Next Chapter Scotland exists to help anyone in Scotland who has been involved with the criminal justice system to navigate the stigma and discrimination that they can face throughout their lives.

We established in 2022 and became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in 2023.

We are run by a Board of Trustees made up of at least 50% people with a criminal record or a close family member of someone with a criminal record. We made this commitment because we believe that people who have lived through the experience should be at the heart of any changes that will improve their lives and the lives of their peers.

Our Vision

Our vision is of a society that no longer judges people based on their worst choices but, instead, sees them as they are today.

How will we get there?

Our priorities are to:

• Share clear and accessible information to help people who have been involved with the criminal justice system navigate any discrimination they may face.
• Bring people together to foster hope and amplify the voices of people who have been involved with the criminal justice system.
• Support people who have been involved with the criminal justice system to challenge the discrimination they face.
• Help to breathe life into the ideas that people who have been involved with the criminal justice system have on how best to improve ‘the system’.

Why are we needed?

It’s estimated that 1 in 3 men and 1 in 10 women in Scotland have a criminal record. In their words:

“The punishment only started with prison. 23 years on from release and it hasn’t ended yet”

“You’re not classed as a valuable member of society. You’re tainted”

“I was better off in prison because I at least had people to talk to and didn’t worry about having to sleep on the street”

“I’ll be forever known as someone who’s been to prison. No matter how much time passes or what good I do, I’ll always be judged for my past crime”

“(It's so hard) Having to disclose to a faceless call centre operator every time I need insurance”

The Role

We are recruiting a freelance trainer to develop a single-day training course that will support people who have been involved with the criminal justice system to defend their rights.

The course will support people to identify when their own rights have been, or might be, violated and develop skills to support them to defend themselves and their families.

The course will need to be supported by a comprehensive trainer guide, providing background information on all topics covered in the session.

It is important that the course is designed with enough flexibility to enable it to meet the needs of the particular trainees in any given session.

The training course developed will be the property of Next Chapter Scotland.

Support will be provided by the wider Next Chapter Scotland team and a project Steering Group.

The freelance trainer will need:

• Extensive experience of developing and delivering training courses to a wide range of community groups.
• An understanding of the impact of involvement with the criminal justice system on people’s lives.
• A non-judgmental attitude with the ability to comfortably interact with people from all walks of life in a variety of settings.
• An in-depth understanding of Human Rights legislation and wider legislation covering topics such as housing, employment and access to health services.
• An in-depth understanding of the skills involved in defending one’s own rights, including assertiveness and self-advocacy.
• Experience of co-production alongside community members.
• Experiencing of making training accessible.
• An understanding of training course evaluation methods.

Estimated Project Timeline

• September: Initial meetings to agree the scope of the contract and the charity’s vision for the training course.
• October – December: Our Outreach and Amplifying Voices Project Officer will be busy gathering the experiences of community members, the findings of which will lead directly into the training development.
• January – April: Initial training development.
• May – June: Co-production phase (delivery of 3 co-production sessions).
• July – August: Pilot delivery phase (delivery of 2 full sessions) and any final tweaks required.

Future Involvement

It is our hope that the freelance trainer will be able to continue their involvement with the organisation as a freelance trainer in the delivery of the training following the end of this contract. However, this will be funding dependent.

Applications from people who have been involved with the criminal justice system are particularly welcome.

This role does not require membership of the PVG scheme.

There is a fixed budget available to pay travel expenses.

We would be happy to consider an individual or an organisation for this role.

Fauna & Flora’s Scotland team is actively working to develop ways to offer further in-depth support to the community groups we work with to address the barriers that they identify and are looking to build our input in the terrestrial sphere, including taking part in conversations around rapidly developing nature finance mechanisms, and increasing our stakeholder network. This is an exciting stage for the team, as we further develop aspirations around land-based community conservation, as well as support the Coastal Communities Network (CCN) on their journey towards independence as a community-governed network.

This internship is a valuable learning opportunity for someone with an interest in community-led conservation in Scotland. You will work across the Scotland team, engaging with colleagues within the wider Eurasia regional programme and relevant cross-cutting teams, as well as locally-based partners and contacts. You will gain knowledge of the current conservation context in Scotland, increase your understanding of project development within small teams, build your networks and support the planning and running of workshops and events. More specifically, you will play a key supporting role in the development of our work in Scotland through: desk-based research on community-led conservation, updating stakeholder mapping, network research, supporting key meetings, and a review of Scotland’s national and international nature obligations. There is also the opportunity to support the organisation and delivery of the CCN annual gathering in October 2024 and planned community workshops later in the year, as well as to engage in national policy consultations.

Note that this internship has been designed to create a professional development opportunity for people who are new to the conservation sector. Therefore, applicants should have less than two years paid or unpaid experience in the conservation sector (not including academic work).

Are you looking to make a positive change in society through policy work? Are you a skilled communicator with a passion for people and communities across Scotland? At Samaritans Scotland we are seeking an experienced Policy and Engagement Officer to join our friendly team.

You’ll support our work to reduce suicide by developing and influencing policy and practice at national and local levels. You’ll also support positive, informed engagement with communities and key stakeholders to strengthen the effective delivery of Samaritans’ policy work in Scotland.

We are a flexible and inclusive organisation. Our team is growing in Scotland and you’ll be able to influence key policy and practice in our community. We are moving from strength to strength and this role will make a real and lasting difference to ensure fewer lives are lost to suicide.

• £33,000-£33,500 per annum plus benefits
• Permanent role
• Full time (35 hours per week)
• Hybrid working – Regular office working in Edinburgh with travel in and around Scotland, plus home working
• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences

Samaritans Scotland

Join a friendly, supportive, and ambitious staff team in Scotland. Our established Policy and Communications team is working with Scottish Government, MSPs and partners to achieve change and have an impact on suicide risk. There are around 1000 Samaritans volunteers across Scotland working in our 19 branches. These volunteers respond to calls for help every day of the week via telephone, e-mail, text and in person at our branches or at events across Scotland.

We also work with the public and the media to inform them about Samaritans and explain how we can help people find their own way forward. We reach out to groups where there is a high risk of suicide and emotional distress.

What’s in it for you – our benefits

So, you want to work for us? Good choice. We like it here too. We offer competitive salaries, flexible and hybrid working to suit your needs, family-friendly policies, 28 days annual leave inclusive of wellbeing days and a matched pension contribution up to 5%. You’ll have a structured induction and ongoing projects, secondments & learning opportunities. We also have colleague-led affinity groups made up of people with shared identities.

Your health and wellbeing is our priority. We have a staff community of Mental Health First Aiders, a Health Cash Plan and an Employee Assistance Programme. You’ll have free subscriptions to Headspace (your personal guide to mindfulness, sleep, focus, movement, and more) & Perkbox (an employee benefits platform with online exercise classes). That’s not all. We listen to your ideas and have staff forum and social committee networks.

Hybrid and flexible working

We are a flexible organisation, and we embrace hybrid working – a mix of connecting in person and remotely. We’re aware that the world is changing, and we all want and need different things from our work and home lives. So, if you need to walk the dog, go to the gym, or have commitments outside of work, we’re open to talking through flexible working options that work for you and us.

Being Inclusive

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from Disabled, BAME and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans