Garvald Edinburgh are looking for several committed and motivated individuals, from any background, to join our Board of Directors and to help steer the charity through a time of exciting opportunity and development.

About the Role:

As members of the Board, you will have the overall responsibility of running the charity. The current Board come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and through their wide-ranging and complimentary skills and life experience, contribute to the strategy and oversight of the charity’s operations. Being a member of the board is a rewarding experience, which can also offer opportunities for personal development and growth outside of the workplace.

To be considered for this role, you should have strong communication, interpersonal and writing skills, coupled with a proactive attitude towards learning and a collaborative spirit. Additionally, strong analytical and problem-solving skills are key.

Regardless of your background, if you embody qualities such as a genuine concern for others, honesty, integrity, and an alignment to Garvald Edinburgh’s mission, we encourage you to reach out for more information.

The Board of Directors meet six times per year, with our meetings being held in person in Edinburgh. It is important that board members allocate sufficient time to read prepared papers and are informed for Board meetings. However, this is not onerous, and the time commitment should be no more than 2-4 hours per month on average.

About Us:

We have over fifty years of experience at Garvald and an expert understanding of what our members need to thrive.

We aim to create a supportive community, built around individual value and mutual respect. We deliver first-class care and a level of support that gives our members the confidence to learn new things and push themselves further.

Our working environments provide meaning, structure and stability. They are calm spaces where we encourage care for the world around us. This nourishes the senses and develops a feeling of community that may otherwise be difficult for our members to experience. We have pioneered approaches to support our members as they set their own goals and gain more control over their lives.

Our wide variety of workshops, led by expert practitioners with the finest materials, offers our members quality and choice. Alongside making beautiful, handcrafted products, they build skills and receive recognition for their work.

This approach has a transformative effect, empowering our members through the community they become part of and the things they create

We currently have vacancies for Volunteer Directors within our service.

We are a registered charity working with the community to provide wheelchairs and powered equipment for people with mobility difficulties.

This enables easier access to the main shopping areas in Dunfermline, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy.

The board normally meet on a quarterly basis, currently online (Teams).

Knowledge of the voluntary sector is desirable.

Information on the service can be found at shopmobilityfife.uk.

Our work at Self Directed Support Scotland is all about ensuring people can live well, and are able to have as much choice, control and flexibility as they wish when it comes to any support they need.

Our focus is on improving the implementation of Self-directed Support (SDS) in Scotland. We do this by working collaboratively across the social care sector: with our members, Scottish Government, Local Authorities and third sector organisations. We promote the values and principles of SDS and deliver a range of projects aimed at improving understanding of (and access to) Self-directed Support.

This is an exciting time to join our team as we manage an increasing workload, working to implement the national SDS Improvement Plan. We're looking for a talented and adaptable Development Support Officer to support our team across a range of projects and deliverables.

Job Purpose

• To provide effective communications and operational support on project delivery, with an initial focus on training, both online and e-learning, and National Conference delivery.
• To effectively administer communications around forums, meetings, and secretariat tasks in support of the delivery of the SDSS workplan and strategy.
• To support the team in keeping SDSS membership and project data up-to-date and accessible.
• To work to the values of SDSS in support of our membership, stakeholders and staff.
• To undertake any duties or responsibilities deemed appropriate to the post.

Responsible for

• Co-delivery of the National PA Training Framework, content and training materials for use with Personal Assistants and PA Employers.
• Coordinating data gathering campaigns such as surveys.
• Supporting the delivery of SDSS events including national in-person conference and AGM
• Campaign and secretariat management for national collaborations, such as the Personal Assistant Programme Board.
• Supporting delivery of stakeholder communications including social media and email newsletter.

The vacancy

The impact of vision loss is huge. Too often, it leads to people lacking or losing confidence and independence. People with vision loss are at higher risk of unemployment, isolation, mental health problems, and financial challenges. It can have an enormous emotional toll. But with the right support, people with vision loss can gain the skills to remain independent and active in their communities – to thrive. That’s why we’re here.

For 230 years, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans have been supporting people impacted by vision loss. We believe we play an important role in continually shifting the conversation around sight loss, and contributing to achieving a fair, equitable society. Over the years, we’ve seen a positive shift in expectations, with individuals and communities increasingly empowered to live lives the way they choose, free of discrimination.

And we’ve had to transform too, so that our services reflect the times we live in and meet the changing needs of the people we support. We’re now looking at how we continue to evolve, considering how we contribute now and what we could do differently in the future.

Our Activity Centre’s provide innovative and person-centred services and support to veterans struggling with sight loss. This job exists in order to provide tailored support to veterans carrying out woodworking projects. You will work alongside the veterans to identify abilities, share ideas and plan projects within the activity Centre. You will ensure that the support provided is person-centred, tailored to their needs and is the right support for them. You will support the leadership team to coordinate and manage the activities provided within and from the Activity Centre which will support the overall wellbeing of the veterans and their families. You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation and external stakeholders to ensure that veterans can access the relevant support.

About us

We're one of Scotland's oldest charities - for more than two centuries, we've been supporting and empowering people with sight loss to live fulfilling lives. We're proud of all we've achieved in the past - but we have our sights set firmly on the future.

We're determined that no-one should face sight loss alone. We're committed to improving, diversifying and growing our services to make sure we can reach many more people with sight loss - when and where they need us.