At Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home, love has no limits. We take a big picture view of what is best for dogs and cats; and a tireless, long-term approach to their care. We believe in protecting loving homes, finding love homes, and running our loving Home. We strive to create a safe and nurturing environment not only to the animals, but also our people.

The Home, supported by a dedicated and skilled team, is seeking to expand our Board of Trustees. We are looking for several passionate individuals to join our board, helping to guide and strengthen our organisation into the future.

As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in supporting the leadership of our charity, driving our organisational strategy, and leveraging your networking skills to advance our mission. Your expertise will complement our existing team and contribute significantly to our success.

We are ideally looking for individuals with any of the following experience:

• Finance

• Social justice/charity background tackling poverty

• Animal welfare

• Governance

• Property law

Joining our Board of Trustees offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of animals and the community. You will be part of a passionate team committed to our cause, helping to shape the future of the Home.

The role can be based in Edinburgh, Glasgow or undertaken remotely.

To help govern and lead us we are recruiting a trustee who will succeed the position of honorary treasurer. Working alongside the current trustee before their planned departure there will a period of crossover to ensure a smooth transition. Our volunteer trustees must share our values, believe in our purpose and be passionate about putting children first.

You must be able to demonstrate sound, independent judgement and have an ability to be strategic, open minded and to work collaboratively and collectively. You should have great interpersonal skills, have an ability to challenge constructively where required and be able to critically assess and analyse complex issues. Good listening and communication skills are essential.

The specific skills required for this role are accountancy, and specifically experience in any or all of financial reporting, management accounting delivery or oversight, auditing or general financial management. Fulfilling an existing role or a recent past role in any of these domains will be required, and any experience of non-executive roles using your financial specialism in the charity sector would be a bonus.

We are especially keen to attract trustees with experience in digital technologies and specific knowledge of professional practice in health, social work, justice with experience of strategic service delivery for children in need of care and protection.

We are proud of the way we do things at Children 1st, we put relationships, rights, respect and compassion at the heart of everything we do, and we believe that with the best people delivering the best quality support, amazing transformation can take place. With this in mind we are actively recruiting those who have been historically excluded from governance roles and want to broaden our representation, inclusion and diversity so that we truly represent all of Scotland’s children. If you think you don’t fit the traditional profile of a board member but believe in our purpose and want to make a contribution to our work, please do get in touch. We will offer support and flexibility to ensure any barriers to your involvement are removed.

Appointment of Lay Representative to the Joint Standing Committee for Legal Education in Scotland

The JSC is a consultative body comprised of representatives drawn from the main branches of the legal profession and the Universities.

Its aims and purposes are to act as a facilitator in promoting the interests of legal education, both at the level of academic training and in relation to legal professional training.

In recent years the Committee has been strengthened by the appointment of non-lawyers in its membership so that their views and experiences may contribute to discussions.

Applicants should have an interest in the practice of law in Scotland and the workings of the Scottish justice system, in quality assurance and professional standards, and in professional education and training. A commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is essential and an interest in trauma-informed practice would be helpful.

Previous experience of committee work would be advantageous, but it is not essential - we are also keen to hear from motivated candidates who are seeking their first committee position. The successful candidate will be keen to challenge constructively and ask curious questions.

The Committee would be particularly interested in receiving applications from applicants with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Higher Education, including widening access;

• Widening participation to the professions, not necessarily the legal profession;

• Improving access to justice;

• Artificial Intelligence in education and / or a professional context.

Planning Aid Scotland is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Charity, registered in Scotland. It is defined by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

We are a charity and social enterprise that helps people to navigate the planning system. We support a planning system that is inclusive, positive and innovative, where individuals and communities have the opportunity to shape the future of their place in an impartial, open and inclusive way. Through our facilitation-based approach, we help people participate in the planning system to help ensure that all voices are heard.

We currently have eleven board members and are looking to recruit a new board member to assume the role of Treasurer.

Board members are expected to take part in quarterly board meetings, these take place for a duration of around two hours, usually in the early evening. Board meetings are hybrid, with the meeting taking place in the office for those who can attend in-person, with the ability to join online for those unable to attend in-person.

The Board focuses on strategic direction and vision rather than organisational management and service delivery. In achieving this, the Board’s key consideration is how to implement the organisation’s charitable aims and objectives and Strategy.