- Advertised from 19th April 2023
- 14 hours per week. Occasional evening work. This post is funded until July 2025.
Role
Midlothian is a small local but fast-growing local authority, made up of a series of small market towns and a semi-rural area. There is strong cooperative working between the third sector and statutory agencies. The third sector in Midlothian is made up of mainly small/medium sized local organisations, with some regional and national organisations also having a presence.
Midlothian Voluntary Action (MVA) is part of the Third Sector Interface (TSI) which is a single point of access for support and advice in every local authority in Scotland. MVA provides support, guidance and representation for third sector organisations working in Midlothian. This includes grassroots community groups, charities and social enterprises.
We do this by:
- Providing free one to one development support.
- Delivering an annual programme of training, workshops and networking events.
- Distributing news and information via our e-bulletins and social media.
- Running the Third Sector Forum and giving a voice to the sector within Midlothian’s Community Planning Partnership.
thirdsectormidlothian.org.uk/mva
The Build Back Bolder project is brand new post for MVA that aims to maximise third sector income and non-grant resources through capacity building. Local third sector organisations will be offered a tailored training courses for their staff around maximising Gift Aid, exploring charity specific sources of support such as Utility Aid and Charity Digital Exchange, and tapping into cheap resources such as Gifts in Kind.
You will also work locally with organisations second on ideas-generating sessions with staff about what Community Benefits they could be utilising. Community benefit requirements are defined in the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 as a contractual requirement imposed by a contracting authority (such as Midlothian Council):
a) relating to:
- training and recruitment
- availability of sub-contracting opportunities
b) or which is otherwise intended to improve the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of the authority’s area in a way additional to the main purpose of the contract in which the requirement is included.
As a follow up we will support them to upload this information to the City Region Deal Community Benefits Portal and the NHS Community Benefits Portal. We will also populate a spreadsheet of the items that local third sector organisations are looking for to be used by capital development staff at the Council when they are negotiating with developers. We will also provide on-going support on these issues and written/video guidance. Finally, we will run a session for third sector advisors in Midlothian so that we are all aware of the issues.
The Building Back Bolder Development Worker will be responsible for delivering the training noted above. They will have support from other MVA staff to deliver these tasks.
This post is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in conjunction with Midlothian Council and Midlothian Voluntary Action.
Application notes
If you would like an informal chat about the post, please contact either Lesley Kelly at Lesley.kelly@mvacvs.org.uk or Natalie Thomson natalie.thomson@mvacvs.org.uk
Downloads
About you
We’re looking for someone to join our team with a strong belief in equality, human rights and social justice. You will have an understanding of the experiences, strengths and challenges faced by refugees, people seeking asylum, and other New Scots communities, and the motivation to support the development of the New Scots Edinburgh Refugee Integration Strategy, working closely with key stakeholders and statutory partners.
You will also work with colleagues to produce responses to public consultations and policy proposals from statutory partners in partnership with key third sector stakeholders.
About us
EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) is a charity that was established in 1868. In July 2025, we published a new strategic plan to guide our work for the next five years.
Our purpose is to serve the needs of people and communities across Edinburgh by supporting our members and third sector organisations to be effective and drive the change they need.
We work in three areas - advocacy, capacity building and collaboration - underpinned by research and analysis to inform our work to support third sector organisations and the communities they serve.
EVOC is a living wage employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity and welcome applications from members of all communities.
Benefits:
- 26 days of annual leave per year
- 10 public holidays (6 fixed and 4 floating) per year
- Pension (6% company contribution)
- 3 additional days leave between Christmas and New Year when the EVOC office closes
- A hybrid working approach
- All the equipment you need to work remotely
Advocacy Worker
- Part time
- £24,751 – £25,600 pro-rata
- On site: Vernon Street, Saltcoats (community-based with travel across mainland localities)
- Closing 12th January 2026
TACT is looking for one exceptional and experienced individual to become a member of the team.
The Advocacy Worker will play a vital role in improving access to support for vulnerable families across North Ayrshire. Many families face complex and overlapping challenges including poverty, poor mental health, housing instability, financial hardship, and domestic pressures - yet struggle to navigate an often fragmented and confusing support system. This role provides direct, person-centred support to ensure families receive timely, coordinated, and meaningful help.
Acting as a connector between families and third-sector partners, the Advocacy Worker will deliver proactive outreach, tailored guidance, warm handovers, and ongoing follow-up - all designed to help families overcome barriers, stabilise their circumstances, and build long-term resilience.
