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Engagement Manager
- Full time
- £24,000
- Edinburgh/East Lothian (homebased or office based)
- Closing 2nd May 2022
- Advertised from 6th April 2022
- Permanent Contract. 35 hours per week – (Flexible days/hours).
- plus attractive employee benefits package
- Job Ref: V390
Role
At Volunteering Matters we use volunteering’s unique power to bring people together and build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK.
We bring people together to resolve some of society’s most complex issues. From social isolation and loneliness; improving health and wellbeing; building skills, confidence, and opportunity; to ensuring young people can become change makers in their community, the impact that we make is great. And we won’t stop until everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive.
People-led and impact driven, we are a national charity that is deeply embedded in local areas across the UK. We operate in five regions: London and the South East; Wales and the West of England; East of England; the Midlands and North West England; and Scotland and North East England. We also have an Employee Volunteering Team with over 25 years’ experience, acting as a broker to provide tailor-made solutions to employers. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all.
This is an exciting time to be joining the team. We’re changing the way we work to meet new ambitions and make sure our impact continues to grow alongside out business.
Role Purpose
Volunteering Matters are looking for a talented, dynamic, and professional Engagement Manager to join our team in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The right candidate would be someone who can work flexibly and demonstrate a strong understanding and commitment to our organisational values.
You will lead the development and delivery of our new Grandmentors programme in East Lothian. Grandmentors is an innovative volunteering project where older volunteers (aged 50+) use their life experience and skills to mentor young people who are care experienced, or who have other adverse childhood experiences.
These young people often benefit from a guiding hand and role model to support them to find work, continue their education or begin training – ultimately giving young people the skills and self-belief to lead successful and independent lives. Grandmentors has operated for over a decade in various locations of the UK, however East Lothian is the first location in Scotland.
You will also support the delivery of our established Family Supporters programme across the City of Edinburgh. Family Supporters is an effective mentoring programme, proven to reduce the number of children at risk of going into care. By preventing and de-escalating issues, our volunteers help struggling families to turn things around.
Family Supporters recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family.
The programme supports families in many ways, such as improved living standards, budgeting, healthier eating, better school life and behaviour, access to health and wellbeing resources/aid, as well as introducing parents to community resources, to name a few.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Consistently role modelling and displaying our organisational values
- Contribute to effective teamwork across the regional team and the wider charity, in line with our “flexible working by default” and “self-managed teams” philosophy
- Develop and deliver the Grandmentors programme in East Lothian, meeting ambitious targets and milestones, ensuring all young people engaged achieve positive outcomes
- To contribute towards the successful delivery of our Family Supporters programme in the City of Edinburgh
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including colleagues, volunteers, young people, families, Social Services, Health and Education teams, third sector partners and others
- Effective recruitment, selection, training, and ongoing support of a diverse pool of talented and dedicated volunteers from a wide cross-section of the community
- To maintain Volunteering Matters standards around quality and effective Volunteer Management
- To manage all elements of young people’s/families experience of our programmes, from point of referral to completion of their mentoring journey
- To manage the risk assessment, safeguarding, quality assurance and audit processes as appropriate
- Ensure monitoring, impact and evaluation information and data is collected and that each programme meets it’s agreed targets, reporting format and schedule. Assist the Delivery Leader by preparing reports to funders
- Administration tasks including maintaining effective and accessible records, the use of Microsoft Office, Teams, Zoom and other software
- Develop relevant promotional material and information, for our organisation and programmes
This job description is intended to include the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but while some variations will be expected, these will be at an appropriate level for the role.
Skills Required
- An excellent knowledge and understanding of the life challenges and barriers that young people and families face today in Scotland
- An understanding of how to assess the needs of an individual using a person-centered approach
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being able to have strategic conversations with stakeholders one minute, and talk to a nervous young person or parent the next
- Excellent people skills with the ability to build professional, long-term relationships with various stakeholders, to influence and motivate others
- Excellent organisational and IT skills including the ability to manage workload and prioritise effectively
- Strong attention to detail and a willingness to accurately record all interactions
Experience Required
- Significant experience working directly with young people and families, particularly those who face life challenges and barriers (for example care experienced young people)
- Experience in quality Volunteer Management
- Evidence of relationship management experience with a wide range of stakeholders
- Experience of project management, achieving high targets, a busy workload and working to strict deadlines
- Proven ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a larger team
- Understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities
Qualifications
Relevant experience and an understanding and commitment to our organisational values is more important for this role than any specific qualifications.
Other
Part of your working week will be based in local communities, meeting young people, families, volunteers and other stakeholders. For the remainder of the time, you can choose to work from home or from our Edinburgh office premises (EH7 5JT). If working from home, you will need good internet access and a suitable home working environment. All I.T. equipment, mobile phone and infrastructure will be supplied.
We will consider job share opportunities, for example 2 x part time posts
PVG
This role requires membership of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme. Having a conviction will not necessarily cause a bar to employment.
Our Values & Way of Working:
In all that we do, we embrace a philosophy of ‘Freedom within a Framework’ and are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.
This job description is intended to include the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but while some variations will be expected, these will be at an appropriate level for the role.
Diversity & Inclusion
Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.
Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments:
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the “Experience/Skills” section of this advert. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your application or contact join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk for more information.
We have also committed to the following pledges which positively encompass our recruitment and selection processes and methodology: The Promise, Show The Salary, Salary History.
Benefits
Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work), Unlimited Annual Leave, Employee Pension scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan, Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced sick and family leave. We are also open to discuss job share applications.
GDPR Statement
If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to 6 months. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.
Application notes
Closing date: Monday 2nd May 2022, 10am
Interview date: Week beginning 9th May 2022
Start date: ASAP
Please send a completed application form join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk clearly stating which role you are applying for. There are sections in the form where you can demonstrate how you fulfil the role requirements and also express yourself, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.
If you would like to have a discussion with the Hiring Manager prior to submitting your application, please request this from join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
#volunteeringmatters volunteeringmatters.org.uk
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tsiMORAY’s Board Members have played a vital role in guiding our organisation since we began in 2012. Their leadership and insight have helped us grow and evolve.
We now have vacancies for new Board members.
The Board is the legal and financial authority for tsiMORAY. As a member, you will act in a position of trust on behalf of the community, ensuring strong governance and a clear direction for our organisation. You’ll be part of shaping real change in Moray’s communities, tapping into the heart of local life.
About tsiMORAY
We are Moray’s Third Sector Interface. We support local charities, community groups, and social enterprises, helping them connect, grow and thrive. We do this by offering guidance, building capacity and linking them with the people, partners and resources they need. We also manage and distribute funds, support volunteering and help co-ordinate Moray’s Climate Action Network. In addition, we are the accountable body for the Moray Local Action Group, a group leading community-led local development in Moray.
Why join us?
The third sector plays a vital role in Scotland’s economy and communities. In Moray, it’s tackling complex challenges, from social issues to climate action. As a Board member, you’ll help ensure we remain strong and effective in supporting our local sector and making a difference where it matters most.
What we’re looking for
You don’t need to know everything; we value a mix of skills and perspectives. We seek people who can offer ethical judgment, constructive thinking and a strong commitment to teamwork and community. This year, we are particularly interested in candidates with one or more following skills and experience:
- Finance and audit in a charity setting
- Funding and sustainability
- Human Resources and people culture
- Legal and compliance
- Digital and data
- Understanding of the third sector and its values
tsiMORAY values equity and inclusion and is committed to ensuring our Board reflects the diversity of Moray’s communities. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented groups and invite applicants to share any relevant information in their application if they wish.
Community Connection Volunteer Co-ordinator
- Part time
- £25,794 pro-rata
- On site: Edinburgh
- Closing 5th January 2026
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
Development Workers Amplify
- Full time
- £32,204 – £37,327
- Remote: Home based in region with occasional travel to Edinburgh office
- Closing 5th January 2026
Youth Scotland, Scotland’s national charity for the support and delivery of community-based youth work, would love you to come and join our dynamic team.
We are looking for two new workers to help us deliver our brand new Amplify Project.
Amplify is a 3-year, Scotland-wide, large-scale Youth Participation programme funded by The National Lottery Community Fund (UK Fund). It builds on Youth Scotland’s experience of supporting youth voice and aims to increase young people’s involvement in decisions that affect their lives, communities and services. The project will support young people, youth workers and wider community stakeholders to embed youth voice into decision-making and community life.
If you have experience of youth and community work and a passion for supporting young people’s participation, leadership and youth voice, then this role is for you.
Location
Post 1: Ref: YS-DWAMP25W
West Region – This post will be home-based in Glasgow or one of the named West Region areas: East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire, Argyll & Bute, with regular travel across the West Region and occasional travel to Youth Scotland’s Office in Edinburgh.
Post 2: Ref: YS-DWAMP25NE
North East Region – This post will be home-based in one of the named North East Region areas: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, Moray with regular travel across the North East Region and occasional travel to Youth Scotland’s Office in Edinburgh.
Background
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a charity which exists to celebrate and share the power of writers, their ideas, and the words they craft to illuminate, challenge, and inspire.
Since 1983, we have welcomed millions of visitors into conversations with the world’s greatest and most exciting emerging writers, thinkers, artists, and performers. Iconic figures such as Margaret Atwood, Alain de Botton, Oliver Burkeman, Noam Chomsky, Seamus Heaney, Kazuo Ishiguro, Toni Morrison, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, and Benjamin Zephaniah have appeared on our stages over the years, alongside a wide range of debut and early career authors.
Across the hundreds of events in our Adults, Young Adults, Schools, and Children’s programmes, the Book Festival offers audiences aged from 0 to 100 an active opportunity to engage with new and different perspectives on the world, create lasting memories through storytelling, fill their minds with fascinating knowledge, and discover the creative secrets of writers and artists.
We strive to be a safe and supported environment for people to have difficult discussions and lively debates in an atmosphere of curiosity and consideration, where different opinions can be respectfully shared. We are proud to platform voices and stories which are often overlooked, and are committed to breaking down barriers to access for those who may not initially consider themselves as a Book Festival audience.
Beyond August, the Book Festival is a year-round force for literary engagement. Working with partners in the local community – including schools, libraries, prisons, hospitals, and other community hubs – we foster a lifelong love of reading, embrace the life-changing potential of creativity, and develop engaged, informed audiences of all backgrounds and ages.
2025 was a bumper year for the Festival, with significant growth in site visits, ticket sales, and new audience members, all of which we aim to build upon in 2026, particularly through delivery of a new website and ticketing system, as well as grassroots audience development initiatives, and data-informed marketing campaigns.
The team
The Book Festival has a permanent staff of 25 throughout the year, expanding over the spring and summer to a peak of around 150 staff during the Festival. All staff members play a role in the ongoing development of the organisation through several full team planning and debrief meetings during the year.
The Development team is made up of 7 roles: Development Director, Sponsorships & Partnerships Manager, Sponsorship & Partnerships Officer, Development Manager (Trusts & Foundations), Development Manager (Individual Giving), Events & Digital Marketing Officer, and Development Assistant.
The role
Purpose of Role
To provide essential administrative and supporter care support across the Development Team, ensuring efficient use of the CRM system, excellent service for donors, members and supporters. This role is central to maintaining accurate data, delivering outstanding supporter care, and supporting income generation across the whole Development Team.
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