Norton Park SCIO is a charity that supports the voluntary sector in Edinburgh to maximise its positive impact.

We provide high-quality, affordable office space, meeting rooms, and conference facilities for charities, and community groups in our historic buildings near Edinburgh's city centre. We also provide operational support to tenant charities based at Norton Park.

Twenty-one charities are based at Norton Park and over one hundred community and voluntary organisations host meetings and events in our conference centre.

Norton Park, a key resource for Edinburgh's community and voluntary sector, is launching an ambitious strategy to enhance services for tenants and community stakeholders.

Development Worker role

To help implement our new strategy, Norton Park SCIO is introducing a Development Worker role. This position will play a key part in creating an inclusive and vibrant community within our historic buildings.

The Development Worker will work closely with colleagues and tenant organisations to establish a programme of activities aimed at promoting learning and knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration, and encouraging social engagement within the community.

This is a part-time position averaging 12 hours per week: we anticipate weekly hours will fluctuate based on workload demands. To accommodate this, we will employ an annualised hours approach. We seek a pro-active, adaptable individual who thrives in a creative role and is willing to work flexibly to meet varying needs.

Further Information

See Job Description and person specification below.

If you would like further information please contact Keith Robertson, Chief Executive krobertson@nortonpark.org.uk N.B. Please contact before 4th of July 2024.

Auchinleck Community Development Initiative is a company limited by guarantee and was formed in 2005 to assist in the regeneration of the physical, economic, social and cultural infrastructure of the community of Auchinleck in particular but also the surrounding area.

Over the years we have developed & provided a range of activities and projects including the Knowe Garden Centre and other floral and fauna displays, musical entertainment, employability advice and information, addiction recovery services, community cinema and various children and young people's activities and youth clubs. The organisation is based in the local Boswell Community Centre where most of our activities and services take place.

We have recently negotiated a 10-year lease of the Centre from East Ayrshire Leisure Trust and aim to make it a central focal point of the community in which the residents will have a full managerial role to play.

The work of ACDI is guided by our 5-year Development plan and specific Action Plans which are currently being reviewed to take account of our new role as managers of the Boswell Centre. The Community development Worker will play a key role in the review and implementation of these plans which will have a strong emphasis on capacity building within our existing groups and those developed in the future.

THE ROLE

As a community development worker working with the Auchinleck Community Development Initiative you'll work with the organisation's existing projects, individuals, families, the wider community and partners, supporting them to:

• build trusting and supportive relationships with you and the wider team
• identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities
• co-produce what they want to achieve and take appropriate action
• co-design activities and services to generate aspiration and confidence
• achieve a status of independence and self-government.

You'll do this by acting as a link between the Organisation, the local community and a range of other local authority and voluntary sector providers to ensure that the Boswell Centre is a well-used resource and a focal point within the community

Your role will frequently involve addressing inequality and the projects you work on will be in communities perceived to be culturally, economically or geographically disadvantaged.

Responsibilities

As a Community Development Worker you will:

• Assist in the development of the Boswell Community Centre as a multi-functional Hub within the community
• Work with existing groups to help them build capacity and become self-managed, dynamic and an active force for regeneration within the community
• Co-design projects/initiatives which assist in tackling specific issues (e.g. health and wellbeing, cost of living, unemployment, children and young people etc.) - with people living in Auchinleck.
• Seek to actively engage the community in addressing the issues which affect their lives and help them develop partnerships with neighbouring communities and relevant services in tackling common goals
• Set goals for improvement and respond to problems and needs through active participation;
• Identify community skills, assets, issues and needs;
• Ensure that local people are able to participate in decision making processes which affect their lives at local, Ayrshire and Scotish level
• Develop new resources in dialogue with the community and evaluate existing programmes;
• Recruit and train volunteers;
• Build links with other groups and agencies in the local community and liaise with interested groups and individuals to establish new services;
• Help to raise public awareness on ACDI and the issues relevant to the community;
• Prepare reports for the Development Manager and Board of Directors
• Oversee the management of a limited budget;
• Plan, attend and coordinate meetings and events;
• Carry out general administrative duties.

