Are you looking to make a positive change in society through communications work? At Samaritans Scotland we are seeking a Communications Officer to join our friendly team in Edinburgh.

As Communications Officer, you’ll ensure the smooth delivery of internal and external communications in Scotland, including media and PR. Working across new and existing Samaritans’ campaigns, representing Samaritans to external stakeholders, reacting to the day-to-day news and supporting the development and delivery of a variety of projects.

You’ll be a key driver of our marketing and brand in Scotland. Working with our volunteers, story tellers and partners to support engagement and understanding of our work.

We are a flexible and inclusive organisation. 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.

Samaritans Scotland

Join a friendly, supportive, and ambitious staff team in Scotland. Our established Policy and Communications team is working with a range of external stakeholders including the Scottish Government, MSPs and local 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. Our staff team works to support and promote our services and ensure that people know we’re here when they need us.

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, as well as supporting the delivery of media guidelines training in Scotland.

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.

Are you called to Mission?

Do you want to help bring life in all its fullness to people living in poverty across Asia and Africa in the name of Jesus? Do you enjoy building relationships, public speaking, and strategic thinking? Are you able to inspire others to bring lasting change? If so, we would love to hear from you!

You may have thought that leprosy is an ancient Biblical disease, but today someone is diagnosed with leprosy every two minutes. It is a disease of poverty, striking the most vulnerable. Stigma and discrimination mean many people with leprosy hide their symptoms for as long as possible, living in terrible fear of what will happen to them. But without fast treatment, leprosy can cause blindness and disable hands and feet.

Rejection, isolation, hopelessness. We believe that this is not how God wants people to live. Will you join us to help end leprosy?

The Leprosy Mission (TLM) is the world’s largest leprosy-focused organisation, a pioneer in our field, with over 150 years’ experience serving people affected by this disease. We are a leading international development charity, working in nine countries across Africa and Asia. We are Christ-centered, following His leading to defeat leprosy and transform lives.

We are looking for an inspirational leader to develop and deliver fundraising plans in Scotland, and to provide excellent care for faithful Scottish supporters. You’ll be working from home, with extensive travel across Scotland.

You’ll be part of a supportive fundraising management team based in Peterborough. We have a culture of growing and learning together, providing extensive training in fundraising and international development. You’ll also have opportunities to visit projects overseas and see your work first hand.

We’re looking for:

• A relational public speaker, experienced in engaging audiences including churches, community groups and businesses

• Proven success in fundraising

• A confident networker

• Experience of managing volunteers

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Willingness to work on Sundays and evenings as required, and occasional Saturdays

• The ability to develop and deliver a fundraising strategy.

TLM is an explicitly Christian charity, serving people of all faiths and none. There is a genuine occupational requirement for the Scotland Country Head to be a committed Christian as you will be preaching and speaking in supporting churches.

A valid UK driving license is an essential requirement for the role. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a work health questionnaire.

TLM has a zero-tolerance policy towards any abuse, neglect and exploitation of all people. Successful candidates are expected to understand, sign, and comply with all organisational policies, including the Safeguarding Code of Conduct and the Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy. Recruitment to all roles within TLM includes criminal record checks and the collection of relevant references. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from joining us as an employee; this will depend on the circumstances of any offences. We are committed to diversity and welcome applications from appropriately qualified people from all sections of the community, who have permission to work in the UK.

For more information on the work of TLMGB, please visit: leprosymission.org.uk

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care - working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

The post holder will work directly with children and young people with experience of care, in an individual relationship-based advocacy role, and within participation and group activity across our West Central region. This unique role requires you to listen to what children and young people with experience of care say and support them to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard in the processes of making decisions about their lives. You will also help facilitate a broad range of participatory and engagement opportunities and create the conditions for collective advocacy.

The right candidate for this post will be brilliant at forming positive relationships with children and young people. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, adaptable to a wide range of contexts. You will enjoy working collaboratively with partners. You will be committed to children’s rights, inclusive working, equal opportunities, and believe that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity.

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland and working within the West Central locality team at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively - bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change. Flexibility will be required given the remit of the role. Some evening and weekend work will be necessary, as will a full driving licence and access to transport.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Jamie McAnally, our Advocacy and Participation Manager for our West Central team on jmcanally@whocaresscotland.org.

Do you have proven experience communicating and influencing at all levels? Are you passionate about using your working knowledge of housing policy in Scotland to help end the housing emergency?

Then join Shelter Scotland as Empty Homes Partnership Officer – Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and you could soon be supporting the project deliver its vital strategy to bring more empty homes back into use.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to use your partnership-developing skills to support the Scottish Empty Homes Officer Network, influence councils and connect with housing associations and third sector partners. Proactive and forward thinking, you will discover barriers to bringing empty homes back to use, compile evidence, assist with reports and outline recommendations for future sector development.

We’ll also count on your expertise in the sector to line manage the senior empty homes adviser, provide training and consultancy and support the annual conference.

About you

Fearless in your dedication to solving the housing crisis, we’re looking for a forward thinker who is not afraid to share best practice. With excellent communication skills, you will excel in motivating as you deliver training, develop partnerships and influence at all levels. You’re excited for the opportunity to line manage the work of Senior Empty Homes adviser and keen to develop your people management skills.

With a background in housing policy in Scotland, your expertise will be instrumental to working with services to bring empty homes back into use.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension, and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

About the team

Part of an award-winning Communication & Policy Department, our Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) is a Scottish Government funded project aimed at enabling private sector empty homes to be brought back into use across Scotland. The Partnership achieves this via a mix of policy work, capacity building, training, best practice sharing and awareness raising with councils, community groups and others.

It’s also home to the national Empty Homes Advice Service - a public facing advice line that anyone can call for help or to report an empty home.

About Shelter Scotland

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet over a million people in Scotland struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter Scotland we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.