BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Do you want to help alleviate poverty and improve the lives of families and children?

Within the UK there is over £22bn a year in unclaimed welfare benefits, and in Edinburgh it is estimated that 1 in 4 children are living in poverty. Are you understanding of people’s journeys and the challenges they face in their lives, and how poverty can have an impact on this?

This is an exciting opportunity for an Advice Worker to join our ‘Advice In Schools’ team.

The project provides a high-quality advice service to families in Edinburgh who are impacted by low income and the effects of living in poverty. Working in partnership with all stakeholders including parents, schools and other statutory and third sector agencies, the project takes a whole family and trauma-informed approach to helping parents who may face multiple barriers to moving out of poverty. The Advice Worker will help families by maximising income, providing support to claim benefits as well as offering housing and debt advice. Continuous training is provided and the adviser is expected to contribute to the continued development of this successful service.

The Advisor will be part of our wider CHAI ‘Advice For Families’ Team and will benefit from our comprehensive training programme, peer expertise, team support and ethos of continuous learning and development which is at the heart of our service delivery.

Are you?:

• Passionate and committed to making a meaningful difference for families and children.
• Able to quickly learn complex rules and legislation on Welfare Benefits, Debt and Housing.
• Able to grow trusting relationships in a formal setting.
• Understanding of people’s journeys and the challenges they have had in their lives, and how poverty can have an impact on them.

Background information

Do you want to help alleviate poverty and improve the lives of families and children?

Within the UK there is over £22bn a year in unclaimed welfare benefits, and in Edinburgh it is estimated that 1 in 4 children are living in poverty. Are you understanding of people’s journeys and the challenges they face in their lives, and how poverty can have an impact on this?

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Growing Families project and help deliver a quality advice service to families with young children in Edinburgh. Working alongside the project’s current advice team and working in partnership with Health Visitors in Edinburgh, this post will support and develop this service. The Advice Worker will provide income maximisation; housing and debt advice as well budgeting support to expecting families and families with babies and young children who are supported by their Health Visitors. Comprehensive and continuous advice training is provided by CHAI to support this rewarding role.

The Advisor will be part of our wider CHAI ‘Advice For Families’ Team and will benefit from our comprehensive training programme, peer expertise, team support and ethos of continuous learning and development which is at the heart of our service delivery.

Are you?:

• Passionate and committed to making a meaningful difference for families and children.
• Able to quickly learn complex rules and legislation on Welfare Benefits, Debt and Housing.
• Able to grow trusting relationships in a formal setting.
• Understanding of people’s journeys and the challenges they have had in their lives, and how poverty can have an impact on them.

Auchinleck Community Development Initiative is a company limited by guarantee and was formed in 2005 to assist in the regeneration of the physical, economic, social and cultural infrastructure of the community of Auchinleck in particular but also the surrounding area.

Over the years we have developed & provided a range of activities and projects including the Knowe Garden Centre and other floral and fauna displays, musical entertainment, employability advice and information, addiction recovery services, community cinema and various children and young people's activities and youth clubs. The organisation is based in the local Boswell Community Centre where most of our activities and services take place.

The work of ACDI is guided by our 5-year Development plan and specific Action Plans which are currently being reviewed to take account of our new role as managers of the Boswell Centre. The Community development Worker will play a key role in the review and implementation of these plans which will have a strong emphasis on capacity building within our existing groups and those developed in the future.

THE ROLE

As a community development worker working with the Auchinleck Community Development Initiative, you'll work with the organisation's existing projects, individuals, families, the wider community and partners, supporting them to:

build trusting and supportive relationships with you and the wider team

identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities

co-produce what they want to achieve and take appropriate action

co-design activities and services to generate aspiration and confidence

achieve a status of independence and self-government.

You'll do this by acting as a link between the Organisation, the local community and a range of other local authority and voluntary sector providers to ensure that the Boswell Centre is a well-used resource and a focal point within the community

Your role will frequently involve addressing inequality and the projects you work on will be in communities perceived to be culturally, economically or geographically disadvantaged.

Corra Foundation’s vision is for a society in which people create positive change and enjoy fulfilling lives. At Corra we are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

We are now recruiting for four new fixed term till 31 March 2028 roles: a full-time Team Leader role, a full-time Community Project Designer role and two part-time Community Project Designer roles. This is an excellent opportunity for people with relevant skills and experience to join a friendly, hardworking, passionate team keen to make a difference alongside our communities.

Working in the Kirkcaldy Area the postholders will deliver the ’Every One Every Day’ programme. You’ll help to develop ideas brought to you by residents and grow a network of people, projects and spaces which support people to participate. You will use co-production tools and co-creation to ensure everything that happens is led by local people, makes use of their skills and aspirations, and helps to build community. You’ll create welcoming spaces for people to develop and deliver project ideas, as well as a series of makerspaces.

The role will require people who understand participatory culture and approaches, and are excited about encouraging people to develop their ideas. You’ll have practical skills that can support projects (like cooking, crafting, making, mending or artistic skills). You’ll need excellent interpersonal, relationship building and communication skills, excellent organisational skills, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. You’ll also have a commitment to Corra’s ‘ways of working’ principles and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion.