Become Our Training Officer – Make An Impact That Matters

Help shape better support for refugees across Scotland by leading the delivery of high-quality, engaging training. You’ll develop learning resources and ensure practitioners have the knowledge and confidence to support people seeking protection.

If you’re an enthusiastic trainer with strong communication skills and a commitment to upholding rights, we’d love you to bring your expertise to our team.

About us

Scottish Refugee Council is Scotland’s national refugee charity. Every year, we provide direct support and advice to people rebuilding their lives in Scotland, standing up for people’s rights and campaign for a fairer and more humane asylum system and enhanced integration for communities in Scotland.

The vision is for a Scotland in which all people seeking refugee protection are welcome. A place where men, women and children are protected, find safety and support, have their human rights and dignity respected and can achieve their full potential. Together, we can build a better future with refugees in Scotland. Find out more at scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk.

Employee benefits package

• 39 days of leave (including public holidays)
• Progressive salary structure
• Flexible working options
• Training and development opportunities
• Union recognition
• Fresh fruit, tea & coffee in office
• Enhanced pay benefits
• Enhanced pension
• Counselling & coaching service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye care scheme
• Death in service & 24-hour GP service

Street fit Scotland (SFS) is seeking a dedicated and dynamic individual to join our team as a Community Connection Volunteer Co-ordinator. This role will involve working independently and as part of a team to lead and manage and train a growing volunteer network, providing coaching, development opportunities, and nurturing connections with the local community. The successful candidate will be proactive, empathetic, and passionate about supporting people to reach their full potential.

Main Purpose of the Role

This role is central to the continued growth and development of Street Fit Scotland’s (SFS) volunteer offering. As Community Connection Volunteer Co-ordinator, you will lead with empathy, creativity, and a person-centred approach, encouraging and supporting our members to step into volunteer roles. You’ll provide inclusive, tailored support to help individuals flourish, ensuring every volunteer journey aligns with SFS’s core values of kindness and inclusion.

You’ll oversee all aspects of the volunteer function, developing meaningful roles, delivering training, nurturing development, and building a connected, supported, and empowered community.

Our main aim is to offer sessional work to volunteers when they pass the 6-month probation as we SFS values lived experience.

Key Responsibilities

As the main point of contact for all volunteers, you will be fully integrated into the heart of SFS activities, forming trusted relationships with both volunteers and wider community members. Your work will focus on meeting people where they are, understanding complex needs, offering emotional and practical support, and providing a bridge to meaningful experiences and future opportunities.

Volunteer Support & Development

• Deliver person-centred emotional and practical support to all volunteers and community members.
• Provide one-to-one and group support for community members exploring volunteering, helping them progress at their own pace.
• Design and facilitate internal training, including groupwork, inductions, policies and procedures, and skill-building sessions.
• Develop and share innovative tools and resources to support volunteer engagement and learning.
• Supervise and support the personal development of volunteers, helping them grow in confidence, responsibility, and pre-employability.
• Carry out continuous evaluation to monitor volunteer progress and impact.
• Coach and mentor members through tailored development journeys, helping individuals identify their strengths and contribute meaningfully.

Volunteer Management & Coordination

• Manage and coordinate all SFS volunteers (internal and external), ensuring people are matched to roles that reflect their skills, interests, and availability.
• Identify new opportunities for members to volunteer within SFS, co-creating role descriptions where appropriate.
• Assess individuals’ readiness and suitability for specific roles, offering additional support as needed.
• Oversee PVG processes and ensure a smooth onboarding experience.
• Build relationships with external volunteer services, such as Volunteer Scotland to recruit external volunteers, and stay up to date with relevant training and guidance.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings and service development discussions.

Community Engagement & Integration

• Participate in weekly core, stretch, and strength sessions, as well as community lunchtime drop-ins, to build relationships and encourage engagement.
• Accompany members to SFS sessions to foster community connection and shared experience.
• Support external training pathways (e.g. food hygiene, SDF training, or other personal development courses).

