About Us

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is a registered charity in the UK that supports young people from economically disadvantaged areas who are struggling to thrive in mainstream secondary education. There are two typical profiles of SOHK participants: Those who present as disruptive in school and those who are socially withdrawn, because of ‘Social, Emotional Learning’ (SEL) needs. By fostering an environment of genuine acceptance - and through the use of rugby related activity, personal development group sessions and specialist one-to-one support - we help our young people to thrive in school and find meaning and purpose to life.

Overview

SOHK has recently launched an ambitious new strategy to accelerate the charity’s growth and maximise impact over the next five years. We aspire to reach and support more young people at a pivotal stage in their adolescence, empowering them to unlock their potential.

To achieve this, we need to broaden our audience, inspire more supporters to become donors, and enhance how we communicate with our existing stakeholders; from course participants and educators to prospective corporate partners, fundraisers, and donors. Our marketing and communications assistant plays a vital role in that.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone creative, organised, and purpose-driven to join our Fundraising & Communications team. You’ll play a key role in boosting brand engagement and awareness, supporting fundraising activities, and producing compelling content across a range of channels.

With strong support for learning and development, this role is perfect for someone looking to build a career in communications, marketing, and fundraising while making a meaningful impact within a supportive and passionate team.

Key Responsibilities

Content Creation & Digital Presence

• Maintain and execute a content calendar with key dates.
• Draft high-quality, engaging social media content, web content, blogs, and newsletters.
• Help produce creative assets (graphics, short videos/reels, reports).
• Keep our website and social channels up-to-date and informative.
• Support the development of compelling case studies with photos/audio.
• Ensure communications are consistently on-brand, clear and concise.

Brand Awareness & Campaigns

• Assist in delivering marketing campaigns and events to raise SOHK’s profile.
• Identify ways to leverage social channels and increase engagement across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube.
• Monitor performance of content and campaigns.

Fundraising & Supporter Engagement

• Draft fundraising and supporter communications (emails, newsletters, thank-you correspondence).
• Support fundraisers and maintain engagement.
• Help create fundraising packs and promotional materials.
• Provide some logistical support for fundraising events.

Data Management & Research

• Update and maintain fundraising CRM/database (training provided).
• Organise and maintain photos, consent records and media files.
• Assist in prepping data reports and impact metrics for management and board meetings.

Person Specification

Skills & Experience

• Experience in a communications role (desirable)
• Educated to higher education level or have relevant work experience
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Good organisational and time-management abilities
• Experience of creating digital and social media content.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and various social media platforms and digital tools (e.g. Canva, Office365, Mailchimp)
• Basic video editing skills (desirable).

Person Specification

• Highly driven and passionate about contributing to SOHK’s mission and delivering on our ambitious 5-year strategy
• Creative, enthusiastic, and confident in using storytelling and digital engagement to connect with audiences
• Excellent communicator with the ability to tailor messages for different platforms and audiences
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Proactive and process-driven, with the ability to improve and develop existing systems
• Able to manage multiple tasks effectively
• A team-player with have a growth mindset, always open to feedback, learning and new challenges.

Terms of Appointment

• This is a permanent, part-time position (3 days per week), with a start date of June 2025.
• The salary is £29,250 pro rata.
• You will receive 19 days annual leave (pro rata) entitlement plus Bank Holidays and the working days between Christmas and New Year.
• This is a hybrid role but will require travel to the office in Edinburgh once a week. Some other travel may be required for events etc.
• SOHK offers flexible working hours where possible, to support work-life balance.
• All staff are required to attend our annual 3-day UK staff conference in August.
• The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and the offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references.

Are you looking for a rewarding role and to be part of a dynamic team - then this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Autism Initiatives works positively alongside autistic people, their families and carers to provide specialist services tailored to each individual.

We are looking for a personable, confident, team player to provide administrative support to the Recruitment Officer based at our Head Office in Edinburgh. As a Recruitment Assistant, you will be integral in the recruitment and employment of potential candidates.

The successful candidate will have excellent attention to detail, possess strong communication skills (written and verbal), and be able to demonstrate a good working knowledge of all Microsoft applications.

Key duties will include:

• Liaise with potential applicants throughout Scotland about employment opportunities
• Assist the Recruitment Officer with the administration of the recruitment processes including advertising, application packs, producing offer letters and pre-employment checks.
• Manage and action the recruitment inbox on a daily basis
• Schedule interviews with candidates and provide managers with relevant materials, candidate documentation, including set up & clear up of meeting rooms
• Assist with the analysis of recruitment information to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the recruitment processes.
• Maintain recruitment trackers
• Ensuring that candidates remain engaged and committed throughout the pre-employment checks
• Assist with recruitment queries and provide general administrative support
• Maintain confidential personal records for all staff in line with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
• Liaise closely with HR, Payroll and Marketing departments at the Head Office in Liverpool

Benefits:

• 31 days Annual Leave, including Bank holidays pro rata
• Your birthday off every year, to treat yourself!
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Medicash Healthcare Plan
• Eligibility to become a Blue Light Card Member for online & high street discounts

We have Support Worker opportunities for individuals to join our Housing Support Services across Granton and Leith.

At Autism Initiatives we provide specialist services tailored to each individual. Experience is not essential, but a genuine passion to making a difference to the lives of autistic people, as well as a positive attitude, is key to being successful in this role.

Benefits of working with us include:

• Competitive Salary - £13.02 to £13.49 per hour (Salaries Under Review)
• Sleepover rate paid at £12.00 per hour
• 31 days Annual Leave Entitlement, including bank holidays
• Your birthday off every year, to treat yourself!
• Ongoing Learning & Development throughout your Support Work role
• Opportunity to undertake SVQ Level 3 qualification
• Career Progression Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Medicash Healthcare Plan
• Eligibility to become a Blue Light Card Member for online & high street discounts

As a Support Worker you will promote the positive health and well-being of the people that you support, enabling them to have a meaningful life and encouraging them to live as independently as possible.

Given the nature of this role, successful applicants must register with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or equivalent regulatory body.

This is a truly rewarding role, with the opportunity for you to develop your skills and knowledge and fulfil your career aspirations.

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people? Do you want a flexible, varied and meaningful job in a supportive team? Do you value great employee benefits such as generous holidays and an annual training budget? Apply to join us!

Bridges Project is a leading youth work charity that helps young people aged 12-25 in East Lothian and Midlothian overcome challenges and adapt to adulthood. Since 1984, we have helped young people develop their life skills, improve their educational attainment and move into employment or further education. Join our team as we move in to the next 40 years of empowering young people!

We have a vacancy for a Support Worker (Young Carers) to deliver individually tailored support packages to young people with caring responsibilities.

The successful candidate will:

• Support young carers and young adult carers in areas such as personal development, wellbeing and employability
• Support young carers and young adult carers in achieving a balance between their caring role and being in education or employment
• Take the lead on the programme, liaising with key professionals to ensure an effective service across East Lothian

This is an exciting position in which the successful candidate will take pride in developing a programme of delivery which will provide young carers and young adult carers with bespoke support packages.

It is essential that candidates have a full, clean driving licence and constant use of a car. Membership of the PVG scheme will be an essential requirement of the post. A contributory company pension scheme is offered with a 10% employer contribution.