Our Trustees are essential to the running of our service and we are looking for passionate individuals to join us. Ideal applicants will have specific knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Finance –support of voluntary agencies in establishing good practice in line with legislation, and of developing self-sustaining business practices.
• Strategic Planning
• IT- technical support and/or client database systems
• Voluntary sector – as practitioner or board member
• Children’s mental health - as practitioner or policy maker
• Fundraising

The Board meets for around 2 hours, every 8-10 weeks. Meetings are held at our premises in Eskbank, Dalkeith, with remote access during instances when a Trustee is unable to attend in person.

We would like to hear from energetic professionals who are able to help the charity set, develop and deliver its strategy, transforming the lives of the individuals we work with. Cruse Scotland is a unique organisation – as we are Scotland's only open-to-all bereavement charity.

Our work offers bereaved people the vital support they so badly need when someone close dies. We have a proven record of providing personalised, quality support to bereaved adults and children across Scotland over the last 50 years. During 2023-24 we delivered over 5,000 counselling sessions across Scotland – all of which was this provided by a skilled volunteer workforce – supported by just 22 members of staff. Our telephone helpline is also delivered by another volunteer team who responded to 9324 calls across the year!

This is an exciting time for the charity, in 2022 we launched a new 5-year strategy with ambitious plans for growth and development and are looking to strengthen our Board of Directors in order that they can further guide our success. The role of the Board of Directors is crucial to the success of Cruse Scotland, providing good governance, guidance and leadership at the highest level of the charity. We are seeking people with relevant expertise, with the time and commitment to devote to this challenging role and who share our values as an organisation.

We are particularly interested in hearing from dynamic professionals who are looking for opportunities to broaden their own experience; improve their own career prospects and/or share their existing knowledge. We are particularly keen, but not exclusively, to hear from those with existing or previous careers in one of the following:

• Children & Young People’s bereavement
• Finance and business
• Communications and Marketing

Cruse Scotland strives to create a fair and inclusive organisational culture. In our commitment towards Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we particularly welcome applications from people with protected characteristics who are under-represented in our trustee membership.

The Ramblers helps everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. We are the only charity dedicated to looking after paths and green spaces, leading walks, opening up new places to explore, and encouraging everyone to get outside and discover how walking boosts your health and your happiness. We aim to speak for all walkers.

This is an exciting time to join one of our sub-committees of the main board of trustees. The Ramblers has developed a refreshed strategic plan that builds on the Ramblers' success and its mission to open the way for everyone to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking. As we look forward, we want to address the stark inequalities that still exist and support those who face the greatest barriers to getting out and going walking.

As an independent committee member of our main board, you will draw on your skills and experience to help deliver the strategy for achieving our mission, ensure that the charity’s resources are managed responsibly, and that we remain compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

There are four sub-committees with responsibility for assisting the board to discharge its duties in specific areas:

• Strategy and Delivery Committee
• Finance, Risk and Audit Committee
• People and Culture Committee
• Nominations and Governance Committee

Independent Committee Members are volunteers who are recruited to join trustees and senior staff on a specific committee and support the work of that committee, advising on matters relating to that committee’s areas of responsibility, contributing specialist knowledge as appropriate.

You can find more information about the board, the sub-committees and current trustees at ramblers.org.uk/about-us/board-trustees-and-sub-committees.

The Ramblers promote diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

The role

We are seeking independent committee members who will join the People and Culture Committee and the Strategy and Delivery Committee.

To join the Committee we are seeking three individuals with proven experience and knowledge of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Volunteering or People/HR, and Digital Transformation.

The People and Culture Committee supports the board with:

• The people and culture activities including the equity, diversity and inclusion programme.
• Safeguarding, and health and safety matters.
• The overall employer offer, including setting and reviewing the remuneration of the Chief Executive.
• The Strategy and Delivery Committee supports the board with:
• Oversight of delivery of the agreed portfolio of strategic and operational programmes of work required to deliver the Ramblers’ strategy and charitable purpose.

Appointment

Appointments to sub-committees are reviewed by the nominations and governance committee, and then recommended for approval to the Board of Trustees. All committee appointments are subject to relevant eligibility checks.

Time Commitment

We know that people have other time commitments and so we want to make sure the committees work as well as possible for everyone.

Sub-committees are held up to four times per year, usually several weeks ahead of each board meeting. The meetings are held virtually and normally run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. For each meeting you will need some time to read relevant papers.

Independent sub-committee members will be asked to sit on the committee for a period of three years, time commitments permitting.

The Person

To be considered as an independent committee member you should demonstrate:

• proven experience and knowledge in the specialism required
• a commitment to the mission, ambitions and values of the Ramblers
• integrity in your communication and decision making
• an ability to bring a strategic vision and provide sound and independent judgement
• an ability to think creatively
• a willingness to meet the minimum time commitment
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions in the best interests of the Ramblers

An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead our Board and Charity. We are looking for someone who is dynamic, with capacity to contribute, and willing to share their expertise and ideally to also engage their network to broaden and deepen support for Venture Trust. An affinity with our work, supporting people in their development to overcome life challenges, is essential.

In return, we offer a comprehensive induction programme including charity trustee training, CPD as a trustee and opportunity to be part of a forward thinking, committed and impactful team working to help people transform their lives.

This position is a voluntary role in a national third sector organisation that has important stature in Scotland.