As SOPA enters an exciting period of renewal and growth, we are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Development Worker to help strengthen our membership, partnerships, communications and influence across Scotland.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced individual to make a real difference to the lives of older people across Scotland, to help amplify the voices of older people and influence positive change.

Working closely with our Members, Board of Trustees and partner organisations, you will help deliver SOPA's strategic objectives, strengthen relationships with stakeholders, and support the organisation's continued development and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Membership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with SOPA members, partner organisations and key stakeholders, including Scottish Government.
• Support membership recruitment, retention and engagement activities.
• Build new partnerships with organisations that share SOPA's values and objectives.
• Outreach and Development
• Organise and coordinate a minimum of three outreach meetings each year across Scotland.
• Gather feedback from members and stakeholders to help inform SOPA's priorities and activities.
• Identify opportunities to increase SOPA's profile, reach and impact.
• Communications
• Manage and update SOPA's website and social media platforms, ensuring content remains current, engaging and relevant.
• Coordinate regular member communications, including newsletters and promotions
• Promote SOPA's activities, campaigns and events.
• Governance Support
• Work with the administrator and Trustees in planning and delivering major events, conferences and member meetings.
• Prepare progress reports for the Board of Trustees and funders.
• Contribute to the implementation of SOPA's strategic and operational plans.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a self-motivated and organised individual with:

• Experience in community development, membership organisations, voluntary sector development, stakeholder engagement or a similar role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience creating newsletters and social media campaigns.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills.
• Ability to work independently while building effective relationships with a wide range of people.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and digital communication tools.
• Understanding of the voluntary, charity or community sector.
• Experience working with older people or age-related organisations.
• Knowledge of the policy and issues affecting older people in Scotland.

About Us

Borders Independent Advocacy Service has established itself as one of Scotland’s leading providers of independent advocacy, delivering exceptional services since 1995. At the heart of our work are the rights of children and young people and the power of their voices to bring about positive change.

We provide individual, relationship-based independent advocacy and a wide range of participatory opportunities for people across the Scottish Borders. We work alongside corporate parents and communities to broaden understanding, and with policymakers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice based on the lived experience of Scottish Borders people.

The Role

As an independent advocacy worker, you will have the privilege of providing one-to-one independent advocacy to children and young people who live in the Scottish Borders. Through this role, you will ensure that their voices and wishes are heard, enabling them to make informed choices, protect their rights and have a meaningful impact on decisions that affect their lives.

The post-holder will be a key member of the advocacy team, supporting children and young people to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard. In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy, children’s rights, and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes, as well as assisting children and young people to prepare for them.

Working in partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people by keeping detailed records of the work you undertake, writing liaison reports, and monitoring statistics.

As a vital part of the work of Borders Independent Advocacy Service your role will include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities throughout the Borders Independent Advocacy local and national network, as well as meeting with care experienced children and young people to introduce the service in agreement with the local authority. Raising awareness of Borders Independent Advocacy Service and its services with children, young people, professionals, and carers you will also be responsible for facilitating training amongst professionals, carers, and organisations.

The successful candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills. You will be confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt to a wide range of situations. You will be confident in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you can prioritise and meet deadlines. You take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working.

Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You will demonstrate knowledge of the current structures, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland. You are also flexible, given the remit of the role, as some evening and weekend work may be necessary. A full driving licence and access to transport are essential.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Borders Independent Advocacy Service at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively – bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. To arrange an informal conversation about this opportunity or any other enquiries, please contact us, at recruitment@bordersadvocacy.org.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.

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.

Why Join Us?

You will join Borders Independent Advocacy Service at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are the most vulnerable are growing in strength and influence, bringing insight, challenge, hope and change. You will play a key role in shaping and strengthening advocacy services across the Scottish Borders.

We offer:

• A generous pension contribution scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement, plus public holidays
• Flexible working where possible
• A highly supportive, values-led organisation
• Commitment to staff wellbeing and professional development.

Borders Independent Advocacy Service is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

Essential criteria:

• Experience of managing staff and volunteers.
• Experience of managing community projects.
• Experience of facilities management.
• Experience of establishing and maintaining effective partnerships.
• Lived experience of recovery from addiction and/or mental health challenges.
• Competency in administrative tasks.
• UK Driver's license.

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge, skills or experience in the health and wellbeing sector.
• Knowledge, skills or experience in HR.
• Experience of working for a third sector organisation.

Duties include:

• Leading and managing people operations and HR administration;
• Supporting recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee/volunteer wellbeing and training;
• Managing and overseeing charity programmes and projects;
• Supporting programme planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation;
• Managing relationships with stakeholders, funders, partners, and volunteers;
• Supporting safeguarding, compliance, equality, diversity, and inclusion practices;
• Preparing reports, budgets, and programme updates;
• Managing staff and volunteers where applicable;
• Ensure sessions are appropriately advertised, resourced and evaluated.
• Organise and support delivery, management and evaluation of events.
• Manage all bookings of sessions.
• Manage all venue bookings.
• Oversee all elements of facilities management e.g. health & safety, COSH
• Manage all elements of budgeting and financial management for project delivery.
• Create pathways to generate unrestricted income through the sale of spaces, and services.
• Attend networking and partnership opportunities.
• Attend and support board meetings.
• Devise and deliver relevant training.
• Provide support to service-users where necessary.
• Regular provision of operational reports to Board of Directors.
• Undertaking any other duties reasonably required by the Employer.

Contract

• 35 hours per week
• £33-38,000 per annum
• 6% Employer Pension Contribution
• On-site (Sighthill, Glasgow)
• 28 days annual leave, including bank holidays.

About you

Ideal candidates will have experience delivering both 1:1 and group training sessions, along with the confidence to build strong relationships with individuals and organisations to promote our free services. Above all, you will be passionate about making a difference by helping others develop essential digital skills.

The Role

Join a meaningful UK-wide initiative powered by AbilityNet in partnership with BT Group, aimed at reducing digital exclusion. As a Digital Skills Trainer, you’ll deliver a mix of group and one-to-one sessions - both in person and online - helping older people (aged 55+) and disabled adults build the confidence and digital skills needed to thrive in today’s connected world.

These practical, person-centred sessions empower learners to navigate everyday technology with independence and confidence.

To learn more, please download the full job description.

What we’re looking for

Ideal candidates will have:

• Training and facilitation experience: Proven experience in delivering group and 1:1 training or presenting to diverse audiences.
• Outreach experience: Experience of representing organisations externally, building effective relationships with other organisations or businesses and adapting outreach strategies to suit different contexts.
• IT proficiency: Strong digital literacy and IT skills, with confidence in using a wide range of technologies including Microsoft Office 365, Apple and Android devices, and associated technologies. Excellent knowledge of assistive technology – hardware & software.
• Communication skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and motivate learners.
• Organisation skills: Strong organisational and administrative abilities.
• Experience of target audience: Experience of working with disabled adults, older people and third sector organisations.
• Travel Flexibility: Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the specified region, with occasional travel outside the area as required.

Who we are

AbilityNet exists to help make the digital world accessible to all. For more than 25 years, we have been transforming the lives of older and disabled people, and working with organisations of all types and sizes to build a digital world that is accessible and inclusive. Learn more about us and our services on our website.

What We Offer

Pension Scheme: We provide a workplace pension in line with UK legislation. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled within three months of joining.

Annual Leave: Enjoy 25 days of annual leave plus UK public holidays. Your entitlement increases by one day each year after five full years’ service, up to a maximum of 30 days.

Life Assurance:We offer life assurance cover valued at four times your annual salary.

Wellbeing Support

We care about your wellbeing and are committed to supporting a healthy work/life balance. We offer:

• Simplyhealth Optimise wellbeing plan
• Confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• A flexible approach to working arrangements that accommodates individual needs

Learning & Development:We invest in our people. You’ll have access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your growth. We’re proud of our inclusive, supportive culture and are committed to helping you reach your full potential.

Location:This role is only open to applicants based in the specified region, due to the geographic scope of delivery (see Appendix 1 of the Job Description for a map of the area covered). Access to reliable personal transport is essential. Please clearly indicate your location in your CV or Cover Letter.

Right to Work:We welcome applications from overseas. However, you must already have the legal right to work in the UK, as we are unable to sponsor work permits.

Organisation:

The Soul Shack is a grassroots creative health and wellbeing charity, based in Sighthill, Glasgow. We provide a wide range of creative health and wellbeing services, aimed at supporting those in recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, isolation, abuse and poverty.

We are in a very exciting transition process, and are about to take over management of larger premises in Sighthill. With that, we are recruiting an Operations & Funding Manager, who can support the operational and financial sustainability and growth of our charity.

The role:

• Supporting the operational management of the charity;
• Assisting with governance and compliance obligations;
• Managing administrative systems and organisational processes, including bookkeeping, payroll, audits, financial management etc;
• Identifying funding opportunities and supporting fundraising activity;
• Preparing grant applications, reports, and monitoring documentation;
• Maintaining relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders;
• Assisting with budgeting, reporting, and financial administration;
• Supporting safeguarding, equality, and data protection responsibilities;
• Support with social media management.
• Support with bookings, let management and the ongoing PMGC process.
• Attend and support board meetings
• Ensure all relevant data is stored, reviewed, managed and distributed in line with company policy.
• Manage all aspects of pricing, policies and procedures for new premises.
• Support training design and delivery.
• Undertaking other duties reasonably consistent with the role.

About you:

• Able to hit the ground running, with charity and community fundraising, particularly in relation to grant funding.
• Able to multi-task and manage the operational components of a busy community service.
• Understanding of charity governance and facilities management.
• Excellent communication skills, and confident holding space for large groups.
• Excellent written skills.
• Competent with Microsoft Word, Excel, AI software, and various marketing platforms.
• Good understanding of financial management.
• Compassionate, energetic and reliable.

Contract:

21 hours per week (days/times negotiable)

£33,000 per annum (pro-rata = £19,800)

28 days annual leave (pro-rata), plus public holidays.

6% Employer Pension Contribution.

Office-based - Sighthill, Glasgow.

1 year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension (funding dependent)

About Us

Braveheart is a forward-thinking health promotion charity dedicated to improving wellbeing through healthy lifestyles and physical activity. Braveheart has been providing community-based health services in Forth Valley for 30 years and is well established in the locality.

The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Co-ordinator to lead and develop our footcare initiative across the Forth Valley area. Braveheart’s Top Toes service is already operating in Falkirk District and your role will be to drive forward the growth of the social enterprise, while managing the high quality of the footcare service. Joining the Braveheart team at this exciting time in the organisation’s development offers the successful candidate the opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of hundreds of people in the Forth Valley communities. Key challenges of the role will include implementing a new online payment system, recruiting and developing volunteer teams and promoting the footcare service through partnership development and marketing activities.

Our footcare clinics are delivered by volunteers. The Co-ordinator role includes organising regular training including with the NHS podiatry team, mentoring and supporting volunteers, promoting good communication and holding regular volunteer team meetings.

The post is initially funded by Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership for up to 2 years, however, the aim of the socially enterprising project is that it will become self-sustaining through the income raised by the service.

About You

We are looking for someone who is passionate about health promotion and community engagement with strong organisational and interpersonal skills. Familiarity with community health networks and knowledge of the local area will be an advantage. Please see the attached Job Description for further details of the post responsibilities and person specification.

What We Offer

• A supportive and flexible working environment
• Opportunities for professional development
• The chance to make a real difference in people’s lives