Selkirk Regeneration (SR) is a community charitable organisation with a broad remit to support the social, economic and environmental prosperity of Selkirk and its environs (TD7 postcode area). We have several well-established projects including developing a Local Place Plan with the community, delivery of the

Sustainable Borders energy advice service and managing a community pop-up shop in Selkirk High Street. We have investigated options for various community-owned renewable energy projects, including wind, solar and hydro, and most recently have led a feasibility study into a Local Energy Club as the most viable project in current circumstances. Selkirk Local Energy Club

The Selkirk Local Energy Club is a proposed community-led pilot that aims to help Selkirk make better use of renewable electricity generated locally. The club will use both domestic and business rooftop solar electricity generation to supply electricity to local households and businesses and community buildings on a local electricity tariff.

In simple terms, the model links local renewable generators with local households, businesses and community buildings that use electricity. The electricity still flows through the national energy grid, so members do not need a new physical connection to the generator. Instead, the Local Energy Club uses a commercial and billing arrangement to match local generation with local demand. When local renewable electricity is generated and used by participating members, members benefit from lower energy bills, while generators can receive a fairer return than standard export arrangements.

With external independent technical support, we have examined the feasibility of the project and developed a business plan; both demonstrate that this can be a realisable and viable scheme. Our next step is to establish a pilot scheme to convert this exciting vision into reality. We believe this will be the first distributed rooftop solar energy scheme in the Scottish Borders and will create a model that can be widely replicated by other communities.

The pilot will focus on moving from feasibility into live operation. This will involve commencing supply to participating members and monitoring the model over an initial 6-12 month period. The pilot will capture data on local electricity matching rates, bill savings, generator revenues, export performance, administrative costs and operational learning.

This evidence will be used to confirm that the Local Energy Club is technically, commercially and administratively viable, and whether it could be scaled up to include more members, more generators and wider community benefit activity in future.

Bavs shops are at the heart of our charity: our shops exist to promote the ethos of sustainability and to maximise the contribution from donations so we can re-invest back into community projects.

Our shops receive donations every day and in a busy environment Shop Managers need to be able to juggle tasks as different as sorting stock, supporting volunteers and working with the Chief Officer to ensure safe working practices. The role requires someone who is well organised and energetic.

If you are inspired to achieve results for a good cause, are always thinking of new ways to maximise income and enjoy working as part of a team, this could be a role to make your own. This is a demanding and sometimes challenging role and can be greatly satisfying for the right person.

With your mental health at heart

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our Engagement Pathways Team.

We are recruiting for the post of Development Worker – Engagement Pathways to lead and develop our pathways into services for people. This includes enquiries, initial conversations including risk assessment, baseline outcome measures, reviews and endings.

This is an opportunity requiring excellent communication and organisational skills, where the successful candidate will be required to support the journey of people through our services within the Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders and have an impact on staff development and supervision.

You will be key to maintaining quality within this area of service delivery and in representing our services within Health in Mind. You should have experience of working together with people experiencing mental health problems to support them to achieve their aims related to mental health and wellbeing. You should have experience of developing systems and processes and sharing your learning experiences across teams.

If you have experience in these areas and are passionate about enabling people to fulfil their potential, we’d love to hear from you!

Borders Community Action is seeking to appoint an additional trustee/director who will join the Board immediately and become Chair Designate, with the intention of assuming the role of Chair of the organisation in 2027.

Role Profile

As Chair Designate, the successful candidate will first serve as a full trustee/director of the organisation. Trustees are collectively responsible for ensuring the charity is well run, financially responsible and acting in line with its purposes, while safeguarding its assets, values and reputation.

This is an opportunity for an experienced and dynamic individual to help lead a growing and ambitious organisation through its next stage of development. The successful candidate will work alongside fellow trustees/directors, the current Chair and the Chief Executive to ensure a well-supported and effective transition into the

Chair role.

In addition to the general duties of a trustee, the Chair Designate should be willing and able to:

• Provide strategic leadership at Board level and help guide the long-term direction of the organisation.
• Build effective working relationships with trustees, staff and key partners.
• Support good governance, sound decision-making and collective responsibility within the Board.
• Work closely with the current Chair and Chief Executive during the transition period ahead of 2027.
• Act as an ambassador for Borders Community Action and the wider third sector in the Scottish Borders

Ark is a major provider of Housing, Care and Support to people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and autism.

Ark supports people to live independently in their own homes providing everything from a few hours a week social and life admin support to 24/7 care supporting with personal care, medication, household tasks, attending appointments and leisure activities.

We have lots of opportunities across Scotland for our Support Worker roles. As we provide full training no previous is experience is required.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting people to live their best lives, then apply now to join our team!

Your main duties will include but not be limited to:

• Working with colleagues as part of an effective and efficient team to support vulnerable people.
• Communicate and work well with our supported people to provide individual care and maintain appropriate relationships.
• Being responsible in supporting individuals throughout the activities, giving positive feedback and encouragement.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records using a tablet on Arks Information Management system.

Previous experience of the following is an advantage but not essential as Ark will provide full training: Care Worker, Social worker, Home Carer, Case Worker, Care Assistant, Autism Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant , Social Care Worker.

View our job outline, find out what you working week could look like and hear from our current Support Workers on Arks website arkha.org.uk/work-with-us

Why Ark?

• No Previous Experience Required - Ark provide full training so no previous experience is required making our Support Worker roles the perfect place to start your career in Adult Social Care.
• Get a qualification while you work - Ark fully fund your SVQ2 in Health & Social Care which you complete with the support of our in house SVQ team.
• Employee Discounts - Employee Discounts Portal with 1000s of discounts on your favourite brands including Supermarkets, Cinema Tickets, Gym Membership and Holidays.
• Career Progression -Over 75% of all Managers within Care & Support have been promoted internally.
• Employee Assistance Program - Arks Employee Assistance program (EAP) gives all employees access to counselling sessions. There is also support available through weekly webinars and the EAP Website & App.
• Contracted hours to suit you-We have Full-time, Part-time and Relief Support Worker roles available at our services throughout Scotland.

In return for your valuable contribution, Ark will also offer you:

• Up to 36 days paid holiday per year pro rata
• 4% Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Fully funded PVG & 1st year SSSC registration paid by Ark

Our employees told us in a recent survey that they stay with Ark because they believe in our values, we have supportive managers who continually appreciate their staff and they love making a positive difference in our supported peoples lives, helping them to achieve their dreams.

Ark would love to hear from you whether you are an experienced Support Worker or new to Social Care.

Ark is a major provider of Housing, Care and Support to people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and autism.

Ark supports people to live independently in their own homes providing everything from a few hours a week social and life admin support to 24/7 care supporting with personal care, medication, household tasks, attending appointments and leisure activities.

We have lots of opportunities across Scotland for our Support Worker roles. As we provide full training no previous is experience is required.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting people to live their best lives, then apply now to join our team!

Your main duties will include but not be limited to:

• Working with colleagues as part of an effective and efficient team to support vulnerable people.
• Communicate and work well with our supported people to provide individual care and maintain appropriate relationships.
• Being responsible in supporting individuals throughout the activities, giving positive feedback and encouragement.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records using a tablet on Arks Information Management system.

Previous experience of the following is an advantage but not essential as Ark will provide full training: Care Worker, Social worker, Home Carer, Case Worker, Care Assistant, Autism Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant , Social Care Worker.

View our job outline, find out what you working week could look like and hear from our current Support Workers on Arks website arkha.org.uk/work-with-us

Why Ark?

• No Previous Experience Required - Ark provide full training so no previous experience is required making our Support Worker roles the perfect place to start your career in Adult Social Care.
• Get a qualification while you work - Ark fully fund your SVQ2 in Health & Social Care which you complete with the support of our in house SVQ team.
• Employee Discounts - Employee Discounts Portal with 1000s of discounts on your favourite brands including Supermarkets, Cinema Tickets, Gym Membership and Holidays.
• Career Progression -Over 75% of all Managers within Care & Support have been promoted internally.
• Employee Assistance Program - Arks Employee Assistance program (EAP) gives all employees access to counselling sessions. There is also support available through weekly webinars and the EAP Website & App.
• Contracted hours to suit you-We have Full-time, Part-time and Relief Support Worker roles available at our services throughout Scotland.

In return for your valuable contribution, Ark will also offer you:

• Up to 36 days paid holiday per year pro rata
• 4% Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Fully funded PVG & 1st year SSSC registration paid by Ark

Our employees told us in a recent survey that they stay with Ark because they believe in our values, we have supportive managers who continually appreciate their staff and they love making a positive difference in our supported peoples lives, helping them to achieve their dreams.

Ark would love to hear from you whether you are an experienced Support Worker or new to Social Care.