As Engaging Communities and Volunteer Officer for Scotland you will join us at an exciting time as we expand our work to more effectively reach out to, engage and support more people to live well with all types of diabetes, to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes and ultimately to achieve our vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm.

We’re working to build and grow a powerful movement of people helping to achieve a world where diabetes does no harm. The Engaging Communities and Volunteering Officer will be part of a team, working alongside the diabetes community, which empowers people, communities and organisations to raise awareness, influence change and support people affected by diabetes to live well and access better care.

Role Responsibility

• Engaging and building sustainable links across diverse communities to tackle the inequality that can exist in diabetes care and support.
• Deliver our ambitions across community engagement and volunteering in line with Scotland team plans.
• Collaborate with the diabetes community, and develop relationships with new partners, co-creating opportunities to work together and grow the movement of people working to create a world where diabetes does no harm
• Continuously improve our impact through test and learn approaches to community engagement and volunteering
• Support the capacity building of people and volunteers drawing on their strengths and skills, empowering them to act, support others and influence change capturing their insight and experience to inform our thinking and work.
• Inspire and motivate people and organisations to get involved in our work through volunteering, fundraising and campaigning

The Ideal Candidate

You will be a dynamic and inspiring individual experienced in all aspects of project management. You will be skilled in developing and delivering programmes which support people in challenging circumstances, working with people and communities to improve life outcomes. You will be experienced in recruiting and motivating volunteers. You will understand the needs of diverse groups and be passionate about ensuring that support is developed collaboratively with people with lived experience enabling them to live well and access better care. You will have excellent communication and engagement skills which enable you to grow and nurture relationships with a complex set of stakeholders, including people with lived experience, volunteers and community organisations.

We have a friendly and inclusive working environment here at Diabetes UK and are proud of our hybrid approach which allows great flexibility in the way that we work. This means that you can balance your working time between home and the office, subject to the needs of your role.

Who we are

The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity and membership organisation, dedicated to empowering, enriching and supporting the relationships at the heart of the fostering community.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a passionate and organised individual with experience of participation work with young people to run our Young Person’s Advisory Board in Scotland and deliver an exciting programme of events.

You will play a vital role in ensuring the organisation listens to the voices of those that our work impacts. In this role you will help make a difference and improve the lives of fostering families and children and young people in foster care in Scotland.

What you’ll be doing

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with great self-motivation and creative thinking to lead on a project in Scotland to improve the lives of young people in foster care and their families. This post will work collaboratively with the Scotland team and other colleagues delivering participation work across the UK.

You will lead and coordinate the work of the Young Person’s Advisory Board which supports care experienced young people to campaign for change to children’s social care and lead on the delivery of a programme of activities related to this.

This role is vital in ensuring we are the best organisation we can be by listening to those our work affects.

This is a great opportunity to bring your expertise to designing and delivering the next stage of this project and make a genuine impact on the experience and outcomes for young people living in foster care and fostering families.

At this point, we hope you're feeling excited about the job description you’re reading. Even if you don't feel that you meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

What we can offer you

• 38 days leave (including bank holidays)
• A range of family friendly and fostering friendly leave options Flexible and hybrid working
• Enhanced maternity and adoption pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Helpline
• Pension and life assurance
• Contribution to eye tests and lenses
• Season ticket loans

Our commitments to you

The Fostering Network is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community and especially those from under-represented and minoritised backgrounds. All applications and hiring decisions will be considered on merit.

• If you identify as care experienced and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under our commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant
• If you have a disability, please tell us what reasonable adjustments would support your participation in the recruitment process
• We are open to job-sharing arrangements for all roles, please indicate this in the application form if you are applying as part of a job share

SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) supports the aim of Scottish Government and COLSA for any child, young person or adult who has thoughts of taking their own life, or are affected by suicide, to get the help they need and feel a sense of hope.

Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. We are a committed and lead member of the Suicide Prevention Scotland delivery collective, ensuring that lived and living experience is at the forefront when delivering Scotland’s national suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.

