The One World Shop was established over 40 years ago and has played a lead role in the Fair Trade movement in Scotland, including helping Edinburgh and Glasgow become Fairtrade cities. As well as running a thriving city centre shop, we have an online shop and we support schools, faith groups and local businesses to learn about and sell fair trade products. We currently employ 7 paid staff and over 20 volunteers. Our aim is to reduce poverty in deprived areas of the world through trading fairly and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting low-carbon living.

We are seeking to appoint several new voluntary Management Committee members; we are particularly looking at people with skills and experience in any of the following:

- Human Resources

- Property, leases, surveying

- Retail sales and management

- Business management

- Finance, funding, ethical investment

Board meetings are held every two months by Zoom

ABOUT EAST LOTHIAN COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP

Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) were first established in England in the 1990s as a formal mechanism to reinvigorate local and rural railways. CRP status provides a framework for community involvement in strategic planning, development and operation of a specific railway line.

Since 2014, the East Lothian Community Rail Partnership has been pulling together a wide range of local organisations with an interest in communities and sustainable transport, to fix the link between railway stations, town centres and the surrounding areas, and realise an integrated transport network accessible to all. We work with four train operators (ScotRail, LNER, TransPennine Express, and Cross Country), Transport Scotland, East Lothian Council, the Regional Transport Partnership (SEStran), local businesses and community groups towards the following aims:

• Supporting the local economy by promoting rail use and rail facilities
• Actively promoting the use of rail and other public and low carbon-emitting transport
• Supporting safety, security and access initiatives relating to railway use
• Working with ‘station adopters’ (individuals and groups) to provide a more pleasant environment within the station areas.

ABOUT THE VACANCY

Harry Barker has been chairing East Lothian CRP since its inception in 2014 and is now preparing to pass on the reins of a well-established and respected organisation. In addition the time is right to expand the Board and also appoint a vice chair. Examples of projects completed to date include:

• restored the murals at Prestonpans Station (best community project 2023)
• improved signage to stations
• provided information boards for display in stations promoting local attractions and historical information
• supported many local events in the North Berwick and Dunbar areas
• producing a line guide and leaflets to encourage tourism
• working with bus operators to improve integration between bus and rail

Projects have always been dependent on external funding which to date has not proved problematical, and, as such, the incoming Chair will have the flexibility to pursue their own agenda. The CRP is financially sound and new ways of operating are being explored by The Community Rail Network and the new Chair will be well placed to provide input to these.

East Lothian CRP has no paid staff, and projects are led by volunteers under direction from the Board, and therefore the amount of work involved can vary but can be expected to be around 10 hours per month for the Chair.

DUTIES OF THE CHAIR

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that the CRP is run in accordance with the constitution
• Guiding and encouraging projects that will be undertaken from time to time
• Ensuring that the Action Plan is kept up to date
• Chairing four meetings per year, including the AGM (normally held in November)
• Producing an annual report for the AGM
• Ensuring that the activities of the CRP are within the guidelines produced by the Train Operating Companies in all respects particularly including safely

BENEFITS

You will receive a ‘staff’ rail pass from ScotRail permitting free rail travel throughout Scotland when travelling on ScotRail trains.

Reasonable expenses will be paid if required to travel on other rail services and/or stay overnight.

REQUIREMENTS

The successful applicant will be expected to support public transport in general, with a keen interest in integration between modes such as buses, active travel and rail.

A willingness of Board members to attend committees and conferences is essential (expenses will be covered) and these will give valuable access to professional railway staff and management on the front line, where your views can be heard. These include:

• the local ‘Rail Forum’ involving MSPs, Councillors and Train Operating Companies - twice a year, usually virtually
• in-person or virtual annual conferences of the four local Train Operating Companies (ScotRail, Cross Country Trains, TransPennine Express, and LNER) which may be held anywhere in the UK
• An annual event in Scotland sponsored by Modern Railways magazine which is attended by many high profile railway managers and senior representation from Transport Scotland
• Virtual attendance (via Zoom) at the national Community Rail Network meetings
• In-person Community Rail Networks Awards ceremony, if the CRP is short listed for an Award – this year’s was in Swansea over three days
• Six Community Area Partnership ‘On the Move’ groups consider local transport in East Lothian – CRP representation on one or more of these groups is important for a full appreciation of issues surrounding each station. Each On the Move Group meets every two months

A knowledge of railways and their workings is desirable but not essential.

Living in East Lothian and using the county’s rail services from time to time would be advantageous.

You will be expected to liaise with the station adoption groups from time to time. They have a separate relationship with ScotRail.

You will be expected to be pro-active in instructing the website to be kept up to date via the CRP’s appointed webmaster, and in responding to public enquiries which come via the website. You will not be required to answer complaints from the travelling public but direct these to ScotRail for attention.

From time to time it may be necessary to communicate with the local Press (East Lothian Courier and occasionally Edinburgh Evening News).

Join us in making a lasting impact on children’s lives through the power of play!

We are seeking a Chairperson and Trustees to join our Board of Directors

We are seeking committed individuals interested in taking on the exciting role and opportunity as Chairperson of Play Midlothian.

We are also looking for new trustees to join us! (No previous board experience is necessary as full support and training will be provided).

Play Midlothian is a leading charity dedicated to improving and enriching the lives of children and young people through the power of play. We believe that play is a fundamental right and an essential part of a child’s development. Our services are designed to offer inclusive, safe, and stimulating environments where children can grow, learn, and have fun.

We work to support children to thrive through play. It is important for their lives in the here and now as well as for their future life chances.

We:

• Provide enriching opportunities for children to play in support of their health, wellbeing and development
• Build family, community and professional capacity to support play
• Advocate for play and inform and influence decision-making

Time commitment

As a minimum, you need to be able to commit to:

• Frequently attend (on Teams) board meetings, of which there are approximately six per year on a weekday evening, for two hours;
• Attending infrequent development or strategic planning sessions (usually no more than once per year);
• Steer short-life working groups ;
• Occasionally work closely with member(s) of the staff team on a specific issue.

We are Right There, a charity celebrating 200 years of service this year. We provide tailored support to individuals at home and in the community, helping those affected by homelessness, poverty, addiction, and family breakdowns.

Our vision is a world where everyone has the opportunity to create a safe and supportive place to call home. We strive to challenge stereotypes—regardless of a person’s situation, we are here to help, not judge. Our approach is about creating trusting relationships and nurturing people’s strengths,

Last year we supported almost 4,000 people, helping them avoid homelessness and stay connected with their loved ones. In partnership with Sonnet Advisory and Impact, we recently launched a report estimating that Right There generates a societal benefit of at least £308 million annually (net present value) based on a single cohort of referrals.

You would be joining Right There at a pivotal time, as Scotland faces a housing emergency declared by the Scottish Government. As a Board Trustee, you will play a crucial role in guiding our charity through these challenges and leveraging new opportunities. Your involvement will ensure our services remain effective and impactful.

Becoming a Trustee is a highly rewarding experience, offering the chance to influence strategic decisions, oversee governance, and support the delivery of life-changing services. We are looking for individuals passionate about our mission and values, with relevant knowledge and experience in:

• Strategic Commissioning (as a funder or provider)

• Children and family services design and delivery

• Scotland’s housing and homelessness landscape

• Policy, PR, or Communications