Could you make a difference for members of the LGBT+ community in Edinburgh and beyond?

The Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive has grown out of Scotland’s first LGBT+ bookshops, Lavender Menace (1982-87) and West & Wilde (1987-97). They sold what we now call queer books – by, about or for LGBT+ people – at a time mainstream bookshops would not stock them. The bookshops also provided openly queer meeting places, where LGBT+ people were able to connect and felt affirmed and welcomed.

Bob Orr and Sigrid Nielsen, the owners of the original Lavender Menace Bookshop, in 2019 founded the Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive to keep this valuable LGBT+ book heritage alive and share it with the community. Through its amazing collection of books, the archive tells the story of queer people’s resistance, and the rise of what is now known as ‘queer pride’. These books told the stories of queer lives; they were written honestly and positively for the first time, and they changed lives.

This post represents a unique opportunity to work with Edinburgh’s Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive to develop an Oral History Project (OHP). The OHP will explore the impact and legacy of the Lavender Menace and West & Wilde Bookshops (1982-97), and more generally community experiences of reading LGBT+ books and magazines, and ways reading – now and in the past – has impacted on their identity. Stories and interpretation will be shared online as well as through a programme of events and a temporary exhibition.

The Oral History Project’s key activities are:

• Recruiting, supporting, training and coordinating volunteers to become involved in the OHP.
• Identifying OHP interview participants and devise ways to capture the individual and collective voices and stories of LGBT+ community members.
• Working with partners and stakeholders in the development and delivery of the project.
• Acting as the main point of contact for the volunteers and interviewees, to arrange and set up interviews, liaise with volunteers and interviewees.
• Ensuring policies, systems and processes are in place to collect, store and use all audio and visual material collected.
• Promoting the OHP and its programme of events, creating materials for use on social media, website and in the temporary exhibition, and ensuring the Archive’s profile is raised through these activities.

These activities build on the existing programme of events and projects under the responsibility of the Community Project Coordinator with the team of volunteers. The post holder will thus be able to tap into their experience, contacts and knowledge in taking this work forward.

Employee benefits package

• 35 days of leave (pro-rata including public holidays)
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Flexible working options
• Training and development opportunities

NYOS nurtures and celebrates outstanding classical youth music-making, with a vision of all Scotland’s communities sharing in its social, personal, and cultural benefits. Through our three programme strands - NYOS Foundations, NYOS Orchestras and NYOS Futures – we offer accessible, co-created projects, world-class orchestral training, and performances, and unique career development opportunities. Our work is delivered by internationally renowned artists and exceptional tutors. Creativity, ambition, belonging, and joy are fundamental to all we do.

The Administration Officer role is designed to enable NYOS to operate efficiently. The post-holder will report directly to the Head of Finance and Administration and will work closely with them to provide administrative support across NYOS departments as well as providing admin support to the Chief Executive.

Job Challenge

To develop and implement key new systems while maintaining and supporting ongoing operations.

A full Job Description is available for download below.

Join us to help improve the lives of disabled children and their families by becoming our new Finance Officer. We have big aspirations, and our Finance team are an integral part of our success. We’re now seeking a meticulous and proactive Finance Officer to join our team in Edinburgh.

Job details

As a Finance Officer, you will play a crucial role in our financial operations. Your expertise in accounts payable and receivable, along with your analytical skills, will ensure the accuracy and integrity of our financial processes. If you have a passion for finance and are looking to contribute to a meaningful mission, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities:

Accounts Payable Management:

• Post supplier invoices and ensure correct authorisation for payment.
• Resolve discrepancies and manage reimbursements effectively.
• Advise the Finance Manager (FM) on items to be depreciated or posted as prepayments to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Identify regular monthly payments at month-end and manage accruals as necessary.

Payment Runs:

• Oversee payment runs by creating bank payments, compiling payment reports, and coordinating authorisation emails.

Accounts Receivable Management:

• Reconcile income with fundraising activities and provide comprehensive income reports.

Bank Reconciliations

• Complete all bank reconciliations to ensure financial accuracy.

Payroll Support:

• Assist with tasks related to the organisation’s monthly payroll.
• Prepare and post all payroll-related journals.

Depreciation:

• Post monthly depreciation journals as supplied by the FM.

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven experience in finance, preferably in accounts payable and receivable roles.
• Strong understanding of financial processes and accounting principles.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficient in accounting software, ideally QuickBooks, and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively under time pressure within a team and communicate effectively

Read more about some of the excellent benefits available to people who work at The Yard.

About Simon Community Scotland

People are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We tailor our support to what people need. We offer consistent and informed support so that people can exploreoptions and take ‘the next step’ towards a positive future. We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team – including those who have lived through homelessness. To make a difference we need to work flexibly, with everyday-leadership, humour and a ‘can do’ attitude. We want to make it easy, make it right, and make it happen.

The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homeless charity. We are creative and innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to our community, being true to our values. We form a community; of staff, volunteers and the people that we support.

Job Summary

Simon Community Scotland is working collaboratively with the University of Edinburgh to recruit 400 people from sites across Scotland to the Phoenix for severe and multiple disadvantage study. You will be working in various sites across Edinburgh to support the research team and the people we support that are participating in the study.

We are looking for someone with a non-judgemental approach that will be embedded in one of our new exciting projects: Beggars and Choices or Creating Safer Communities. These projects engage with people who are homeless, roofless or street begging across the city. The work will take place wherever people are at; on the streets, in services or community settings as required.

Job Purpose

• Support people rough sleeping, begging and or engaged in harmful street lifestyles to access the services and support they need
• Offer assertive outreach to people facing homelessness and rooflessness
• Offer trauma informed care offering a holistic healthcare model
• Bring services to people that are unable to engage in building based services
• Identify eligible participants to the study and liaise with the research team regarding this
• Conduct face-to-face interviews with participants supporting the research team
• Reduce barriers for people that are facing multiple marginalisation through offering a person centred, trauma informed relational model of care