Aberlour are the largest solely Scottish children’s charity; we help to transform the lives of disadvantaged children, young people and families across Scotland, and we are looking to recruit new Trustees who will join us in our efforts to ensure children have the opportunities and support they deserve.

Aberlour has a rich history of delivering vital services to vulnerable children, young people and their families. Since our inception as an orphanage in Speyside in 1875 and the formal establishment of Aberlour Child Care Trust in 1976, we have developed a significant reputation for delivering the following services: residential care and fostering, recovery, early years, disability, early intervention and youth work. We offer support at the earliest opportunity – giving children the best possible start in life is at the heart of everything we do.

Due to Trustees coming to the end of their term, we are seeking up to five new Trustees with a range of skills to join the Board during 2025 to help us to deliver our ambitious strategic priorities and goals to transform the lives of disadvantaged children across Scotland. Applicants should have the values, experience and passion to lead one of Scotland’s leading charities at a time when our support is needed more than ever.

We are looking for the following skills:

• Chartered accountant with strong financial skills, in particular charity accounting, that would allow you to chair or join our Finance Committee.
• Understanding of children’s services or social care. Also experience of scrutiny or quality improvement that would allow you to chair or join our Improvement, Audit & Risk Committee.
• Experience of social investment.
• Policy development, especially in relation to engaging with children and families who are overcoming trauma.
• Learning and development.
• Lived experiences that can bring empathy with children and young people.
• Understanding of the demands and complexities of board-level governance and experience of operating at a senior level in Corporate, Public or Third sector environments would be an advantage.

In welcoming applications from all parts of Scotland’s communities, we recognise that diversity in the voices around our table will better reflect the communities we serve. If you believe you could add real value to our board table but don’t meet some or all the criteria we have laid out, we would still love to hear from you, but please highlight for us the value you would bring in your application.

You will be required to attend 4 Board meetings, relevant committee meetings and a Board Development Day each year.

Charity trustees are expected to direct the affairs of the charity through efficient, effective and accountable governance, ensuring that the organisation is professionally run and acts in accordance with its stated aims and objectives. These are unpaid roles, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

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.

Are you an experienced finance professional looking to make a significant impact in the third sector? Avenue, a leading charity in the North East of Scotland, is seeking an exceptional Finance Manager to join our senior leadership team. This pivotal role will ensure our financial health and sustainability, driving our mission to support families, children, and individuals through life’s challenges.

About Us:

For over 70 years, Avenue has provided a range of services across Grampian, designed to help families and individuals overcome obstacles and improve their relationships and wellbeing. With values rooted in effectiveness, integrity, respect, credibility, innovation, and independence, we are committed to making a real difference in our community.

The Role:

As Finance Manager, you will lead all aspects of our financial operations, from strategic planning and budgeting to cash management and financial reporting. You'll work closely with the CEO and the Board of Trustees, providing insightful analysis and advice to support strategic decision-making. Your responsibilities will also include:

• Developing and implementing financial policies and controls
• Leading the annual audit process and preparing statutory accounts
• Supporting funding bids with excellent financial analysis and planning
• Supporting managers in budget management and financial literacy
• Ensuring compliance with financial, charity, and company legislation

What We’re Looking For:

• Fully qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or part qualified with commensurate experience
• Proven success in a senior financial management role
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation and financial regulations
• Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in finance software (preferably Xero) and advanced Excel skills
• Experience in strategic financial planning and risk management

Why Join Avenue?

This is an exciting opportunity to bring your expertise to a vibrant and impactful organisation. You'll work in a supportive and collaborative environment, with opportunities for professional development and to influence the financial direction of our charity.

The person specification gives a broad indication of expectations. Please get in touch if you

feel you would have a lot to offer even if it isn’t an exact match with our requirements.

Avenue is dedicated to supporting families during challenging times. We provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where families can spend quality time together during Family Time sessions. Our aim is to strengthen family relationships and ensure the wellbeing of children.

We are looking for a compassionate and experienced Family Time Service Manager to lead and oversee our Family Time service. In this role, you will be responsible for managing day to day operations, ensuring the highest standard of service delivery, whilst supporting both families and colleagues.

The Family Time Service Manager will work in collaboration with external stakeholders to facilitate positive and safe family interactions, while also managing staff, maintaining service delivery, and ensuring that all processes comply with relevant guidelines and safeguarding protocols.

The Family Time Service Manager must be a highly organised, empathetic and pro-active individual with proven experience in a managerial role, and experience in childcare or family-facing role. The ideal individual will have excellent communication skills, a strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection, and the ability to manage both people and processes efficiently.

PVG: New applications or scheme record updates will be paid for by Avenue.