Operational Responsibilities

• Share responsibility for maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming community base.
• Ensure SFS equipment (computers, desks, shared spaces) is cared for and cleaned when necessary.
• Wear PPE when required and complete relevant health and safety training, including food hygiene certification.
• Be an active team player; supporting colleagues, contributing to team culture, and helping shape a positive working environment.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting members at SFS Working with individuals affected by homelessness, addiction, and trauma.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, taking initiative while contributing to a supportive team environment.
• Knowledge of safe practices including adult and child protection.
• Strong demonstration of people skills, with a passion for helping others reach their potential.
• In-depth understanding of volunteers from recruitment and training to supervision and support.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect meaningfully across diverse backgrounds.
• A genuine commitment to creating inclusive, empowering spaces where everyone feels valued and heard.
• Highly organised, with strong computer skills and record management.
• Group work skills, experience of delivering workshops or sessions that involve team building exercises.

Desirable Experience

• Background in training or community education, with a focus on personal development / Experience in coaching, mentoring, or life coaching.

Additional Information

• Reports to: Michelle Reilly, CEO
• Responsible for: SFS equipment, the volunteer team, and maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming shared space
• Base: SFS Community Hub, 19 south clerk street, EH8 9JD

Values

• Empathy - listen to and understand an individual’s needs and circumstances
• Treat everyone at SFS with dignity respect and kindness
• Take a non-judgemental approach
• A commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
• Recognise and uphold boundaries

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) is Scotland’s leading health charity working to help people with chest, heart and stroke conditions live life to the full. People with these conditions need and want to know how to manage them day to day and live as well as they can.

Experiencing a life-changing event like a heart attack or stroke or being diagnosed with a chest or heart condition or Long Covid, can mean that people are scared and alone. Many people do not know where to turn. Nobody in Scotland should have to face their health journey on their own. CHSS will deliver a community where people with its conditions can support each other, secure the expert help they need and advocate for the care that matters to them. Central to delivering the No Life Half Lived strategy, the Strategic Communications Manager plays a key role in helping CHSS reach 175,000 people annually by 2028, ensuring all design and content reflects the charity’s mission and values.

The Strategic Communications Manager will lead and align all external and internal communications to build and protect the reputation of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS). This strategic role covers brand campaigns, media, partnerships, services marketing, crisis communications and internal communications.

Working closely with the Head of Communications & Marketing, the post-holder will position communications as a strategic enabler of CHSS’ ambition that there should be No Life Half Lived in Scotland. A key focus is to establish CHSS as a trusted source of health information and thought leadership, particularly in relation to Chest, Heart and Stroke conditions.

The role will provide expert media advice, supports senior spokespeople and leads a team of specialists to deliver integrated, impactful communications. It will oversee strategic media partnerships, evidence-led content and proactive relationship building to enhance CHSS’s visibility and credibility.

The Strategic Communications Manager will collaborate across departments to develop tailored marketing plans and strengthen internal communications.

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Line manage a team of four
• Oversee team workflow, development and performance reviews
• Provide coaching and strategic oversight to ensure media activities align with CHSS goals

Strategic Communications

• Develop and deliver integrated communications plans across media, brand, services, crisis comms and internal channels
• Lead brand campaigns including FAST and Advice Line, ensuring alignment with CHSS values
• Manage proactive and reactive media strategies, including crisis response protocols
• Use audience insight to inform planning and improve engagement metrics

Internal Collaboration

• Work with departments across CHSS to co-develop communications plans that support strategic priorities
• Provide media advice to senior leaders including the Chief Executive
• Collaborate with Evaluation & Impact, Data and Service Delivery teams to ensure evidence-led messaging
• Support Income Generation teams with marketing initiatives for fundraising and retail

External Relationships

• Build and manage relationships with media, creative agencies and public/private sector partners (e.g., NHS, Network Rail)
• Manage contracts with media monitoring and distribution services
• Represent CHSS externally with professionalism and credibility

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure all communications comply with GDPR, NLA and CLA regulations
• Maintain oversight of media monitoring tools and ensure supplier compliance
• Provide training and guidance on legal standards to internal teams

