This is a new and exciting opportunity to support the growth of the Wester Hailes Community Trust (WHCT) and to oversee the delivery of the Wester Hailes Local Place Plan (WHLPP) - Scotland’s inaugural local place plan.

The responsibilities of this position are split between the administration and capacity building of the Trust, and the oversight of WHLPP projects. The post is responsible for the everyday operations of the Trust, such as managing correspondences, tracking finances, and arranging board meetings, as well as the development of the Trust through an increase in membership, networking, presence in the community, and working with the members of the WHCT to understand and respond to the emerging needs of the Wester Hailes community. The key deliverable over the period of this contract is to work collaboratively with the Trust to oversee the continued implementation and management of the eight WHLPP projects funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. This will require a combination of independent project management and consistent collaboration with key LPP Stakeholders, the wider Wester Hailes community, the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), and the Scottish Government.

This role is a part time freelance post with the opportunity for discussion to agree a working pattern that is viable to both the successful candidate and the Trust. The successful candidate to the post will be line managed by WHCT trustees and will receive support from the Trust’s additional freelance community development worker.

This post is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Are you passionate and committed to making a meaningful difference for families with young children experiencing barriers to moving out of poverty.

Within the UK, there is an estimated £22.7 billion a year in unclaimed welfare benefits and in Edinburgh 1 in 5 children are living in poverty.

This is an exciting opportunity for an Advice Worker to join our ‘Advice For Families’ team and deliver a high quality advice service to families in Edinburgh with pre-school children. Taking an early intervention and trauma-informed approach, the adviser will provide benefits, housing and debt advice to parents, in order to promote improved financial and social wellbeing for families.

The role will involve developing strong professional partnerships with other early years practitioners including Early Years Centres; Nurseries; Midwifery and Family Nurse Partnerships and Health Visitor teams.

Extensive in-house training and support will be provided to the successful candidate who demonstrates the right qualities for this role.

Are you?:

• Passionate and committed to making a meaningful difference for families experiencing barriers to moving out of poverty
• Able to quickly learn complex rules and legislation on Welfare Benefits, Debt and Housing.
• Enthusiastic about contributing to the delivery and development of partnership services.
• Able to build trusting professional relationships.
• Understanding of people’s journeys and the challenges they have had in their lives, and how poverty and inequality can have an impact on them.

At CHAI we offer the following:

• Extensive training programme
• Flexible working
• Access to Simply Health benefit plan
• 32 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays)
• Enrolment to NOW Pension Scheme
• Supportive work environment
• Opportunities to improve services and make a difference.

We are the first port of call for social entrepreneurs and our mission is to make social enterprise accessible, achievable and aspirational.

We are looking for new board members to broaden and strengthen the skills and experience of our existing board. As a board member, you will oversee our governance and financial arrangements, ensuring that we operate in line with best practice and our charitable objectives. You will play an important role in our future direction and will provide support and motivation to the board and the Chief Executive.

While we welcome applications from anyone who meets the role’s description and person specification, we particularly want to reach individuals who can demonstrate specialist knowledge, skills, and lived or learned experience in one or more of the following:

• Key public policy areas affecting Scotland
• Scottish Government, Local Authority, or other public sector knowledge, including relationships with civil servants and government officials
• Business development, corporate partnerships and diversification of income streams
• Impact measurement and evaluation frameworks

As accredited Investors in Diversity, we are committed to making our Board balanced and diverse, reflecting the people and communities we work with. Acknowledging our current board make-up and those ending their term this year, we particularly welcome applications from women and those who identify outside the gender binary, as well as people who bring a diversity of thought, mindset and background through their age (young people), sexuality, ethnicity, learning style or geography (rural/remote location).

About us

FARE Scotland is a voluntary organisation working within disadvantaged communities throughout Central Scotland. At FARE Scotland we strive to raise people’s aspirations, encourage them to become more involved in their communities, create opportunities for personal development and equip them with the skills required to deal with the demands of 21st century life.

Volunteering at FARE Scotland, you will be part of passionate and hard-working team that aims to improve the lives of the people in the communities we serve.

For more information relating to the organisation, and to see all of the good work we do, we encourage you to visit our website at FARE Scotland (fare-scotland.org).

What you’ll do

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 volunteer Trustees (1 with a financial background, and 1 with a legal background) to join our Board of Trustees. In a time of organisational change, and growth, you will play an important role, providing your advice and guidance, whilst reviewing and challenging our financial and legal processes to support the organisation’s success and increase the opportunities for people in the communities we serve.

As part of your role, your main responsibilities will include:

• Carrying out the duties and legal responsibilities of being a trustee within a third sector organisation.

• Ensuring the organisation complies with its governing bodies, observes its charitable objectives and functions in line with the principles and practice of good governance.

• Sharing experience and providing guidance on best practice.

• Ensuring the organisation operates ethically, responsibly and with respect for the communities we serve.

• Acting as representatives for the organisation, leveraging your networks to support our mission.

• A willingness to commit the time required to fulfil Trustee duties and, from time to time, contribute to the work of specific tasks, such as, strategy development, governance review, leading discussions, and providing advice on initiatives in the domain of their expertise.

About you

The successful candidate for this role will:

• Understand the legal and regulatory requirements of businesses and third sector organisations.

• Be experienced in operational management.

• Be able to identify both risks to and opportunities for the organisation.

• Have the ability to assist with corporate governance.

• Be qualified with a relevant professional body.

• Have a financial or legal background, with experience of working within a related role.

• Be able to interpret and challenge appropriate data, including legal and financial data.

• Show a willingness to engage with and be a part of relevant sub-committees.

Although not a requirement for the role, knowledge of the legal and regulator requirements of a Board, and a background of volunteering or working within third sector organisations would be desirable.

Along with the above, we would be looking for individuals who share, and are able to demonstrate, the organisation’s values of being compassionate, open, collaborative, innovative and driven.

What’s involved

As part of your responsibilities in the role, we ask that you commit to attending 5 board meetings per year, normally taking place in the early evening. We ask that you are available to volunteer at least 30 hours per annum of your time to attend these meetings and take on additional responsibilities as required, such as supporting with sub-committees.