2 Chair of the Scotland Committee and Vice-Chair to the Board of Trustees.

We’re looking for people with a range of professional and personal experiences. Strong candidates will relish the chance to join a high-performing Board, working with an extremely talented and highly motivated Executive Leadership Team. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve in Scotland.

Experience in the following areas would be key:

• Knowledge and understanding of the operating environment for third sector organisations in Scotland.
• Experience of public affairs or social policy development in a Scottish context.
• Experience of delivering anti-racism policy and in practice.
• Knowledge and understanding of fundraising in the Scottish context.

What is the Voluntary Sector?

The ‘voluntary sector’ refers to organisations whose primary purpose is to create social impact rather than profit. It is independent from local and national government, and distinct from the private sector. Charities are the largest single category within the voluntary sector.

About Shelter and Shelter Scotland

We are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent. Our Trustees play a vital role in making sure that we achieve our core purpose.

Being a Trustee

Our Board of Trustees is a non-executive Board with overall legal responsibility for the direction, management and control of Shelter and is collectively accountable for compliance with charity law, company law and other legislative and regulatory requirements. As a Trustee, you will have the chance to support and shape our work and strategic direction. Trusteeship can help you gain experience of strategy and leadership. It will give you experience of setting a strategic vision, influencing and negotiation, and managing risk. If you already have significant experience in these areas, it can be stimulating to use it in a different and potentially challenging context. As a Trustee, you will be part of a team and will have the opportunity to apply your unique skills and experience while learning from others. Working closely with a passionate team of people who have different perspectives is often one of the most enjoyable aspects of the role. People with lived or learned experience of homelessness can bring powerful perspectives to our Board and play an important role in shaping our strategy. Terms of Appointment Terms of office are normally limited to a maximum of two terms, each of three years.

Remuneration

Trustees receive no fees, remuneration, salary or other financial benefits nor any other material benefits in their role at Shelter. However, they can claim reasonable expenses for attendance at Board and other meetings or events in line with the Trustee Expenses Policy.

Application Criteria

Charity Commission CC30 Guidance and the Charities Act 2011 disqualifies some people from acting as a trustee. Shelter will not appoint a person who is not allowed by law to be a trustee.

Colleges Scotland is the collective voice for the college sector, and as the membership body, represents the 24 colleges in Scotland, which deliver both further education and around 20% of the provision of all higher education in Scotland.

The 24 colleges operate in 13 regions across Scotland, allowing them to plan nationally and regionally, as well as deliver locally.

Colleges Scotland’s primary role is to support colleges and the regional strategic body in achieving their aims and objectives, and to cultivate the strength of the college sector in Scotland. This is achieved through advocating and campaigning on behalf of the college sector, co-ordinating sector-wide engagement on major issues, policy development, and maintaining strong and proactive relationships with government, sector agencies and industry bodies. Colleges Scotland is driving new business development opportunities to increase benefits to its members.

College Employers Scotland is a committee of the Colleges Scotland board and has delegated decision making responsibilities on all matters related to National Bargaining.

The Role of the Chair

The Chair provides inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring the effective governance of the charity and that Colleges Scotland is accountable to its members.

The Chair will also support and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Executive Officer and ensure that the Board functions effectively as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive of the charity to achieve agreed objectives.

The Role of the Trustee

As a Trustee, you will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and effective operation of Colleges Scotland as an organisation, rather than matters related to the college sector more broadly, and ensuring that we meet our charitable objectives and comply with our legal obligations.

Partners in Advocacy has been delivering independent advocacy services since 1998 and is recognised as an established provider across Scotland.

We are pleased to offer an opportunity to join our East Lothian service as an Independent Advocacy Worker. In this role, you will provide one-to-one independent advocacy to individuals aged 16 and over with learning disabilities and/or autism. You will also contribute to existing collective advocacy projects within East Lothian and support the development of new groups where need is identified.

As an Independent Advocacy Worker, you will support individuals to express their views, understand their rights, explore options and participate in decisions that affect their lives. The role includes working closely with the Service Coordinator to maintain accurate quarterly statistics and contribute to the production of service reports.

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 National Trust for Scotland is looking for up to five members to join its Board from this September.

Our Trustees play a vital role in guiding the organisation, and together their collective expertise reflects the breadth and diversity of the Trust’s work.

This year, we are inviting applications from people with experience in the following fields:

• collections management;
• commercial and entrepreneurial activities in a consumer environment;
• commercial property and estate management;
• gardens and horticulture; and
• legal expertise

With major projects underway across our properties and as we look ahead to our Centenary in 2031, this is an exciting time to contribute to shaping the future of Scotland’s most treasured places.

Joining our Board offers a unique opportunity to influence the stewardship and protection of our nation’s heritage. We encourage applications from across our diverse membership and from individuals at all stages in their careers. If you share our commitment to Scotland’s natural, cultural and built heritage, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Trustee Board Members Wanted

Improving Lives is looking for new Trustees to join our Board.

We support people affected by disability, long-term conditions, and social isolation. We work with local communities to improve access to services, activities, and opportunities.

We want Trustees who care about fairness, inclusion, and strong community services.

About the role

Trustees help guide the charity and protect its future. You will:

• Help set the charity’s direction and priorities

• Oversee finances, governance, and risk

• Support and challenge senior staff

• Make sure we meet legal and regulatory duties

• Represent the values of the organisation

• Attend board meetings and occasional events

Meetings usually take place in Clydebank. Some remote attendance is possible.

Who we are looking for

We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds and experiences.

We are especially interested in people with skills in:

• Finance or accounting

• Law or governance

• HR or people management

• Fundraising or grants

• Marketing or digital

• Community work or social care

• Lived experience of disability

No previous board experience is required. Induction and ongoing support are provided.

Time commitment

• At least 1 meeting every 4 to 6 weeks

• Occasional extra meetings or events

• Preparation time before meetings

This role is voluntary. Reasonable expenses are covered.

What you will gain

• Experience in charity governance

• Training and development

• A chance to influence local services

• The opportunity to make a difference

• A supportive and committed board team

GNWCAB’s Board of Directors are looking for four new Directors to work alongside other board members to oversee and support our Chief Executive and our dynamic team of staff and volunteers. Later this year, we will be moving premises and we are seeking to expand our Board to support this process and our onward development. At this important point in our journey, we are seeking Directors who can bring different perspectives to help the Bureau achieve its plans for the future and provide the most relevant and accessible advice services possible.

The Board is currently made up of seven Directors, each offering a different skillset that can support the governance needs and development aims of the organisation. We welcome applications from anyone who feels passionate about our work, regardless of professional background.

The Board has identified an upcoming skills gap related to third sector fundraising and governance, and we hope to fill one of the four roles with someone who has experience of this kind. We would encourage applicants with this background to also consider joining our Finance, Risk, and Audit Committee (FRAC).

For the remaining three roles, we encourage candidates of all kinds, particularly those with strong knowledge of and connections to north west Glasgow. Most important to us is finding candidates who fit our values and our organisation. We are looking for people who are approachable, transparent, team players, positive influencers and who are willing to contribute to debate.

GNWCAB’s staff team, volunteers and clients come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and widening access and inclusion is central to our mission and our values. We want our Board to be representative of our local community and so would welcome approaches from people who live locally or have lived experience of issues facing our clients. We encourage applications from groups that are under-represented on charity boards, particularly people from Black, Asian, or other minority ethnic communities, as well as young and Disabled people.

We happily welcome applications from people who have not been senior volunteers or sat on a board before. GNWCAB is committed to the on-going development of our staff and volunteers and we provide opportunities for training and engagement across the organisation on a regular basis. As a new Director, you will be fully inducted and offered training tailored to your level of experience that would support your development in the role.

The One World Shop was established over 40 years ago and has played a lead role in the Fair Trade movement in Scotland, including helping Edinburgh and Glasgow become Fairtrade cities and Scotland to become a Fair Trade Nation.

As well as running a thriving city centre shop, we have an online shop and we support schools, faith groups and local businesses to learn about and sell fair trade products. We currently employ 7 paid staff and over 20 volunteers. Our aim is to reduce poverty in deprived areas of the world through trading fairly and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting low-carbon living.

We are seeking to appoint several new voluntary Management Committee members; we are particularly looking at people with skills and experience in any of the following:

• Human Resources
• Property, leases, surveying
• Retail sales and management
• Business management
• Finance, funding, ethical investment

Board meetings are held every two months by Zoom or occasionally in the shop.

We are a dynamic and forward-thinking charitable organisation rooted in North Lanarkshire, supporting children and adults with disabilities and additional support needs. We are looking for committee members to assist us in delivering our services – check us out at:

empowercarescotland.org.uk

No experience is required, as we are looking for individuals with life experience. However, experience of Social Services (as a service user), or skills in finance or social media, would also be welcomed.

The position is unpaid, but expenses are covered.

As part of our Board, you will help shape how the charity moves forward and be involved in delivering our services. As a Trustee, you will have a real opportunity to offer your unique skillset to help shape the progression of our work, while contributing your input and experience to the community.

Induction and training are provided, and we welcome applicants who have had no previous experience of being a Board member, but who would like to benefit from the experience.