JOIN THE VENNY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF GLENCASSELS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Venny (Glencassels Community Development Project) is looking for new volunteer Board members to provide governance and strategic direction for this well-established community project.

Based in Craigneuk, The Venny works with children, young people, families and the wider community, providing activities, opportunities and support shaped around local strengths and needs.

What does being a Board Member involve?

Our Board has responsibility for ensuring that The Venny is well managed, well run and fulfils our commitments to both our funders and the local community.

As a Board Member, you will:

• Be a Trustee of a Scottish Charity – Glencassels Community Development Project (SCIO)
• Help ensure that our work reflects the strengths and needs of the local community
• Contribute to important decisions about governance and project development
• Oversee matters such as finance, recruitment, policies, risk and quality of service
• Provide supervision and support to the Project Leader
• Bring your own ideas, experience and perspectives

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for people with an interest in community development who believe that a neighbourhood centre like The Venny can truly support and enrich community life.

We would particularly like to hear from:

• People with strong links to Craigneuk and Wishawhill in North Lanarkshire who would like to become involved in supporting these communities.
• People from the wider community who can bring skills, knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Management and governance
  • Human resources
  • Community development
  • Services for children and young people
  • Finance and funding

You don't need previous Board experience. What's important is an interest in our work, a commitment to our community and a willingness to contribute your knowledge, experience and perspective.

Our commitment

The Board meets approximately every 4–6 weeks. This is a voluntary role, and new Board members will be supported to understand The Venny and their responsibilities as Charity Trustees.

Could you help make The Venny somewhere young people feel welcome, valued and able to be themselves?

We're looking for a confident, approachable and enthusiastic Youth Worker to join our small team and help deliver our after-school and evening youth clubs. We want someone who can build positive relationships, bring ideas and initiative, and help create meaningful opportunities with young people.

YOU COULD BE A GREAT FIT IF YOU:

• Have experience working or volunteering with children or young people
• Can build positive relationships and engage confidently
• Bring ideas, energy and initiative
• Are reliable, approachable and a good team member

WHAT WE OFFER:

• £13.45 per hour - Real Living Wage rate
• Training and development opportunities
• A friendly, supportive small team
• The chance to make a real difference locally

Relevant experience can come from youth work, education, community work, sports coaching, childcare, mentoring, support work or a similar setting. You don't need to have followed a traditional youth work career path - we're interested in your experience, values and what you could bring to our young people.

This role may work particularly well alongside another part-time role, study or existing work with children and young people.

We're looking for a versatile and enthusiastic individual to join our small team. Around half of their time will be spent supporting the smooth facilitation of music sessions and events with children and adults. The other half will be spent supporting the operational side of the organisation, with a particular focus on admin and social media tasks. Whether they’re carrying a keyboard into a room or setting up refreshments, engaging with a quiet participant, keeping track of attendance, or crafting the perfect Instagram reel to showcase our impact, the successful candidate will be an important part of the organisation's overall impact and sustainability, and they will be the first point of contact for the organisation for many of our participants and partners.

Regardless of their former educational or professional experiences and outcomes, we are looking for someone who can learn with direction and guidance, isn’t afraid to ask questions when they are uncertain, and can progress to taking ownership over their schedule and workload over their time with the organisation.

We recognise that the charity and third sector do not always reflect the communities they support. We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce that reflects our local community. Applications from candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those with lived experience of the care system, and Black and racially minoritised individuals are especially welcomed.

Why work with us?

• Join a hardworking creative team where every team member's contributions are valued.
• Be involved in creating positive experiences & memories through music for everyone in our community (including our staff and volunteers!)
• Develop a broad range of skills alongside experienced Community Music professionals.
• Collaborate with Co-Directors to develop your role.
• Annual Leave: 25 days pro rata’d plus 10 days public holiday pro rata’d.
• Staff are entitled to an additional full day’s annual leave per year of service up to a maximum of 5 years.
• Pension: Employer Contribution is 8% of salary.
• Bike to Work Scheme available to all staff.

Transition Edinburgh South (TES) works with local people and community organisations to regenerate greenspaces and community buildings in the South of Edinburgh, We do this in a number of ways -

• Growing food that is good for people and planet; blending growing with community health, learning, and volunteering programmes and events that reduce social isolation, mental ill health and poverty, improve health and community connections, increase bio-diversity and reduce carbon pollution.
• Increasing opportunities for volunteering and supporting local grassroots projects.
• Working with local residents and community organisations to develop the buildings and greenspaces where we are based and in surrounding communities.
• Working to improve the environments where we are based, by tackling the impacts of climate change, reducing carbon pollution, increasing bio-diversity, and promoting sustainable development and regenerative horticulture.

We are based at the Gracemount Community Garden where, since 2013, we use organic and ecological techniques that regenerate the soil while growing fruit and veg for the community. We are part of the Transition Movement which “is a movement of communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world”.

We are currently looking to appoint a Treasurer to join our small Board. The Treasurer will be responsible for managing all financial matters on behalf of our organisation and will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation has robust financial processes to meet its legal and constitutional requirements. It will also be the responsibility of the Treasurer to report the financial position at the board meetings. While we encourage and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, we are keen to hear from candidates that have experience of charity financial management or are chartered in a suitable accountancy field.

All Trustees are required to attend monthly board meetings, ideally in person in Edinburgh but occasional attendance by video call is ok. In addition, we ask Trustees to attend our organisational strategy day and our AGM. Please note that this is a voluntary role. The trustees of our organisation do not receive any remuneration.