Mission Statement

Our long-term vision is to end youth homelessness, our more immediate mission is to ensure that every young person in Scotland has access to expert youth specific services to assist them to avoid, resolve and move on from homelessness.

Context

Working as part of our West Lothian Team, the Project Worker will work directly with young people age 16-25 yrs to coordinate and provide emotional and practical support to avoid, resolve and move on from homelessness.

Working directly with young people in their home or within a community setting the Project Worker will support young people to improve their independent living skills, access other services, manage finances and secure/maintain a permanent home.

The Project Workers are responsible for completing support plans and risk assessments and are the main contact for any key people involved in the care and support of young people.

Mission Statement

Our long-term vision is to end youth homelessness, our more immediate mission is to ensure that every young person in Scotland has access to expert youth specific services to assist them to avoid, resolve and move on from homelessness.

Context

Working as part of our Fife Short Term Housing Support Team, the Project Worker will work directly with young people age 16-25 yrs to coordinate and provide emotional and practical support to avoid, resolve and move on from homelessness.

Working directly with young people in their home or within a community setting the Project Worker will support young people to improve their independent living skills, access other services, manage finances and secure/ maintain a permanent home.

The Project Workers are responsible for completing support plans and risk assessments and are the main contact for any key people involved in the care and support of young people.

Street fit Scotland (SFS) is seeking a dedicated and dynamic individual to join our team as a Community Connection Volunteer Co-ordinator. This role will involve working independently and as part of a team to lead and manage and train a growing volunteer network, providing coaching, development opportunities, and nurturing connections with the local community. The successful candidate will be proactive, empathetic, and passionate about supporting people to reach their full potential.

Main Purpose of the Role

This role is central to the continued growth and development of Street Fit Scotland’s (SFS) volunteer offering. As Community Connection Volunteer Co-ordinator, you will lead with empathy, creativity, and a person-centred approach, encouraging and supporting our members to step into volunteer roles. You’ll provide inclusive, tailored support to help individuals flourish, ensuring every volunteer journey aligns with SFS’s core values of kindness and inclusion.

You’ll oversee all aspects of the volunteer function, developing meaningful roles, delivering training, nurturing development, and building a connected, supported, and empowered community.

Our main aim is to offer sessional work to volunteers when they pass the 6-month probation as we SFS values lived experience.

Key Responsibilities

As the main point of contact for all volunteers, you will be fully integrated into the heart of SFS activities, forming trusted relationships with both volunteers and wider community members. Your work will focus on meeting people where they are, understanding complex needs, offering emotional and practical support, and providing a bridge to meaningful experiences and future opportunities.

Volunteer Support & Development

• Deliver person-centred emotional and practical support to all volunteers and community members.
• Provide one-to-one and group support for community members exploring volunteering, helping them progress at their own pace.
• Design and facilitate internal training, including groupwork, inductions, policies and procedures, and skill-building sessions.
• Develop and share innovative tools and resources to support volunteer engagement and learning.
• Supervise and support the personal development of volunteers, helping them grow in confidence, responsibility, and pre-employability.
• Carry out continuous evaluation to monitor volunteer progress and impact.
• Coach and mentor members through tailored development journeys, helping individuals identify their strengths and contribute meaningfully.

Volunteer Management & Coordination

• Manage and coordinate all SFS volunteers (internal and external), ensuring people are matched to roles that reflect their skills, interests, and availability.
• Identify new opportunities for members to volunteer within SFS, co-creating role descriptions where appropriate.
• Assess individuals’ readiness and suitability for specific roles, offering additional support as needed.
• Oversee PVG processes and ensure a smooth onboarding experience.
• Build relationships with external volunteer services, such as Volunteer Scotland to recruit external volunteers, and stay up to date with relevant training and guidance.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings and service development discussions.

Community Engagement & Integration

• Participate in weekly core, stretch, and strength sessions, as well as community lunchtime drop-ins, to build relationships and encourage engagement.
• Accompany members to SFS sessions to foster community connection and shared experience.
• Support external training pathways (e.g. food hygiene, SDF training, or other personal development courses).

Operational Responsibilities

• Share responsibility for maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming community base.
• Ensure SFS equipment (computers, desks, shared spaces) is cared for and cleaned when necessary.
• Wear PPE when required and complete relevant health and safety training, including food hygiene certification.
• Be an active team player; supporting colleagues, contributing to team culture, and helping shape a positive working environment.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting members at SFS Working with individuals affected by homelessness, addiction, and trauma.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, taking initiative while contributing to a supportive team environment.
• Knowledge of safe practices including adult and child protection.
• Strong demonstration of people skills, with a passion for helping others reach their potential.
• In-depth understanding of volunteers from recruitment and training to supervision and support.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect meaningfully across diverse backgrounds.
• A genuine commitment to creating inclusive, empowering spaces where everyone feels valued and heard.
• Highly organised, with strong computer skills and record management.
• Group work skills, experience of delivering workshops or sessions that involve team building exercises.

Desirable Experience

• Background in training or community education, with a focus on personal development / Experience in coaching, mentoring, or life coaching.

Additional Information

• Reports to: Michelle Reilly, CEO
• Responsible for: SFS equipment, the volunteer team, and maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming shared space
• Base: SFS Community Hub, 19 south clerk street, EH8 9JD

Values

• Empathy - listen to and understand an individual’s needs and circumstances
• Treat everyone at SFS with dignity respect and kindness
• Take a non-judgemental approach
• A commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
• Recognise and uphold boundaries

The organisation exists to prevent homelessness and find routes out of homelessness into independent living for the people we support every day.

Our values are support, integrity, dignity, excellence.

Purpose of the service

Springboard helps young people experiencing homelessness build confidence and get ready for work, volunteering or learning. It is person led and young people can stay on the programme for as long as they need it. The majority of the young people on this programme come from our own homeless accommodation services: Keymoves, Stopover, Number Twenty and My Space.

In 2024 Four Square remodelled its employability programme Springboard, into a mentoring programme. We shifted the emphasis from qualifications and work to increasing confidence and working with young people to explore their interests and find their passions.

Now with National Lottery Fairer Life Chances funding we are expanding the programme to include a Wellbeing Practitioner. Through the experience of the last 12-18 month we know that many of our young people struggle to engage, and the pre-engagement phase of the programme can be prolonged. The addition of the Wellbeing Practitioner is to support the transition from interest in the programme, to being ready to fully experience the Springboard programme.

Purpose of the Role

The Wellbeing Practitioner will provide support to young people aged 16–25 who are experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh. Your focus is to support these young people to expect and experience a better future. You’ll help them build confidence, take care of themselves and pursue interests.

Many of the young people you will support will be struggling with poor mental health, low self-esteem and social isolation. This can prevent them from having hobbies, engaging in work, learning, volunteering, or friendships and generally preventing them from thriving.

Through consistent mentoring, wellbeing support and positive experiences, you will help young people reconnect with what makes them feel good, discover their strengths, and take meaningful steps towards independent, fulfilling lives.