About the Role

The Lived and Living Experience Panel (LLEP) is a group of people from across Scotland who have lived experience of suicide. The purpose of the LLEP is to ensure that the voice of people with experience of suicide is at the heart of Creating Hope Together: Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022-2032. The panel plays a central role in co-producing Suicide Prevention Scotland’s programme of work to deliver the strategy.

SAMH hosts the LLEP on behalf of Suicide Prevention Scotland, a delivery collective established by SG and COSLA.

The Lived and Living Experience Panel Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating LLEP engagement with all organisations involved in the delivery of Creating Hope Together.

The postholder will establish and manage effective relationships with panel members, national and local stakeholders and partners, coordinate meetings and engagements, and support provision of ongoing emotional and wellbeing support and guidance to LLEP members.

What we are looking for

To be successful in this post you will need experience of working in suicide prevention and working with people or groups with lived experience. You will have experience of providing emotional support, guidance and advice to people, and strong project management, coordination and administrative skills.

What we will provide for you

You will work in a supportive environment and will be provided with a full induction and training opportunities. You will be given the chance to develop your knowledge and skills, as well as develop professionally. Some of our benefits include:

• Funded continuous learning and development opportunities, access to over 100 courses online in addition to virtual training sessions
• 30 days annual leave rising to 33 after five years’ service
• Four public holidays
• Two paid wellbeing days off per year to use on what matters to you
• Team wellbeing budgets
• Workplace pension scheme
• Life Assurance policy
• Employee Assistance Programme.

Who we are

Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) is Scotland’s national alcohol charity, committed to preventing and reducing harm to individuals, families, communities and Scotland as a whole.

Scotland had been making progress in reducing alcohol consumption and harm from record levels, not least due to the positive effects of minimum unit pricing of (MUP). Unfortunately, alcohol deaths have risen significantly since 2020, due to the effect of the pandemic on consumption by heavier drinkers, combined with reduced access to services. Research suggests levels of harm will continue to rise for some time.

This is an exciting time to join us, as we advocate for renewed efforts to implement evidence-based alcohol policies and for access to high quality treatment and recovery support, in response to Scotland’s alcohol crisis.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a skilled policy professional to join our team. You will have a varied and challenging role, providing policy and research support across a number of policy areas. You will have the opportunity to lead national coordination work and chair strategic groups to support consistent implementation of evidence-based practice, making a tangible impact on Scotland's approach to reducing alcohol harm. You will coordinate Scotland's national approach to alcohol death reviews, bringing together stakeholders, convening networks and supporting partners to influence change. Your excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills will be vital in ensuring we meet our goal of reducing alcohol harm and improving lives.

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Experience of analysing, synthesising and communicating evidence and research to support policy and practice development

• Experience of working collaboratively and strategically with external organisations and agencies to effect change

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a fast-paced policy or practice environment

What we offer

Flexible and Hybrid Working

We offer flexi-time to give you more control over your working hours. We work a mixture of office and home-based days to meet the needs of the post and to accommodate the needs of the postholder.

Annual Leave

26 days paid annual leave, increasing after five years’ service. 10 days public holiday (incorporating closure between Christmas and New Year). An additional Celebration Day that may be taken at any time. Staff may purchase up to one week’s additional annual leave per holiday year.

Well-being support

We provide an Employee Assistance Programme which offers round the clock support for all staff.

Pension and Death in Service Insurance

4-6% matched employer pension contribution, rising to 7% after five years’ service. Death in Service insurance is calculated as two times salary.

Company Sick Pay

After completion of probation you can qualify for up to five months full pay then five months half pay, inclusive of SSP, in year one, increasing annually for five years.

Transport support

AFS is based in central Glasgow, close to transport hubs. We offer a Travel to Work loan to spread the cost of season tickets and access to the tax efficient benefits of the Cycle to Work scheme.

Learning

We offer a range of formal and informal training and learning opportunities to support your development.

Enhanced leave

Maternity leave and paternity leave are enhanced above statutory to help you and your family, after a qualifying service period.

Social Connection

As well as the satisfaction of working with a skilled, friendly and dedicated team to make change happen, we support formal and informal opportunities to take part in different activities and get to know your colleagues.

Alcohol Focus Scotland is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.