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 an Outreach and Amplifying Voices Project Officer to work 21 hours per week for 12 months.

With the support of the Trustees and Chief Executive, the Outreach and Amplifying Voices Project Officer will deliver a series of engagement sessions across Scotland to capture the experiences of people who have been involved with the criminal justice system, identifying core themes relating to stigma and discrimination in order to amplify their voices to decision-makers in positions of power.

The Outreach and Amplifying Voices Project Officer will be required to:

• Facilitate the project steering group.
• Plan safe and inclusive engagement sessions.
• Co-ordinate and deliver engagement sessions across Scotland.
• Analyse the data gathered to identify key themes.
• Develop effective mechanisms for meaningful storytelling.
• Develop a report that will both share the key findings with decision-makers in positions of power and further the aims of the charity.
• Feed the findings for the engagement sessions into the development of our Defend Your Rights training course.
• Create and publish content for the charity’s communication channels including social media
• Contribute to the overall workings of the charity as required.

The Outreach and Amplifying Voices Project Officer will need:

• To buy in completely to the charity’s Vision.
• 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.
• Experience of facilitating group sessions.
• Experience of project management / delivery.
• The ability to make sessions accessible, adapting the approach to meet participant needs.
• Attention to detail in both logistics and record keeping.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work to deadlines.
• Experience of Microsoft programmes such as Word, Excel etc.
• A desire to work as part of a team towards the overarching charity priorities.
• Access to transport with the ability to travel.

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 for travel expenses. Travel time will be included in working hours.

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).

We are actively seeking a person to develop and lead our children and families ministry, covering children from birth to primary 7, their parents and carers. The post-holder will build on existing activities and establish new ways of working with children and families; review the current ministry offered; and assess and define the longer-term staffing needs in this critical area of church life.

Our Vision is to ‘Love God, Love Others and Make Disciples.’

This is an exciting opportunity to join a church that is committed to developing both its ministry to our local community as well as enhancing our church life with our members. It is an opportunity to shape a generation.

This post is offered on a fixed-term basis for 3 years and will be subject to PVG Scheme membership. Full Time hours are 35 per week.

Local Profile:

Tillicoultry is situated in the area known as The Hillfoots, nestled below the Ochil Hills. It has a population of around 5000 people. There is a Primary School and secondary-age children attend Alva Academy, 2 miles away. Tilly Baptist is centrally located within the town, with premises at the intersection of High Street, Moss Road, and Murray Square, where the local bus service stops. There is a selection of shops, cafes and a bistro on High Street and a retail outlet at Sterling Mills, off Moss Road.

Tilly Baptist is a growing evangelical fellowship, with expanding children’s and youth groups. The church was established in 1893 and we have recently acquired a second building from the Congregational Church, which sadly closed following the COVID pandemic.

Team Player:

Tilly Baptist has a Pastor who completes the majority of the teaching and preaching. There is also a Pastoral Care team. The post-holder must be comfortable in a team situation, making a positive and supportive contribution within the Pastoral Care team, in relation to the children and families under their remit. The post-holder will work closely with the Leadership Team, operating within the direction they set for the Church, and with the Youth Ministry Team, seeking to develop continuity between the two ministries.

Tillicoultry Baptist Church SCIO, 163 High Street, Tillicoultry, FK13 6DS, SC052310

Theology:

The post-holder should have been baptised as a believer and most certainly be aligned to the theology and principles of Tilly Baptist Church and the Baptist Union of Scotland, as outlined in the church’s constitution:

tillicoultrybaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tillicoultry-BC-SCIO-Constitution-Dec-2022.pdf.

Strategic overview:

Tilly Baptist has since its inception had a volunteer-led ministry to children. The post-holder will commence with a strategic review of children’s ministries in the Church, and the support provided to volunteers. Throughout the period of the post, the post-holder will provide overall co-ordination for this ministry.

Working with children and families:

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and developing ministry with our existing children’s groups and their families and reaching out to families beyond our current circle, developing personal relationships and nurturing their faith in Jesus Christ. You will be passionate about offering the gospel to all and comfortable in sharing the Gospel with, and providing support to, unchurched parents and carers encountered through the church’s community outreach.

We are looking for someone committed to living out their Christian faith and modelling this to those with whom you work. You will be creative in ensuring the inclusion of all our children, their families, and their friends. You will also appreciate the importance of teamwork within our church, and you will contribute to the wider mission and outreach.

The post-holder will have a heart for children and families ministry and will be comfortable and competent in teaching and working with children and their parent(s)/carer(s) and will examine the content and context of what the children are taught, and the other activities and events that form part of the ministry. To this end a qualification relevant to the post is desirable but by no means essential and so candidates with evidence of considerable relevant experience will also be considered.

Supporting parents:

Recognising the challenges faced by Christian parents in seeking to raise their children in a post-Christian world which appears increasingly hostile to the gospel, the post-holder will support parents in nurturing their children in the Christian faith, and will, in partnership with the Pastor and Pastoral Care team provide pastoral care for all families connected to the children’s work. The post-holder will partner with parents both in terms of helping to equip parents for the task of sharing their faith with their children, and ensuring the parents are involved with and invested in the children’s ministry in Tilly Baptist.

Supporting leaders:

Children’s ministry in Tilly Baptist has been solely run by volunteers. The post-holder will support and encourage volunteer leaders, providing training, and promoting children’s ministry within Tilly Baptist, encouraging others to become involved.

Are you looking for an organisation where you can make a difference? Are you enthusiastic, self-motivated and have passion for helping unemployed people achieve their goals? If so, we would like to hear from you!

Who are we?

Routes to Work South are committed to working with partner agencies to deliver a flexible, accessible, client-centered service that will support local people who are unemployed to progress and sustain employment, support local employers, and link opportunity and need.

An award-winning company, RTWS are committed to alleviating poverty through delivery of a range of innovative employability and skills services. As an arm’s length external organisation, we have a key role in the delivery of services that support South Lanarkshire Council’s Employability Strategy.

For over 20 years the company has successfully tendered for a variety of welfare to work programmes, securing funding from several sources including Skills Development Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions as well as grant funding from the Big Lottery and European Structural Funds, to support South Lanarkshire residents and businesses.

The company currently delivers the Scottish Government’s Fair Start Scotland Programme throughout South Lanarkshire and delivers services to young people and adults supported by Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind (NOLB) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

What will the role involve?

As In Work Employment Advisor your role will be to establish and maintain excellent relationships with clients that have transitioned into employment following engagement in RTWS services, providing personalised support to ensure clients sustain and progress while in work. You will liaise directly with employers and partner organisations to ensure the client has access to the appropriate support to sustain existing work or alternatively seek alternative employment opportunities.

You will ensure clients in work are satisfied with their current employment situation, providing advice and guidance related to any employment issues, health, housing, or financial issues impacting sustainability. You will also undertake skills assessment to establish continuous professional development needs to ensure clients have access to relevant training and qualifications for career enhancement. The ideal candidate will be target driven, motivated, enthusiastic, an excellent communicator able to build strong relationships and meet KPI’s with experience in a similar role.