Skills

You'll need to show:

• Good relationship building approaches
• An ability to connect with children, young people and their families
• Calmness in situations that arise in the Hub and wider community
• A solid understanding of child protection, safeguarding and risk assessments
• Advocacy and networking skills;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and team-building skills;
• Good listening skills;
• Research and report-writing skills;
• Knowledge and understanding of community and social issues;
• A non-judgemental and positive attitude;
• Creative thinking and problem-solving ability;
• Political, social and negotiating skills;
• An understanding of how public sector bodies work;
• Compassion and the ability to empathise with people's life experiences;
• Life experience and language skills can be an aid to this role and help you make important connections with those you are helping.

What to expect

• You may have an office base but will spend much of your time out and about in the community, visiting local people and groups and attending meetings.
• Working with members of the community who are impacted by poverty can be both inspiring and unpredictable. Results are long term rather than immediate, so patience and perseverance are essential.
• You'll have frequent contact with people, agencies and groups in the community.

Therefore, travel within a working day is to be expected. Absence from home overnight is unlikely but may be required on occasion.

You need to be accessible to the communities you serve. This means the work will often include unsocial hours, such as evenings and weekends, so considerable flexibility is required.

A relevant degree in Community Work / Community Development / Youth Work will be considered, as well as extensive experience in a similar role. A commitment to ongoing professional development is welcomed with accreditation and learning qualifications considered.

Lived experience of adversity, poverty and / or trauma are welcomed within the role.

We are looking to recruit a Community Development Officer in Stirling, to engage key partners and stakeholders in the region tailoring support, training, and education to create suicide safer communities.

What you will do:

• Identify, develop and maintain effective partnerships with local communities, volunteers and key partners across the region to engage them in the prevention of young suicide.

• Proactively promote suicide prevention including raising the profile of PAPYRUS and engaging with those personally affected by young suicide.

• Equip a wide range of stakeholders to enable them to create sustainable suicide safer communities through the provision of tailored support, training, and education.

• Deliver training and awareness raising products to a variety of groups including professionals, parents, young people, volunteers, and other trainers.

• Contribute to the development and review of projects, and education and training products, in line with the strategic plan.

• Contribute to and promote campaigns, training and opportunities as outlined in the Regional and Strategic Plans.

• Represent the charity at events including conferences, panels, working groups and through media channels as required.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Previous experience working in a community setting, delivering information and training sessions, leading workshops, or educational activities.

• A proven track record of networking and building and managing effective relationships, tailoring the approach to meet the differing needs of the audience.

• Experience as a qualified ASIST Trainer or willingness to gain qualification and experience.

• Experience of using own initiative and creativity to develop a project, programme, or area of work.

• The ability to travel to different locations across Scotland and the wider UK to attend meetings, events and deliver training.

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership and enhanced sick pay. Please visit our website for more details.

About Space:

Space @ The Broomhouse Hub is a community anchor organisation supporting people and their families in Southwest Edinburgh, with some of our services stretching city wide.

WE BELIEVE THAT CONNECTIONS BUILD COMMUNITIES

Space delivers 22 projects, with around 70 staff and over 200 volunteers. We deliver diverse services supporting young people, families, older people and carers amongst others.

For more information about Space and all our projects can be found on our website – spacescot.org

The Role:

We are seeking to recruit a suitably experienced Young Persons Counsellor or Art Therapist to deliver one to one support to children and young people aged 5-26 years of age.

Through therapeutic support, the post holder will build young people’s confidence and self-esteem, enabling them to better cope with their individual challenges.

Suitable candidates for this role must have worked with young people under 26yrs in a therapeutic setting, ideally having some experience of working with children aged 5-18yrs, and have a broad understanding of the difficulties young people face.

The post holder(s) will receive regular support and supervision with Space Head of Community & Connections, and external clinical supervision to discuss caseload, the cost of which will be paid by Space.

The successful candidate will hold a qualification in counselling or art therapy and be a registered member of BACP/UKCP/COSCA/HCPC or equivalent body.

Work with young people will take place in various schools across Edinburgh or at The Broomhouse Hub. As this post involves working in various locations a full driving license and access to a vehicle for work purposes is required.

Download the full job description and person specification can be found below.

Wellbeing Together South West Partnership

This role is part of the Wellbeing Together South West partnership, which has been set up to offer early support to 5-24 year olds, and young people who are care experienced aged up to 26 years.

Focused on mental health, wellbeing, and distress, the free services within the partnership will be delivered by four community organisations – Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, SAMH, Big Hearts Community Trust and With Kids.

With funding from the Scottish Government, this partnership aims to provide support at the earliest opportunity to prevent mental health challenges developing for children and young people and reduce the need for them to require intensive mental health services.

PVG: This post requires membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme