Arts Culture Health & Wellbeing Scotland (ACHWS) are looking to recruit a new Chair and several new Trustees to join our Board of Trustees in 2026.

If you are passionate about the role of arts and culture in health and wellbeing outcomes, want to help shape the future of culture and health collaboration in Scotland, support the engagement with the growing membership and make a difference at a local and national level, we’d love to hear from you.

ACHWS is Scotland’s national network linking together, advocating for and supporting those working at the interface of arts, culture, health and wellbeing in Scotland. We seek to advance health and wellbeing in Scotland through the promotion and practice of arts and cultural work across a range of health, social, cultural, care and community contexts. Our vision is for arts and culture to be recognised as transformative to health and wellbeing and accessible to everyone in Scotland.

Applications are welcome from across Scotland with option to join meetings by Zoom with in-person attendance at one meeting per year and board away day. Travel, accommodation and childcare expenses are available for all meetings for those who live outwith Edinburgh, as well as support with access requirements and reasonable adjustments.

Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG) are seeking an Executive Director of Youth & Enterprise. As Director you will collaborate with the MYDG Board of trustees to develop organisational strategies, ensure the highest safety standards are in place and followed. Ensure compliance with HR policies and procedures, oversee the financial aspects, including fundraising and budget management of both the youth development work and social enterprise. You will raise the profile of MYDG in the community build strong relationships with stakeholders, and act as an inspiring role model for both young people and staff

About the role:

Muirhouse Youth Development Group is a young person focused community Charity. We deliver high quality youth work, providing experiential education programmes, personal and social development, skills acquisition programmes and vocational qualifications. MYDG exists to support young people at key points in their life - Organisation for all, no matter who you are, where you are at, where you have come from and where you are going. We strive to be a fully diverse organisation working with our community to ensure this is woven throughout our way of work.

Key responsibilities:

Financial Leadership

• Fully accountable for the entire funding cycle, ensuring organisational sustainability. Must be able to generate large funds across multi-year, short-term and social enterprise income streams.

Strategic Management

• Develop, implement and lead the organisation into the future.

Manage Team & Stakeholders

• Build, Develop, Lead and manage a strong team to achieve MYDG’s Goals. Ensuring HR compliance and strong governance are in place. Acting as an inspiring role model, being the face of the charity.

Essential Experience

To be successful in this role , you will have skills and experience in the following areas;

• Executive Financial Leadership: A verifiable track record of personally securing and managing in annual funding from diverse sources, including complex multi-year grants, philanthropic trusts, and earned income streams.
• Social Enterprise Development: Demonstrated success in developing, launching, and scaling a commercial venture or social enterprise (e.g., outdoor centre, hospitality, or training arm), including full accountability for business planning, market analysis, and sales/marketing strategy.
• Strategic Youth Sector Leadership: Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role within a youth, community, or third-sector organisation, demonstrating the ability to set and achieve strategic goals and drive impact in a community-focused environment.
• People & Governance Management: Extensive experience leading and motivating multi-disciplinary teams (staff, sessional workers, and volunteers), with a deep, practical understanding of HR compliance, safeguarding, and Board governance within a Scottish charity context.
• Stakeholder & Partnership Management: A proven ability to act as the public face of an organisation, representing its values, and building high-level relationships with funders, community leaders, partners, and political stakeholders.

Job specification

Development of Organisation and Team:

• Collaborate with the MYDG Board to develop strategies and operational plans aligned with the organisation’s vision and strategic priorities.
• Shape, implement, and lead the successful execution of MYDG, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Strengthen MYDG’s capacity to meet aims and objectives while maintaining a sustainable structure.
• Maximise the potential of the MYDG Team, sessional staff, volunteers, and young people.
• Oversee the management of MYDG staff, ensuring accurate staff records and financial documentation are maintained through effective delegation.
• Represent and promote MYDG’s history, present context, and future aspirations to ensure the organisation’s brand is widely known and clearly understood.
• Ensure resources within MYDG are effectively connected to outcomes for young people.

Management of MYDG Team:

• Lead, manage, and supervise the MYDG Team.
• Provide guidance and support to MYDG’s Youth Development Team to ensure strategic outcomes are met.
• Oversee staff scheduling and manage hours for the Team.
• Provide the MYDG Board with monthly leadership reports and relevant updates to ensure strong governance and effective management of the organisation, meeting all legal, financial, and ethical responsibilities.
• Facilitate clear communication across the organisation and take responsibility for maintaining the health of key partnerships and relationships with external stakeholders.
• Identify training needs and opportunities for the team and oversee the implementation of annual staff appraisals and development plans.
• Act as an inspiring role model for both young people and staff.
• Delegate tasks appropriately and ensure accountability.

