- Advertised from 11th July 2023
- Voluntary position. 4 hours per week including attendance at monthly Trustee meetings held on a Monday evening. Out of pocket expenses to attend Board meetings and related events will be reimbursed.
Role
About the Charity
Borders Pet Rescue is a small registered Scottish charity offering animal rescue, re-homing and the promotion of responsible pet ownership through education and training across the Scottish Borders and adjoining areas. Established in 1988, the Charity’s Rescue Centre is at Craigsford in Earlston. Each year more than 200 dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and exotics are re-homed.
The charity relies entirely on fundraising, donations and significant funds generated by four Borders Pet Rescue Charity Shops located in Galashiels, Kelso, Duns and Hawick.
Like all animal charities, BPR relies on the generosity of the animal loving public to support the work and could not survive without the dedication of the many friends and volunteers.
About the Vacancy
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced individual to undertake the specific duties of Secretary to Board to help strengthen our governance and effectiveness.
The specific responsibilities of Secretary include:
- Undertaking secretarial duties in support of the BPR Chair and Trustees
- Liaising with the Chair and Board of Trustees to plan, arrange and produce agendas, supporting papers and minutes of Trustee meetings and AGMs
- Attendance at monthly Trustee meetings held on a Monday evening via face-to-face and virtual meetings
- Ensuring that all meetings comply with the requirements of the governing documents
- Dealing with correspondence including with Companies House and OSCR and other relevant governance bodies
- Reviewing all BPR governance documentation in consultation with the Chair and Trustees
- Organising trustee induction and any ongoing training
- Managing the Company membership database
- Other duties as directed by the Chair.
Role specification
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience and knowledge of office administration processes, including minute taking
- Competent IT skills including Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office
- Excellent people skills
- Self-motivated individual with the ability to also work as part of a team
- Strong communication and organisational skills
- Reliable and trustworthy with confidential information
- You will have a genuine concern and commitment for animal welfare and enthusiasm for the work of the charity.
You will be required to use your own laptop/computer to undertake your duties.
Application notes
Closing date for applications: Friday 4 August 2023
Interview date: TBC upon application
Please forward a CV and application form to: secretary@borderspetrescue.org
Website: www.borderspetrescue.org
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About The Cats Whiskers:
The Cats Whiskers was formed in 2018 by a group of dedicated local volunteers, who saw a need in our local community for the care and re-homing of cats. Initially, these efforts were all carried out with the support of incredible foster carer volunteers. We are now thrilled to operate our re-homing centre in Alloa.
We also have a charity shop in Alva, opened in 2018, which generates income for our core purpose of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming cats.
Purpose of the job:
Since welcoming the first cat into our shelter in October 2022, our activities have grown to meet
need. In 2023, we rehomed 150 cats. In 2024, this increased to 179. We have also had an increase
in foster care, launched a pet food bank, and become a distribution partner for The Blue Cross. We
are seeking to onboard this role, our first paid staff member, to ensure the smooth day to day
running of our Rehoming Centre on Broad Street. To take on this role, we are looking for someone
who shares our passion for cat welfare, and wants to provide a quality, community service,
supporting our incredible volunteer team, working with, and furthering our local partnerships, and
ensuring the best possible care for our cats.
Main Responsibilities:
As the Volunteer and Centre Coordinator, you will be responsible for the day to day running of the Centre, focusing on the welfare of all cats in our care, and managing our volunteer programme. You will also ensure that all administrative and maintenance procedures are completed to a high standard.
We are looking for someone who is positive, driven and has the ability to thrive under pressure. You will support the board of trustees to continue to develop our Centre and services to meet local need. You will be someone who has:
- Experience and passion for cat care
- Great communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
- Current (clean) driving license
- Strong organisational, administration and analytical skills
- Experience of working within local communities; creating and nurturing partnerships
- Awareness of health and safety legislation
- Willingness to learn
- Preferred experience of volunteer recruitment, support and supervision
About Us
The Melrose Music Festival (to become the Borders Music Festival in 2026) celebrates creativity, collaboration, and community. Each September, we bring world-class artists and local talent together in Melrose and across the Borders — inspiring audiences and young people through music of the highest quality.
We are a Scottish charity Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Our Vision statement (2024) sets out that we exist “to celebrate artistic excellence through exploration, collaboration, and community engagement, enriching lives across the Borders though music and the arts”.
Central therefore to what we offer are our three overall aims:
- To support projects that assist young people to come to music, especially those who might not have access to music and music tuition (for whatever reason);
- To promote the best of local talent: the Borders has a fantastic and diverse musical talent base of its own; and,
- To bring in musicians with a national and international reputation to perform world class music here in the Borders (preferably with some community engagement in doing so).
We are governed by a small Board which at present includes our Artistic Director Robert Marshall who oversees the artistic vision and delivery of the Festival. It is an emerging Festival with growing links and support - it was described as being in the top 10 music event destinations in Scotland for September 2025 in the Herald.
As we continue to grow and strengthen our charitable foundations, we are seeking a Chair of the Board to provide clear, compassionate leadership and help guide the Festival through its next stage of development.
