Finding strength through support.

The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. We provide tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke.

We’re here for stroke survivors and their loved ones, from the moment they enter the new and frightening post-stroke world, supporting them every step of the way as they find their strength and their way back to life.

It’s only thanks to the generosity of our supporters and donors that we can provide vital support.

Stroke Association is driven by our ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by stroke. This means we’re determined to create an equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits from the difference, and thrives on the diversity, of our people. Guided by Our approach to solving inequity in stroke, we are prioritising listening to, and learning from, lived experience across our charity.

We are working to improve the representation of this lived experience at all levels within the Stroke Association and we are eager to recruit applicants from a variety of communities and backgrounds. We are keen to receive applications from people affected by stroke, people of colour, members of LGBT+ communities, and disabled people because these identities and experiences are underrepresented and would add enormous value to how we work.

We are a Disability Confident employer, and we are making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. Our charity has a variety of staff network groups, and we're committed to continuously improving our diversity and inclusion efforts. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the Engagement Team in Scotland. As this post will cover the Highlands of Scotland, ideally you will be based in that region.

Reporting to the Engagement Lead for Scotland the (Engagement Officer) will raise awareness of stroke and our support offers, engage with key stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the needs of stroke survivors in rural communities across the Highlands to develop a model of approach that can be utilised to reach more stroke survivors and their families across rural Scotland.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Raising awareness of our universal services and resources with stroke survivors and carers.
• Working with both primary and secondary care healthcare professionals, ensuring they know what resources and services are available to signpost patients to, including our Helpline, telephone befriending, online community and activities.
• Listening to a wide network of stakeholders, including charities, healthcare professionals and community networks, to raise the profile of stroke and create a report on identified local needs.
• Gaining a better understanding of the best way to reach and support people affected by stroke in remote and rural communities, informing our work nationally.
• Identifying and recruiting stroke survivors/carers who are willing to share their lived experience and act as Connectors.
• Helping Connectors set up and run novel support services (e.g café groups, cooking classes) in their local community.

You will have experience of:

• Working with and supporting a wide range of stakeholders
• Managing and developing volunteers
• Working with support groups
• Supporting networks
• Working in partnerships with other organisations including those in the voluntary sector, health and social care
• Working in advocacy, campaigning, community engagement and development
• Developing support using co-production with service users
• Collecting data and producing reports
• Being adaptive to best meet the needs of the people we support
• Knowledge of key policies including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), safeguarding and health and safety
• Addressing health inequalities and championing diversity internally and externally
• Excellent IT skills
• Excellent communication skills, including confident public speaking skills
• Behaviours and Competencies

This role requires extensive travel across the Highlands. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they can meet this requirement of the role.

To fulfil the role, applicants must be based in the Scottish Highlands and have the right to work in the Scotland.

Positive Help is a well-established, third sector service provider – a registered charity – based in central Edinburgh. We have almost 40 years’ experience of supporting adults, children and families living with /affected by HIV and or Hepatitis C.

With the support of a cohort of trained and supervised volunteers, we provide a range of services to help people who have complex needs live fulfilling, healthy lives in the community.

We are now looking for a Temporary Children’s Services Manager with proven experience of working in a leadership role to join our dedicated team to provide maternity cover for the existing postholder as we further develop the organisation. We work from our centrally situated office in Edinburgh, although there is the option to work from home depending on business need.

The ideal candidate will have the skills and experience we need to help us deliver our children’s services – specifically Befriending, and Study Buddies Services - and the wider organisation effectively and efficiently and have a genuine interest in this very rewarding work.

As a member of our leadership team, you will play a key role in ensuring that children and their parents receive the right support from us and others timeously, and that volunteers are appropriately matched and well supported / supervised to maintain a high standard of practice and satisfaction.

You will be outcome focussed and have a keen interest in demonstrating the impact of services as well as working across boundaries and developing and sustaining positive relationships with internal colleagues, volunteers, partner agencies, referrers and a wide range of stakeholders.

You will have experience of managing or coordinating projects inspiring people to work together towards shared goals. You will be a problem-solver with an empathic approach, and excellent communication skills.

Our work can be challenging though highly rewarding. Therefore, you will need to be motivated, ambitious and self-organised, and be prepared to play a part in our on-going organisational development.

In return, we offer you a supportive working environment, 25 days annual leave and 10 public holidays (both pro rata if you work less than full time), plus an employer contributory pension scheme.

Our operational hours are 9am to 5pm. However, occasional work on Monday to Thursday (up to 6:30 pm) and Saturday (up to 3:00 pm) is required on a rotational basis as part of our telephone on-call rota to support volunteers. There are also occasional volunteer training sessions in the evenings and on Saturdays. All such out-of-hours working is planned and shared across the team.

It’s a great time to join Positive Help and be part of our journey toward an even brighter future. If you are excited by what you have read so far and think you have what it takes to be an outstanding member of our team, albeit on a temporary basis, then please read our job specification for more information, and look at our website.

We look forward to receiving your application.

The Milton Community Garden Manager will lead the development and delivery of a thriving, community-led garden that improves local health and wellbeing, strengthens community relationships, and increases access to nature. The role will oversee staff, community-led programmes and the garden’s facilities and grounds to ensure the garden supports key outcomes of the National Lottery Community Action Fund.

The postholder will support the garden’s therapeutic, educational and environmental programmes; increase community participation; deliver community meals and activities in collaboration with the Milton Food Hub; and develop the garden as a sustainable asset, including preparing the site for future venue hire and income generation. This is a hands-on role with significant responsibility for operational management, partnership development, and community-led working.

Total of 18 hours per week, at salary £30102 (pro rata £15481) + 25 days Annual Leave & 12 Public Holidays pro rata + 7% pension contribution. Funding is in place until 31 July 2028, subject to annual funding review and required reports.

You will have access to free personal development opportunities and training, casual dress, a supportive team, access to Turadh holiday scheme and flexible working.