Your mission (if you choose to accept it): join our small but mighty team in a key role as Creative Writing Workshop Facilitator!

Part time, Edinburgh based, you’ll manage our creative writing workshops and interdisciplinary activities. Your dynamism and creativity will increase our impact in the classroom and your communication skills will positively change the lives of all involved.

You also get to wear a cape! A true superhero!

The Super Power Agency (SPA) is a non-profit organisation that seeks to improve the lives and literacy rates of young people from some of Scotland’s most under-resourced areas. Through creative writing workshops, interdisciplinary activities, and individual mentoring, we work with young people aged 8–18 in schools and community organisations. Our creative writing programmes culminate in the publication of a book of the young people’s writing which is shared with their school, families and community.

Our programmes are free to all young people and serviced predominately by volunteers drawn from the communities we work in and serve.

The work of the SPA is based on that of 826 National (826national.org), an educational charity started in San Francisco, California in 2002. The programmes run by 826 National have now been replicated in 9 US cities as well as internationally in London, Dublin, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, Buenos Aires and Milan. The SPA is proud to be part of this international network that supports the confidence and creativity of young people across the world.

Writing Facilitator Role Description

It is an exciting time to join the Super Power Agency as we work towards our goal to expand across Scotland and serve 3,000 young people each year by 2026. The Writing Facilitator would work closely with the wider SPA team, including our volunteers, as well as teachers, schools and other partners across Scotland. Reporting directly to the Programme Manager, the Writing Facilitator will deliver the in-school element of our writing workshops and programmes.

Our school and community programmes run for 8 or 10 weeks, with school groups participating in one workshop per week. The Writing Facilitator will deliver a suite of different workshops across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. These sessions vary from creative writing, poetry, and playwriting. The hours will be primarily during the week and during school hours. The Writing Facilitator will also work closely with our SPA volunteers, who support the young people during the in-school workshops.

As well as leading on the delivery of the workshops, the Writing Facilitator will have the opportunity to work with the Programme Manager and wider SPA team to review and shape workshop content. They will also assist the SPA team with final publication of the young people’s work if necessary.

The Writing Facilitator will maintain organisational policies and procedures throughout and promote the organisation and its programmatic accomplishments.

The part time role is to be carried out across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between our core hours of 9:30am and 3pm. Workshop delivery is across primary and secondary schools throughout Edinburgh.

A full Job Description and Person Specification is available for download below.

VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian - is a carer-led organisation providing a wide range of services to support unpaid carers in their caring role. We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Carer Support Practitioner to join our busy team to provide casework support to carers, with a specific focus on financial wellbeing as part of the Safe and Warm project. Through tailored advice and practical support, the post holder will ensure that carers and the individuals they care for can navigate the challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis, fuel poverty, and safety risks such as carbon monoxide exposure.

The post holder will support unpaid carers to access person-centred support for their caring situation, health and wellbeing and personal development.

The post-holder will be expected to work as part of a team, improve outcomes for carers and maximise uptake of VOCAL services.

Applicants will evidence an excellent understanding of the diverse range of caring situations, the impact of caring on peoples’ lives and barriers carers face at different points of the caring journey.

Applicants will also evidence: experience of delivering person-centred information, advice and support, with some experience in providing information and support on energy efficiency and energy-saving measures; excellent knowledge of health and social care, including key legislation and policy affecting carers; digital competence; and the ability to communicate effectively with individuals, carer groups, partner agencies and professionals.

Street Soccer is a charity using football to create lasting change in the lives of isolated and excluded adults and young people. We run 60 sessions a week of free, inclusive and judgement-free football. These sessions provide person-centred support to players facing a number of challenges including mental health, homelessness, long term unemployment, problem substance use, criminal justice and seeking asylum. Our mission is to create hope and opportunity for all.

We support thousands of players a year on their journey to positive change by providing a safe space, trusting relationships and a sense of belonging. We fight isolation and exclusion by bringing people together, building confidence and creating supportive communities. We support people of all ages and backgrounds through relationship-based support, focusing on trust and personal development, supporting everyone to set and achieve their own goals. Thanks to the support of Street Soccer, 82% of players say that their quality of life has improved.

Lived experience is at the heart of what we do, with over 80% of our staff having lived experience of the challenges our players face.

97% of players think that Street Soccer is a unique organisation. With 15 years of experience delivering positive change through football, we are now working in more communities than ever, with city hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and South London, as well as a network of sessions across 6 other local authorities.

Role Purpose

In 2020, Street Soccer developed ‘The Network Programme’ to expand our services out of our four main city hubs to serve the local communities and socially disadvantaged groups across Scotland. The Network Programme has quickly expanded and now operates in 7 different local authorities across the country. Having already supported 500 people in these areas.

As we continue to expand, we would like to grow to offer Street Soccer Sessions to the communities of West Dumbartonshire as well as providing opportunities for people to engage in SCQF qualifications, tournaments and events including The Homeless World Cup.

The Programme Co-Ordinator will be responsible for developing the Network Programme within West Dumbartonshire. Responsible for sourcing and managing suitable venues for sessions to take place. They will recruit and work with partners to ensure players get the right level of support across a variety of issues. They will grow the number of players attending sessions by promoting these across the community in a variety of ways.

An enthusiastic person, the Programme Co-Ordinator will be able to build relationships with a series of communities across West Dumbartonshire. They will also work with the Fundraising Team to establish local opportunities for sponsorship and other support.

We are particularly interested in applications from those with the same lived experience as our players, further information about our Safer Recruitment process can be found within section 8 of our Safeguarding Policy.

Street Soccer value work life balance and are happy to discuss part time hours, job share and flexible working.

Reports to: Network Programme Manager

About the role

We seek a Befriending Coordinator to market and deliver our well-established befriending service in the Fife area to young carers who are socially isolated, and who need a break from their caring responsibilities. You will recruit, match, and support a network of volunteer befrienders to support young carers one to one, as well as delivering your, small direct case load. You will also liaise with a range of organisations, particularly Fife Young Carers.

This post requires you to have your administrative home-base in Fife and involves regular travel across Fife to homes and communities.

It involves regulated work for which a satisfactory PVG will be required. Lead Scotland has a Recruiting People with Convictions Policy.

About you

Are you passionate about the transformative power of befriending to overcome social isolation and loneliness? Are you confident in communicating one to one and have a flexible and creative approach to befriending?

Would you enjoy being an active part of the vibrant, inclusive, and supportive Lead Scotland team?

Do you have great organisational skills, previous experience of supporting disabled adults experiencing a range of barriers, and of designing and delivering befriending activities?

You must enjoy working with young people, be enthusiastic, and be committed to a person-centred experience for befriendees. Experience of recruiting and training volunteers is a key part of this role.

Applications from disabled people

Lead has Disability Confident status, and we encourage applications from disabled people. All disabled people meeting the minimum requirements will get a guaranteed interview. Information about our commitment to recruit disabled people is available on our website. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in the online form. This will in no way disadvantage you in the recruitment process. All job application information can be made in alternative formats on request including braille, large print and audio and people can make applications in alternative formats.

Recruitment paperwork is kept for 6 months before it is destroyed. Please complete our anonymous equal opportunities form to help us ensure we are attracting a broad range of candidates.