- Advertised from 13th September 2024
Role
ABOUT EAST LOTHIAN COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP
Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) were first established in England in the 1990s as a formal mechanism to reinvigorate local and rural railways. CRP status provides a framework for community involvement in strategic planning, development and operation of a specific railway line.
Since 2014, the East Lothian Community Rail Partnership has been pulling together a wide range of local organisations with an interest in communities and sustainable transport, to fix the link between railway stations, town centres and the surrounding areas, and realise an integrated transport network accessible to all. We work with four train operators (ScotRail, LNER, TransPennine Express, and Cross Country), Transport Scotland, East Lothian Council, the Regional Transport Partnership (SEStran), local businesses and community groups towards the following aims:
- Supporting the local economy by promoting rail use and rail facilities
- Actively promoting the use of rail and other public and low carbon-emitting transport
- Supporting safety, security and access initiatives relating to railway use
- Working with ‘station adopters’ (individuals and groups) to provide a more pleasant environment within the station areas.
ABOUT THE VACANCY
Harry Barker has been chairing East Lothian CRP since its inception in 2014 and is now preparing to pass on the reins of a well-established and respected organisation. In addition the time is right to expand the Board and also appoint a vice chair. Examples of projects completed to date include:
- restored the murals at Prestonpans Station (best community project 2023)
- improved signage to stations
- provided information boards for display in stations promoting local attractions and historical information
- supported many local events in the North Berwick and Dunbar areas
- producing a line guide and leaflets to encourage tourism
- working with bus operators to improve integration between bus and rail
Projects have always been dependent on external funding which to date has not proved problematical, and, as such, the incoming Chair will have the flexibility to pursue their own agenda. The CRP is financially sound and new ways of operating are being explored by The Community Rail Network and the new Chair will be well placed to provide input to these.
East Lothian CRP has no paid staff, and projects are led by volunteers under direction from the Board, and therefore the amount of work involved can vary but can be expected to be around 10 hours per month for the Chair.
DUTIES OF THE CHAIR
Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring that the CRP is run in accordance with the constitution
- Guiding and encouraging projects that will be undertaken from time to time
- Ensuring that the Action Plan is kept up to date
- Chairing four meetings per year, including the AGM (normally held in November)
- Producing an annual report for the AGM
- Ensuring that the activities of the CRP are within the guidelines produced by the Train Operating Companies in all respects particularly including safely
BENEFITS
You will receive a ‘staff’ rail pass from ScotRail permitting free rail travel throughout Scotland when travelling on ScotRail trains.
Reasonable expenses will be paid if required to travel on other rail services and/or stay overnight.
REQUIREMENTS
The successful applicant will be expected to support public transport in general, with a keen interest in integration between modes such as buses, active travel and rail.
A willingness of Board members to attend committees and conferences is essential (expenses will be covered) and these will give valuable access to professional railway staff and management on the front line, where your views can be heard. These include:
- the local ‘Rail Forum’ involving MSPs, Councillors and Train Operating Companies - twice a year, usually virtually
- in-person or virtual annual conferences of the four local Train Operating Companies (ScotRail, Cross Country Trains, TransPennine Express, and LNER) which may be held anywhere in the UK
- An annual event in Scotland sponsored by Modern Railways magazine which is attended by many high profile railway managers and senior representation from Transport Scotland
- Virtual attendance (via Zoom) at the national Community Rail Network meetings
- In-person Community Rail Networks Awards ceremony, if the CRP is short listed for an Award – this year’s was in Swansea over three days
- Six Community Area Partnership ‘On the Move’ groups consider local transport in East Lothian – CRP representation on one or more of these groups is important for a full appreciation of issues surrounding each station. Each On the Move Group meets every two months
A knowledge of railways and their workings is desirable but not essential.
Living in East Lothian and using the county’s rail services from time to time would be advantageous.
You will be expected to liaise with the station adoption groups from time to time. They have a separate relationship with ScotRail.
You will be expected to be pro-active in instructing the website to be kept up to date via the CRP’s appointed webmaster, and in responding to public enquiries which come via the website. You will not be required to answer complaints from the travelling public but direct these to ScotRail for attention.
From time to time it may be necessary to communicate with the local Press (East Lothian Courier and occasionally Edinburgh Evening News).
Application notes
To apply for the position please contact Harry Barker at harrylbarker@gmail.com by the closing date of 30 October 2024.
Chair of the Board of Trustees
We are excited to have the opportunity to recruit a committed, experienced Chair with outstanding strategic planning ability, to lead our charity as we enter the next stage of our evolution and prior to the launch of our new strategy in April 2025.