About TACT:
The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) is a charity based in North Ayrshire that provides programmes and projects that make a difference to people’s lives by encouraging, supporting and promoting community action.
Lead for Community Transport
- Part time
- £33,063 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Dumfries or Stranraer
- Closing 4th January 2026
Where the role fits in our organisation
You are responsible for oversight of the TSDG community transport programme, the priorities of which are identified by the Community Transport Strategic Development Group (CTSDG). The role requires work across many of TSDG’s thematic areas including; Communities and Sector Support, Employability, Skills and Learning and Local Economies and Enterprise.
What You'll Do
We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about connecting communities to each other, for work, learning, leisure and social needs through a high quality, integrated transport model. One key purpose is enabling our communities to live fulfilling lives. Community transport is more than just moving people from A to B. It can be a mechanism for social inclusion, poverty reduction and improved wellbeing. The community transport programme is built on partnership working, so you will ned to be someone who thrives on; building relationships, supporting collaboration, and helping organisations grow their capacity to make a real difference in people’s lives. As part of the Lead Officer Group, you will also actively participate in shaping our ways of working at TSDG.
What You’ll Do
- Continue development and delivery of a multi-year plan for the design of a regional community transport model for Dumfries and Galloway.
- Build a business case for structures and a choice of viable operating models, including the development of a region-wide social enterprise for community transport.
- Actively partner with the local authority, regional transport partnership, NHS, enterprise agency, transport partners, the third sector and communities, to facilitate integration of community transport.
- Incorporate partnership outcomes and regional transport strategies in to planning, programme design and outcomes.
- Manage project reporting, including for the CTSDG, Community Planning Partnership, SLT and Board.
- Remain up to date with national and regional policy relevant to third sector organisations working in, or aligned to, transport and community transport, community connections, health and wellbeing and the social/local economy.
- Manage the Connecting Communities Development Officer.
More about you
- You have experience in related subject matter, such as economic development, social enterprise, community infrastructure and/or transport.
- You have strong relationship-building skills and experience of working collaboratively with partners from different sectors.
- You are able to analyse information, capture learning, and communicate it clearly through reports, presentations, or other formats.
- You are able to facilitate group discussions, workshops, or events that bring together different perspectives.
- You are skilled at organising, planning, and problem solving, and you can adapt to varied and changing priorities.
- You are self-motivated, a team player, and committed to continuous improvement.
Connecting Communities Development Officer
- Part time
- £27,192 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Dumfries or Stranraer
- Closing 4th January 2026
Where the role fits in our organisation
This role will develop volunteering and employability as part of our Community Transport programme. As such the role requires work across many of TSDG’s thematic areas including; Communities and Sector Support, Employability, Skills and Learning and Communications and Impact.
What You'll Do
We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about supporting third sector organisations meet the needs of their communities. Community transport is more than just moving people from A to B. It can be a mechanism for social inclusion, poverty reduction and improved wellbeing. You do not need to have knowledge of the region’s community transport sector, but you will need to be someone who thrives on; building relationships, supporting collaboration, and helping organisations grow their capacity to make a real difference in people’s lives. You will support and connect organisations working across all sectors, not just transport, including in health and wellbeing, children and families, local economies and employability.
What You’ll Do
- Build strong, positive relationships with third sector organisations and partners across Dumfries and Galloway to support improved connectivity and community-led opportunities.
- Work with partners to develop community volunteering and employability opportunities alongside our community transport sector and Strategic Development Group.
- Coordinate, facilitate, and develop collaboration between the third sector, statutory, and community voices to share learning and influence planning.
- Capture and share insights, case studies, and good practice to inform local priorities and improve access to support, including funding.
- Demonstrate and communicate the impact of community transport to a range of audiences, including raising public awareness.
- Represent TSDG and the third sector at relevant partnership and community meetings.
More about you
- You have strong relationship-building skills and experience of working collaboratively with partners from different sectors and/or directly with communities.
- You will be confident to capture ideas and input from communities and partners, and working with colleagues across portfolios to develop proposals to work in a better way for people and communities
- You are able to analyse information, capture learning, and communicate it clearly through reports, presentations, or other formats.
- You are able to facilitate group discussions, workshops, or events that bring together different perspectives.
- You are skilled at organising, planning, and problem solving, and you can adapt to varied and changing priorities.
- You are self-motivated, a team player, and committed to continuous improvement.
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