Now is an exciting time for Edinburgh Community Food. We will be launching our new strategy, Equity in Nutrition, which sets out an ambitious plan for our future at our AGM in September. We have a very skilled and motivated Board, and an effective Leadership Team in place led by Brenda Black, CEO, who joined five years ago and is driving change and transformation. We are now looking for up to three Directors to join our board.

Edinburgh Community Food is a registered charity and Company Limited by Guarantee. Our Directors set the strategic direction and review and monitor Edinburgh Community Food’s work and activities, both financial and operational, there by supporting and challenging the Management Team in meeting the organisation’s mission and vision.

Directors play a key role by bringing their own experience to inform strategy and to act as ambassadors and facilitators for the organisation. Edinburgh Community Food are seeking applications from talented individuals, who are committed to making nutrition accessible and reduce health inequalities whilst helping to enhance all areas of operation within the organisation. Directors must be capable of working with a wide range of stakeholders, be effective communicators and have strong people skills who can draw upon their own seasoned skills and experience.

The Chair of the Board may delegate certain tasks to individuals or groups of Directors. Directors must be able and willing to contribute to a wide range of activities to bring the vision of Edinburgh Community Food to life. In addition to the usual governance activity conducted by the board, such activities may include joining board sub-committees or working groups and lending their professional expertise to support and coach members of the organisation to deliver key initiatives.

Edinburgh Community Food welcome applications from a wide range of sectors and are keen to hear from those who are passionate about food and health inequalities and making a difference in your community. We are also keen to hear from people from marginalised and under-represented communities.

Edinburgh Community Food create accessible and inclusive communities, and this continues to our Director appointments. Directors’ specific areas of experience that we require are below:

• Sustainable food systems, health inequalities and climate change
• Strong Financial awareness and a demonstrable ability to fulfil the role of Treasurer
• Expertise in Community activity, public policy, or Law
• Organisational development and HR-related strategic expertise
• Digital technologies, IT, software/ product development or technology -based skillset

Directors will be required to

• Prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in monthly online board meetings. A quarter of which are in-person.
• Participate fully in one or more committees or sub-groups.
• Attend events run by Edinburgh Community Food e.g. dinners, fundraising events etc. as well as supporting the broader activity of the organisation from time to time.
• Utilise own skills and experience for benefit of the organisation either by delivering tasks, or knowledge sharing.

Are you passionate about young people and wellbeing?

The Junction is an award-winning charity that takes a holistic approach towards young people’s health and well-being. Our vision is for all young people to achieve their full potential.

We work with 12-21 year olds in North-East Edinburgh offering one-to-one support, counselling and creative projects to support their wellbeing by helping them explore their life choices.

Trustee opportunities

We are looking for committed individuals to join our Board of Trustees. This is an incredible opportunity to make a difference with The Junction and build your skills. We are currently recruiting for Trustees to join our board from October 2024, with a particular interest in candidates with experience in the following areas:

• HR
• Charitable / third sector
• Marketing
• Fundraising

We are looking for candidates with Trustee/Board experience, who are committed to our values and in supporting young people in the community, with an understanding of the issues affecting them as well as the opportunities and challenges of the third sector landscape.

The most important attributes of trustees joining us include a willingness to ask questions, share our values of equality, transparency and community as well as their time commitment to the role. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

Role responsibilities

Duties/tasks for the year include:

• Attend 4 board meetings a year (quarterly)
• Attend or dial-in to 4 informal meetings with board members
• Contribute to a sub-groups that meets roughly 4 times - a team of staff and board members
• Attend 2 Development Days with staff and/or trustees (usually but not always a Saturday in Spring and Autumn)

The One World Shop was established over 40 years ago and has played a lead role in the Fair Trade movement in Scotland, including helping Edinburgh and Glasgow become Fairtrade cities. As well as running a thriving city centre shop, we have an online shop and we support schools, faith groups and local businesses to learn about and sell fair trade products. We currently employ 7 paid staff and over 20 volunteers. Our aim is to reduce poverty in deprived areas of the world through trading fairly and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting low-carbon living.

We are seeking to appoint several new voluntary Management Committee members; we are particularly looking at people with skills and experience in any of the following:

- Human Resources

- Property, leases, surveying

- Retail sales and management

- Business management

- Finance, funding, ethical investment

Board meetings are held every two months by Zoom

About ENSA

Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA) exists to enable our 20,000 student members across Edinburgh and around the globe to make the most of their university experience. We do this by representing, supporting and developing Edinburgh Napier University students to be successful in their studies; to try out new things; to engage in, and contribute to, university life; to be healthy and happy; to bring about positive change; and to have fun.

About the role

As our Chair has now come to the end of her term in office, we are looking to recruit a new Chair with the skills and experience to lead the Board of Directors, promoting good governance and providing effective and empowering line management to support our CEO. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who has the strategic focus, governance understanding, leadership experience and time to support and develop a committed Board and ensure ENSA delivers the best experience for students.

Please see the Job Description and Person Spec for full details.

About ENSA’s Board of Directors

The Board is collectively in charge of ENSA, for upholding its values and aligning it to the Association’s charitable aims. It has overall responsibility for ENSA’s governance: budget-setting and financial reporting, health and safety, human resources and legal compliance.

The Board is made up of 12 Directors: six External Lay Directors (including the Chair) appointed through a competitive process for their professional expertise; three Student Lay Directors who are registered students of Edinburgh Napier University and appointed through a competitive process; and three Sabbatical Officers who are elected by the student body.

In line with charity law, all ENSA’s Directors (elected and appointed) have equal status. Directors have a variety of experience and skills which offer different perspectives, and are all, jointly and severally, liable for the governance of the charity. Directors are expected to take their responsibilities seriously, attend meetings, and manage any conflicts of interests appropriately.