As Chair of MCR Pathways, you will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of the charity, ensuring the highest standards of charity governance and effective oversight of our operations. Drawing on your substantial non-executive experience, ideally as Chair, you will ensure a cohesive and well-functioning board where diverse views are encouraged to improve consensus decision-making.
You will work closely with board colleagues through quarterly board meetings, and working groups and provide support and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive, Sharon McIntyre and her senior team. With a track record of identifying and mitigating risk, you will protect and promote the charity’s excellent reputation, and represent us at external events and with key stakeholders.
Trustees
We are also looking for three committed individuals to join our Board of Trustees. This is an incredible opportunity to make a difference with MCR,build on your existing skills and potentially discover new ones. We are currently recruiting for Trustees to join our board from December 2024, with a particular interest in candidates with experience in the following areas:
Charitable / Voluntary sector
Charity Finance
Marketing/Communications
Fundraising
We are focused on identifying new trustees who:
Believe strongly that care experienced young people should have the same opportunities to learn and develop as their peers. And are passionate about making this happen.
Are committed to making a meaningful contribution to fulfilling the Board’s strategic, financial and legal responsibilities.
This is an incredible opportunity to make a difference with MCR, build on your existing skills and potentially discover new ones. The most important attributes trustees joining us should have include: a willingness to ask questions, sharing our values of Respect, Person-Centred practice, Integrity and Communication and a guaranteed time commitment to the role. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.
You will work closely with board colleagues through quarterly board meetings, and working groups and provide support and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive, Sharon McIntyre and her senior team. With a track record of identifying and mitigating risk, you will protect and promote the charity’s excellent reputation, and represent us at external events and with key stakeholders.
Our Commitment
In return, we offer a comprehensive induction programme including charity trustee training, CPD as a trustee and the opportunity to be part of a forward thinking, committed and impactful team working to help care experienced young people transform their lives. These positions are a voluntary role in a national third sector organisation that has important stature in Scotland with a growing reach in England.
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Top job! Chief Executive Officer
- Full time
- £60,000 – £65,000
- Hybrid: North Berwick
- Closing 26th September 2024
We’re seeking a new leader for the Scottish Seabird Centre
After 6 years leading the Scottish Seabird Centre the Chief Executive Officer – Susan Davies FRSB - is moving on. This presents an opportunity for someone with a passion for inspiring people to act for Scotland’s marine environment to shape the future of our Charity and visitor attraction as we move into the next 25 years of our journey.
Chair, Stuart Housden said, “We are very grateful for the leadership that Susan has provided to the Scottish Seabird Centre on its path to playing a more prominent role in marine nature conservation in Scotland and to promoting our visitor attraction and activities to educate and inspire more people to act for Scotland’s seas and amazing wildlife found there. Despite this having been a challenging period, not least with the pandemic and rising business costs, we have established much stronger links with our local and science communities and continue to increase our reach and impact through new partnerships.
With a new 5-year strategy and business plan to develop in the coming year this is a great opportunity for someone to build on the progress made as we enter the next 25 years in our Charity’s journey”.
Susan Davies said “The Scottish Seabird Centre will always hold a place in my heart; especially our dedicated team and the conservation, education and community partnerships we have developed. The time is now right, with the recent support we have secured to grow our membership base, in developing partnerships and being more sustainable and inclusive in our approach, to pass on the reins to a new leader as we approach our 25th year”.
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.
Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) was formed over 50 years ago to provide a holistic advice service to the residents of Hamilton. As a member of the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux network, Hamilton CAB aims to provide free, independent, impartial, and confidential advice and information to ensure that people understand their rights and responsibilities and can express their needs effectively. We campaign and influence to tackle the root cause of the problems people face and work to strengthen their rights.
Hamilton CAB currently operates from two offices in Hamilton and are supported by 18 members of staff and 31 volunteers including board members. The Bureau supports individuals with a wide range of general enquiries whilst project staff provide specialist support on topics including benefits, debt, utilities, and money matters.
The role:
We are seeking a committed and dynamic individual to serve as the Chair of our organisation.
As Chair, you will play a vital role by providing strategic leadership to the board, ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation. You will also provide line management, support and direction to the Chief Officer, helping them to achieve the organisation’s aims and objectives; and ensures the smooth running of Hamilton CAB.
We are looking for an individual who has experience of leadership and governance. You will have a passion for the voluntary sector, strong leadership skills and an ability to drive forward positive change.
Although, not financially remunerated, the role is high profile and respected within the community and will offer a great challenge, learning and networking opportunity for the right person.
There are an average of 6 Board meetings per year to commit to as well as preparation time and regular collaboration /communications with the team and stakeholders.
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