The Development Leads in Iriss design and deliver high quality and effective projects that have relevance to the social work and social care sector. Directed either by sector or policy priorities, and working with a range of partners, our work aims to make support work better for both workers and people.

Our Development Leads come from a wide range of backgrounds including research, systems thinking, social work/care practice, community development, and design. What they have in common is a drive to support positive change and an ability to take a project through from initial idea to completion and product development.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who really wants to change the social work and social care system for the better. This role would suit someone with the following qualities:

• Innovation and change: You are confident in supporting people, teams or groups to make change happen. You are confident using a range of methods and approaches to doing this, bespoke to the situation.
• Curiosity and listening: You are curious about social work and social care and how it could be made better. You listen and attend to what workers and people tell you about their experience and use your expertise to help them solve the problems they face.
• Analysis and synthesis: You enjoy using evidence, knowledge, data, and information and ideas to create practical resources and programmes that will make a difference.
• Working in a team: We are a small, busy team that works hard to make best use of everyone’s skills.
• Learning and development: You should be a confident problem solver and able to learn new skills, methods and approaches.
• Diplomacy and customer focus: We want everyone who comes into contact with Iriss to have a good experience. You are the kind of person who takes pride in doing excellent work and supporting others.

You will have skills and experience in:

• Working confidently with a range of types of knowledge including academic research; practice wisdom; lived experience; and policy literature.
• Facilitating groups and designing workshops, including confident facilitation in online environments.
• Writing clearly and persuasively.
• Synthesising project activities and identifying learning into readable, usable resources for people working in social work and social care.
• Project development in areas where ‘the right answer’ is unclear, contested or unknown.
• Using the standard MS Office suite (or equivalent) in a work or study environment.

You will have knowledge of:

• Research and evidence use.
• Facilitation techniques and approaches.
• The social work and social care sector.

About Volunteer Scotland

Volunteer Scotland is the national centre for Volunteer Development. Our vision is for ‘a nation of volunteers strengthening Scotland’s communities’. Our purpose is to ensure that people volunteer, early and throughout their lives, that volunteers feel safe, valued and heard, making a difference to themselves and others and that volunteers represent their communities.

We lead the Volunteering Action Plan (VAP) on behalf of the Scottish Government and deliver five interconnected programmes — Participation, Development & Membership; Events, Campaigns & Promotions; Research & Policy; Disclosure Services; and the Knowledge Gateway.

These programmes collectively aim to widen participation, improve the quality and visibility of volunteering, support volunteer organisers, and promote volunteering through major campaigns and events. They generate and share national evidence, influence policy, and foster volunteer voice. They also ensure free access to the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for volunteers and provide trusted guidance, development services and Quality Standards across Scotland.

Our Values

We are determined to make a difference when and where it matters most, by applying our values in everything we do: CARES

• Collaborative
• Accountable
• Respectful
• Effective
• Supportive

Through our values we will make the greatest difference for volunteers, those who support them, and Scotland's communities.

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Participation and Membership Manager to join Volunteer Scotland, in a new role. The successful candidate will work closely with our Head of Innovation and Operations, and across teams, to develop our Participation and Membership Programme.

As the Participation and Membership Manager you will lead and support the delivery of Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan (VAP) by working with colleagues and the sector to facilitate action focused working groups and sector-wide engagement events and activities.

A major strand of the Participation and Membership Programme focuses on widening participation. To support this, you’ll oversee national participation development projects that enable practical action to develop opportunities for everyone and guide targeted work on inclusive volunteering, helping to remove barriers faced by volunteers, and in doing so, share best practice across sectors.

Another key activity will be facilitating the growth of our membership and Knowledge Gateway services. This will focus on supporting our organisational members and championing volunteer organisers across Scotland by developing a new membership category for paid and voluntary practitioners. You will also share your volunteer development expertise through our Bespoke Support and Development Service.

Volunteer Scotland is an equal opportunities employer, committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Volunteer Scotland.

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We positively welcome applicants from all backgrounds and all protected characteristics.

What will you receive?

You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your abilities with the opportunity to make a real difference every day. In addition, you will have excellent development opportunities including training, career development, and a range of e-learning courses.

You will also receive:

• Hybrid Working
• Enhanced parental leave
• Group Life Assurance
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Company contributory pension
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling services
• Employer Supported Volunteering Days x 3 (pro-rated)
• 28 Days Annual leave (inclusive of 3 floating public holiday days), rising to 33 days plus 5 fixed public holidays. (The office is normally closed between Christmas and New Year and any weekdays in between are given as additional leave).
• Annual Learning and Wellbeing allowance

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.

The Development Worker will support the delivery of the Our Garnock Valley Plan by enabling community-led action and supporting partnership working across the Garnock Valley.

This is a community development role informed by CLD principles, focused on supporting people, groups and organisations to develop ideas, build confidence and capacity, and progress agreed priorities in ways that are inclusive, collaborative and place-based.

Strategic direction and priority-setting sit with the Our Garnock Valley Steering Group. The Development Worker’s role is to support the progression of this agreed direction by working alongside communities, third sector and public sector partners to turn shared ambitions into practical next steps.

The Garnock Valley Locality Partnership Working Groupcommissioned a community engagement exercise, which

identified community development opportunities within the Garnock Valley. Following on from this, an exciting community and local authority collaboration developed the Our Garnock Valley Plan.

The Working Group now require a Development Worker to help realise the recommendations in the plan. The Development Worker will operate within the framework established by the GV2023 and Our Garnock Valley documents, serving as a pivotal force for change in the Garnock Valley communities.

Adopting a Place Based approach to working with communities, within a locality context, this role requires an individual with a proactive attitude and a knack for creative problem-solving. The scope of the role is comprehensive, encompassing project management, community and stakeholder empowerment, wider engagement, and strategic planning.

Feniks Counselling, Personal Development and Support Services Ltd. is seeking a passionate and driven Policy Development Officer to champion the rights of Polish and other Central and Eastern European (CEE) communities in Scotland.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape policy, influence decision-makers and amplify community voices at local and national level.

The Role

You will lead on policy and advocacy work, engaging with stakeholders including statutory services and the Scottish Government. Working closely with colleagues and community members, you will gather evidence, develop briefings and consultation responses, raise awareness of key issues, and support greater civic participation.

The role is primarily home-based, with occasional office attendance and travel as required. We warmly welcome applications from candidates based outside Edinburgh.

About You

You will bring at least two years’ experience in policy or advocacy work, excellent research and report-writing skills, and confidence engaging with stakeholders at all levels. Fluency in English and Polish is essential.

We are looking for someone who is self-motivated, collaborative and committed to equality, human rights and social justice.

Annual leave:34 days per annum, pro rata

Could you be part of something different? We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to use their gifts, skills and experience to make a difference to the lives of the people in our parishes and communities.

This role is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and committed youth worker to engage with children and young people within a school and church setting, providing spiritual, emotional, and social support. The successful candidate will play a key role in discipleship, community-building, and outreach, helping young people explore and develop their faith within the context of the Church of Scotland.

The successful candidate will be a committed Christian with an active Church connection (Genuine Occupational Requirement in terms of the Equality Act 2010).

It is essential you have the right to work in the UKbefore applying to work with us. You will be asked to provide proof of your eligibility to work and remain in the UK if you are invited to attend for an interview.

Do you want to be part of something life changing?

At Columba 1400, we enable young people, especially those from tough realities, and the key adults in their lives to lead lives of purpose, meaning and contribution. We believe everyone already holds greatness within them, and your role would be to help them discover it.

If you are someone who comes alive when working with people; someone who can create warm, brave spaces where young people and adults feel seen, listened to, valued, and able to explore who they are and who they might yet become, then you then you may be exactly who we are looking for.

What makes this role special?

You will contribute to changing lives, schools and communities by providing powerful, heart to heart facilitation for young people and key adults in their lives, guiding them through transformational, values based leadership experiences across each phase of the Columban journey.

You will deliver these experiences in schools and communities across Scotland, and at our breathtaking purpose-built Community and International Leadership Centre in Staffin on the Isle of Skye.

Your ideas, insight and creativity will help us continually evolve and enhance the Columban experience so that each leadership experience becomes a catalyst for real, lasting change.

You will lead and build meaningful relationships with our trusted partners, ensuring every interaction reflects our warmth of welcome, warmth of hospitality and the warmth of being on a shared journey - our founding principles.

You will be part of a warm and supportive team, united by purpose and committed to each other’s growth through our approach to values-based leadership.

About you

You are an experienced facilitator who brings energy, presence, and curiosity into every session. You create the conditions for trust, hope and belonging, and you help people discover their values, their skills, and their confidence.

You are also a natural relationship builder, confident in leading partnerships and nurturing the kind of trusting, values based relationships that allow real change lasting to flourish.

You communicate with warmth and clarity. You are adaptable, compassionate, reflective and energised by work that genuinely transforms lives and communities.

Carers Link has delivered advocacy for unpaid, family carers for over 20 years. During that time, we have been passionate about peer support. Now we want to join the two in a new one-year pilot project.

Your role will harness the immense knowledge and experiences of carers to help others in making changes for themselves. You will recruit volunteer advocates with current or previous caring experience and develop training & resource materials. You will bring your own lived experience, personal expertise, and local knowledge to then support carers and the peer advocates.

This is a new pilot project funded by Scottish Government Independent Advocacy Social Care Fund. Although initially for one year, there is a commitment to try and seek additional funds.

We are a Carer Positive Employer & promote family friendly policies. Hybrid working available between Milngavie office & home, but will also be out and about in community each week.

Introduction

The Wynd Centre, Paisley has been in existence for over forty years as the mission and outreach centre of Oakshaw Trinity Church. Its purpose is to provide outreach to the local community of all faiths and none in both Paisley, and the surrounding areas.

Our Centre fulfils this role by providing Counselling Services and also accommodation for local community groups. It has an auditorium used for various types of functions and entertainment. There is also office space that is available to rent for either short or longer term use.

The Centre has been presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.

The Opportunity

The Development & Administration Officer is responsible to the Board of Directors (the Board)

The Development & Administration Officer has a responsibility for employees and budgets and is accountable to the Board of Directors for the implementation of vision, strategy, priorities and policy as determined by the Board and the administrative requirements of Oakshaw Trinity Church. With an instruction from the Board of Directors to reach a balanced budget by 2027, the Development & Administration Officer will play a pivotal role in delivering this, ensuring that the Centre’s resources (human, financial, and material) are aligned to support a sustainable presence. The Development & Administration Officer holds a crucial role in creating and sustaining the conditions in which growth is possible.

Could you be part of something different? We have a rewarding opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to use their gifts, skills and experience to make a difference to the lives of the people in our parishes and communities.

You will assist the Minister and Kirk Sessions in leading worship and developing and delivering a range of pastoral services which aim to support individuals and families and increase participation in community and congregational life.

Bringing your experience and skills in pastoral care and worship you will be able to use your interpersonal skills and open approach to build relationships with the church family and community.

It is essential you have theright to work in the UKbefore applying to work with us. You will be asked to provide proof of your eligibility to work and remain in the UK if you are invited to attend for an interview.