HR Procedures and Policies:

• Ensure policies and procedures are current, relevant, and adhered to, leading by example while ensuring legal compliance across the organisation.
• Manage and oversee recruitment processes for MYDG staff.
• Handle / Oversee HR responsibilities, including contracts, staff appraisals, development plans, timesheets, holidays, PVG checks, and expenses.
• Ensure adherence to health and safety, & well-being standards for all staff, volunteers & users.
• Keep the staff handbook updated and ensure its proper implementation.

Partnership Work:

• Lead and manage partnership initiatives for MYDG.
• Maintain regular communication with key partners.
• Identify and foster new partnership opportunities.
• Ensure partnership agreements are prioritised, maintained, and adhered to.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders and partners, ensuring alignment with agreements.

Funding and Budgeting Responsibilities:

• Fully accountable for the entire funding cycle of MYDG’s work, including identifying funding sources, applications, and commissioning.
• Ensure the Team meets its key outcomes in line with MYDG’s goals and funder expectations.
• Provide an overview of all finances in collaboration with the finance administrator.
• Oversee and review funding proposals submitted by the Youth Development Team.

Social Enterprise & Commercial Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation, and review of comprehensive business plans for the Pilton Retreat social enterprise to ensure profitability and sustained mission delivery.
• Direct all market research activities to identify potential customers and market niches for the centre, ensuring competitive and sustainable pricing.
• Develop and oversee a robust marketing and sales strategy to drive revenue and promote the social and ethical value of choosing MYDG's enterprise services.
• Ensure the commercial strategy adheres to best practices in social enterprise traits (i.e., profits are reinvested into the youth development mission) and builds long-term financial sustainability for the entire organisation.
• Actively manage the balance between commercial success and the maintenance of high-quality community outcomes and youth engagement.

Join our Board of Trustees at Space @ The Broomhouse Hub.

At Space, we believe in creating opportunities that bring people together, build confidence, and strengthen our community. Across more than 20 projects, we support people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, work, connect and thrive. From our community café and kitchen training programmes, to youth work, employability, carers support, and wellbeing services — everything we do aims to make life better in Broomhouse and beyond.

Our Mission

To build a thriving, inclusive and resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.

Our Values

• Respect: Welcome and listen without judgment.
• Integrity: Deliver value-based work with kindness and consistency.
• Collaboration: Connect with people and partners.
• Creativity: Take an innovative approach to resolve social challenges.
• Empowerment: Nurture talent and encourage self-development.

Why join us now?

It’s a really exciting time to become a Trustee. We’re currently delivering our 2024–2027 Strategy, focused on strengthening our community impact, growing sustainable enterprises, and supporting our brilliant team to make lasting change.

You’ll join a passionate, skilled and supportive board helping guide the next chapter of Space’s story.

The Role of a Trustee

Our Trustees play a vital role in three key areas: Strategy, Governance and Risk Management.

You’ll work with the leadership team as a critical friend — supporting, questioning, and inspiring us to stay true to our mission while continuing to innovate and grow.

Each trustee also “adopts” one of our services or projects, acting as a link between the Board and front line staff. This helps Trustees stay connected to the people and communities we serve, and brings valuable insight back to board discussions.

Trustees with specific professional experience engage in one of our four subgroups – Finance, Governance, People, Enterprise.

Right now we’re particularly keen to add to the existing financial skills of our Board, ideally welcoming someone with Management Accounting expertise, especially within SMEs or social enterprises. Someone with experience of being a charity treasurer would be highly beneficial.

That said, we’d love to hear from anyone who shares our values and brings experience in areas like fundraising, communications, enterprise, wellbeing, or facilities management.

Do I have to live in Edinburgh?

Not at all! We welcome applications from potential Trustees living anywhere. However, there is a requirement to attend an in-person Board meeting in Edinburgh once every two months. Attendance online can be arranged under special circumstances.

Our Trustees fall into two categories:

• Local Trustees: People living in South West Edinburgh, or within three miles of EH11 3RH.
• Business Trustees: People who do not live locally who join the Board to offer specific skills, expertise or professional experience.

Your Commitment

We truly value your time and experience, and we keep the commitment meaningful but manageable:

• Board meeting every two months in Edinburgh (2hrs in person)
• Sub-group meeting every three months (60-90 mins online)
• Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh (90mins in person)
• One Trustee Strategy Building Day per year (5-6hrs in person

Trustee Induction & Training

We provide a comprehensive induction and ongoing training programme to support all trustees in their role. This includes sessions on our governance structure, key policies, finance & budgeting, health & safety, safeguarding, and an overview of our current projects and strategic priorities.

Trustees also take part in regular development sessions throughout the year.

All new trustees have the option to be buddied up with an existing trustee while they find their feet.

Remuneration/Expenses

This is an unpaid role, however reasonable expenses associated with the role may be reimbursed.

Sound like something you’d be interested in?

If you share our values, believe in community-led change, and want to make a real difference — we’d love to hear from you.