Partners in Advocacy has established itself as one of Scotland’s leading providers of independent advocacy, delivering exceptional advocacy services since 1998.

We are thrilled to present a wonderful opportunity within our supportive and welcoming Edinburgh team. As an independent advocacy worker, you will have the privilege of providing one-on-one independent advocacy to individuals aged 16 and above with learning or physical disabilities, autism as well as older people. Through this role, you will ensure that their voices and wishes are heard, enabling them to make informed choices, protect their rights and have a meaningful impact on decisions that affect their lives.

We strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you believe your skills, experience, and expertise align with the criteria outlined in the person specification, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please complete the application form, ensuring that you provide examples of how your knowledge and experience fulfil each aspect of the person specification.

Partners in Advocacy takes pride in being a Disability Confident Employer, fully committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment.

All Roads Lead to Whithorn SCIO is seeking an experienced, motivated Charity Manager to lead the next stage of growth for our newly refurbished community hall, gym, luxury bunkhouse and small portfolio of social housing. This is a rare opportunity to shape a high-quality rural community hub and asset that creates new opportunities for Whithorn and the wider Machars.

The trustees are determined to appoint the right person and can offer flexibility in how the role is structured for a candidate with the skills and track record we need. We will also consider an interim Charity Manager arrangement for the right person. Hybrid working (part hall-based, part home-based) is possible, and for candidates from further afield we can offer overnight accommodation in our on-site bunkhouse as part of the package.

About the role

The Charity Manager will have overall responsibility for strategic, financial and operational management across:

• Whithorn’s community hall and activity space
• The on-site gym
• The luxury bunkhouse
• A small number of social housing properties
• Wider community projects and development activity

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic leadership – Working with trustees to develop, implement and review the charity’s strategy, turning ideas into deliverable plans and projects.
• Funding and opportunity sourcing – Identifying opportunities, leading high-quality grant applications, developing relationships with funders and partners, and building new income streams linked to the hall, gym, bunkhouse and housing. Proven experience in grant and opportunity sourcing is essential.
• Financial oversight – Working with our external bookkeeper to review reports, approve payments, monitor budgets and cashflow, lead annual budgeting and provide clear financial updates to the Board. Oversight of VAT, HMRC and payroll through external providers.
• Governance and compliance – Ensuring policies and procedures (health & safety, safeguarding, GDPR, insurance, housing compliance) are up to date and followed.
• People and operations – Line-managing the Facilities, Gym & Bunkhouse Coordinator and a casual Community & Hospitality Support Worker, supporting volunteers and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations across all sites.
• External relations – Acting as an ambassador for the charity with community members, partners, funders and visitors; promoting the facilities and the Whithorn area as a destination.

About you

You will bring:

• Proven experience in charity, community or social enterprise management.
• A strong track record of successful grant and opportunity sourcing (must-have).
• Confidence with budgets and financial information, and experience working with finance/admin support.
• Good understanding of governance, health & safety, safeguarding and GDPR.
• Experience line-managing staff and/or volunteers.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with a hands-on, problem-solving approach.

Experience in housing management, community facilities, tourism, accommodation or rural regeneration would be an advantage but is not essential.

Working arrangements

We are committed to getting the right person in post and can offer:

• Hybrid working (hall-based and home-based) by agreement.
• Consideration of an interim Charity Manager arrangement for suitably skilled candidates.
• Overnight bunkhouse accommodation for candidates travelling from further afield where needed.

Whithorn is a beautiful rural area with rich heritage, stunning landscapes and a growing reputation for cycling, walking and cultural tourism. This role is ideal for someone who wants to make a tangible difference by turning a high-quality physical resource into a vibrant, sustainable hub of community life and opportunity.

Do you have the skills and motivation to be part of an innovative team of advocacy workers?

At The Advocacy Project, we pride ourselves on being a great place to work and put the people we support at the centre of everything we do.

We provide independent advocacy for adults across Glasgow and East Renfrewshire. We are driven by our values which are fairness, independence, inclusion, and resilience. We offer our staff a generous package of salary, pension, dynamic working, annual leave, CPD, and a wellbeing package.

This is a fieldwork role based across Glasgow and East Renfrewshire, with approximately 70% of time spent on direct advocacy interactions and 30% spent on other related tasks.

Informal enquiries about the Advocacy Worker vacancies can be directed to:

Shaun McWilliams – Operations Director

T: 0141 420 0961

E: smcwilliams@theadvocacyproject.org.uk

Values in Action Scotland (VIAS) is recruiting for the post of Senior Lead Consultant (Job Coaching), based in Aberdeen. Reporting to the Development Lead, this exciting opportunity will give the role holder the responsibility to lead on Project SEARCH University of Aberdeen for VIAS, in becoming one of the top performing sites across the UK.

Background

Values in Action Scotland is a Quality Improvement Service. Our vision is for a Scotland where people with learning disabilities and/or neurodivergent people have the same opportunities as everyone else and are supported to achieve their goals. Through our comprehensive portfolio of job coaching, training, consultancy and evaluation services we build capacity of individuals and organisations to ensure that people with learning disabilities and/ or neurodivergent people live great lives with all the support they need to achieve this.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will have a lot of experience with supported employment and/or employability programmes, which will give them confidence that they can help Project SEARCH interns succeed. To fulfil the high goals set by VIAS and Project SEARCH, you will need to have expertise researching potential employers to find internships and job openings for interns. The successful candidate will also be able to work with a variety of stakeholders, showing that they have great people skills and the ability to develop and maintain successful partnerships. Candidates should have expertise with funding sources connected to employment and draughting and submitting grant applications. It would also be helpful if they already knew about and understood challenges and activities that affect people with learning disabilities and/or neurodivergent people.

What We Offer

We offer excellent training and development opportunities, competitive salary, contributory pension scheme and 32 days annual holiday (including bank holidays)

Further Details

The post is permanent following on from a 6-month probationary period.

VIAS will carry out a PVG check on the successful applicant.

For further information or an informal discussion, please call Kelly Forrest on 07350 421305.