The Role
The Chair leads the Board of Trustees, ensuring good governance, accountability and strategic direction for the Festival. Working closely with the Artistic Director/CEO and fellow Trustees, the Chair supports a culture that values artistic excellence, community participation, and sustainable growth.
You will:
• Provide strategic leadership, ensuring that the Festival’s activities reflect its charitable purposes and long-term vision.
• Support, guide, and challenge the Artistic Director and Festival team as a constructive partner.
• Lead the Board in setting and reviewing strategy, ensuring good financial stewardship and compliance with the requirements of OSCR.
• Champion good governance, inclusion and transparency in all aspects of our work.
• Act as an ambassador for the Festival — representing us to funders, partners, artists, and the wider community.
• Support Board recruitment and development, ensuring the organisation benefits from diverse perspectives and skills.
About You
We are looking for someone with strong leadership and governance experience who shares our
belief in the power of music and the arts to strengthen communities.
Essential qualities:
• Experience of leadership in the charity, cultural, or community sector.
• A good understanding of charity governance and the responsibilities of a Scottish charity trustee.
• Strategic thinker with integrity, good judgement, and the ability to foster collaboration.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to represent the Festival externally.
• Commitment to the Festival’s values of creativity, community, and excellence.
Desirable:
• Experience in the performing arts, festivals, education, or cultural development.
• Familiarity with fundraising, marketing, or public engagement.
• Connections/affinity with the Scottish Borders, and an understanding of the culture of a
sparsely populated rural area.
Time Commitment
• Approximately 6–8 meetings per year (mix of in-person and online), plus occasional events and strategic planning sessions.
• Regular liaison with the Artistic Director and fellow Trustees.
• The position is voluntary, with reasonable expenses reimbursed.
• Initial term: three years, renewable once by mutual agreement.
Why Join Us
This is a rewarding opportunity to shape a growing festival with real artistic ambition and community purpose. You will be joining a small, committed team of Trustees, working closely with an Artistic Director of vision and energy. Together, we are building a festival that celebrates creativity, inspires participation, and leaves a lasting impact across the Borders and beyond.
Your leadership will help ensure that this Festival continues to thrive — as a space where music
brings people together, strengthens our sense of place, and nurtures the next generation of musicians
and audiences.
The House of Hope is Scotland's first community based support and wellbing centre specifically designed fo those impacted by breast cancer. Based in Gorgie, Edinburgh, the doors to The House of Hope opened in June 2025 and the House is already making a huge difference to the hundreds of people who have visited since then. Our Board of Trustees plays a vital leadership role in the work we do while ensuring the charity is equipped and governed effectively, establishing and monitoring strategy and ensuring we are true to our values and keep our visitors at the heart of everything we do.
We are now seeking to appoint up to three people to join our Board of Trustees, to steer us towards our vision of improving the life of all those affected by breast cancer, away from the sterile hospital or clinical settings.
It’s an incredibly exciting time to be part of The House of Hope, as we launch our new strategic review in the coming year, now that the doors have been opened. Our Board is instrumental in ensuring wecarry out our vision and strategy while fulfilling all our obligations as a charity.
About Ramblers Scotland
Ramblers Scotland is a registered charity and the leading voice for walkers in Scotland. We exist to help everyone, everywhere enjoy walking. We know how much it contributes to improvements in individual and community wellbeing, and our strategy sets out to tackle the barriers that prevent more people from enjoying those benefits.
Vice Convener – Ramblers Scotland Strategic Committee
About the Role
As Vice Convener of the Ramblers Scotland Strategic Committee (RSSC), you’ll play a key role in supporting the Convener and contributing to the strategic direction of our work. The committee oversees our activities in Scotland, helping to ensure that walking is accessible, enjoyable, and open to all.
This is a strategic and advisory role — there is no operational decision-making responsibility. You’ll collaborate closely with fellow volunteers and staff to help shape our campaigns, policies, and priorities, aligning your leadership with the organisation’s refreshed strategy — which emphasises removing barriers to walking, improving access for under-represented communities, and safeguarding natural spaces.
This volunteer role also provides an excellent career development opportunity — offering experience in governance, strategic planning, and leadership within a national charity.
This is a national volunteer role that involves quarterly in-person meetings, with occasional ad hoc sub-committee meetings (often online). While the role is unpaid, reasonable expenses (e.g. travel and subsistence) will be reimbursed.
Convener – Ramblers Scotland Strategic Committee
About the Role
As Convener of the Ramblers Scotland Strategic Committee (RSSC), you will play a key leadership role in guiding the strategic direction of our work in Scotland. The committee oversees our activities across the country, helping to ensure that walking is accessible, enjoyable, and open to all.
This is a strategic and governance-focused role, with no operational decision-making responsibilities. You will collaborate closely with fellow volunteers and staff to help shape our campaigns, policies, and priorities, aligning your leadership with the organisation’s refreshed strategy — which emphasises removing barriers to walking, improving access for under-represented communities, and safeguarding natural spaces.
Serving as Convener also offers a valuable career development opportunity, providing experience in charity governance, strategic planning, and leadership at a national level.
This national volunteer role involves quarterly in-person committee meetings and occasional ad hoc or informal sub-committee meetings (often held online). You will also represent Ramblers Scotland as a full member of the Ramblers GB Board of Trustees.
While the role is unpaid, reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed.
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