External Engagement

• Lead communications for high-profile campaigns and joint initiatives with external stakeholders
• Use the External Engagement Toolkit to enhance CHSS’ reach and reputation
• Promote CHSS’ mission and services to increase stakeholder awareness and referrals

Volunteer Engagement

• Highlight volunteer impact through strategic communications and storytelling
• Collaborate with the Volunteering Team to develop case studies and recruitment campaigns
• Promote volunteer opportunities to stakeholders and ensure positive volunteer experiences

Preferred Candidate Background

The ideal candidate for the Strategic Communications Manager role will be a seasoned communications professional with a strong track record in strategic media relations, brand leadership, and cross-channel campaign delivery. They will bring a blend of creativity, technical proficiency and strategic insight, coupled with a collaborative mindset and the ability to lead and inspire teams. With at least five years’ experience in communications within the charity or public affairs sector, they will be confident advising senior stakeholders, managing complex projects and driving impactful, evidence-led communications that align with organisational goals.

Required Skills:

• Supportive and effective line management style; able to motivate teams to deliver challenging projects
• Skilled at translating complex information into engaging, audience-appropriate content
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across varied audiences
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Creative and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to grow internal and external networks
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex issues in a fast-paced environment
• Confident advising senior stakeholders on sensitive or strategic communications
• Strong project management skills for own and team workload
• Skilled in maintaining message discipline across large projects or organisations
• Effective working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders

Required Experience:

• Proficiency in media monitoring and distribution tools (Onclusive, Meltwater, Vuelio)
• Experience with project management and collaboration platforms (Trello, Asana, Slack)
• Familiarity with digital content creation tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
• Strong understanding of social media platforms and digital PR strategies
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in strategic communications, media relations or public affairs
• Proven track record of securing national and regional media coverage across broadcast, print and digital platforms
• Experience integrating communications across digital and traditional channels
• Experience in the charity sector and understanding of its diverse business functions
• Experience coordinating colleagues and external partners to deliver impactful content
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategies for high-quality publicity
• Experience planning and delivering external communications projects across teams
• Experience improving systems and processes to increase communications efectiveness
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality work within tight timescales
• Experience developing and working within brand guidelines
• Proven line management experience
• Experience managing and reviewing contracts with external suppliers to ensure value for money

The main purpose of this role is to support the parents and carers of neurodivergent children and young people by providing high quality, person-centred information, advice and support. Parents and carers contact us for advice and information about a wide-ranging variety of topics relating to neurodiversity, including neurodevelopmental conditions, rights and responsibilities, pathways and services, communication with professionals and promoting wellbeing.

The post holder will provide advice and information to parents and carers who contact the service. They will also provide further support for parents and carers to identify desired goals and outcomes and create a plan to work towards these, using a coaching approach. They will provide parents and carers with the tools to independently communicate with professionals and support their child(ren), while providing a safe space to reflect on their own wellbeing, using a non-judgemental, trauma-informed approach at all times.

The role mainly involves communication by phone, text and email but may also include in person support and virtual or in person attendance at meetings where required. The post holder may be required to communicate with professionals on behalf of parents and carers and will also provide advice and support to professionals working with neurodivergent children and young people and their families.

Our Parent Carer Service also provides group-based support for parents and carers and the post holder may be required to facilitate peer support or information-based group sessions, both online and in person.

This post may occasionally require weekend and/or evening work and very occasionally working elsewhere. The charity is based in Edinburgh but the Direct Help and Support (DHS) service in which this role sits, covers the whole of Scotland. Our Parent Carer Support Specialists support families and professionals primarily through the use of technology, with some in-person working when required. The post involves hybrid working, working from home and from our office in Edinburgh when required, as well as travel to support parents and carers in person, including at meetings or in group settings.

Organisation profile

Mindroom is a charity that champions all forms of neurodiversity and supports all kinds of minds. Our mission is to be a leading centre for change, in how we live, work and learn. We achieve this through support, education, advocacy, and research.