MICT acquired Ardura Community Forest in 2019 on behalf of the Mull community with the specific intention of restoring the forest to a more natural condition while encouraging recreational use of the site.

MICT commissioned TreeStory Limited to produce a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Ardura. The BAP is based on detailed survey work and an extensive assessment of all the habitats present within the forest to give an understanding of the current condition. The BAP identifies actions to restore and conserve the various habitats and makes provision for monitoring progress against measurable targets for improvement. Work alongside TreeStory Ltd allowed us to achieve the first Forestry Stewardship Council Ecosystem Services impact verification in the UK for Ardura Forest. With approx. 110 hectares of Sitka Spruce harvested from the forest, the focus is now restoration.

From the Biodiversity Action Plan, a Vision for Ardura Community Forest’s Future:

Ardura Community Forest will become an example of community-led conservation and restoration of native Atlantic woodland and wider ecosystems, to a healthy and functioning condition, for the benefit of biodiversity and people. Under MICT’s stewardship the land will contribute to positive ecological processes across the local landscape and will be appreciated and used by those who live and work nearby on the Isle of Mull and visitors from across Scotland, the UK and beyond.

Join the Board of East and Southeast Asian Scotland (ESAS)

About ESAS

East and Southeast Asian Scotland (ESAS) is a community-led organisation working for justice, rights, and empowerment of East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities across Scotland. We centre the voices of ESEA people while building solidarity and belonging across diverse communities.

• Founded in 2020 and incorporated as a Community Interest Company, ESAS has grown into a trusted and recognised voice. Our achievements include:
• Leading community research (Migrant Life in Scotland survey) on ESEA migrants’ access to services during the pandemic.
• Delivering emergency food, clothing, and IT support during COVID-19.
• Supporting wellbeing and inclusion through peer support groups, befriending, English lessons, and women’s sessions.
• Partnering with COSLA and the Scottish Government to support Hong Kong BN(O) migrants and improve access to services.
• Providing hate incident reporting and casework support through the national On Your Side service.
• Advocating for labour rights across the UK through the ESEA Migrant Alliance UK project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

The opportunity

We are seeking new Board Directors who share our commitment to justice, rights, and empowerment. As a Director, you will play a vital role in shaping strategy, strengthening governance, and ensuring our work has lasting impact.

Previous Board experience is not essential—we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, skills, and lived experience. We are particularly interested in candidates with knowledge or experience in:

• Governance and organisational leadership
• Finance (including an applicant for the Treasurer role)
• Fundraising and understanding of the NGO/funding landscape
• HR and compliance
• UK policy and systems that shape migrant and community wellbeing

Commitment

This is a voluntary, non-executive role (reasonable expenses reimbursed). The time commitment is around 29 hours per year, covering meetings, preparation, and occasional reviews. Meetings are mainly online, with one in-person meeting in Scotland annually. Every five years, Directors attend a Governance Development Weekend (the next in Jan/March 2026).

Why join us?

• Make a meaningful contribution to long-term systemic change for ESEA communities.
• Help shape the governance of a growing, grassroots organisation at a pivotal stage.
• Gain experience in third-sector governance, policy advocacy, and organisational development.
• Connect with grassroots communities, statutory partners, and national networks.

About Thrive

Thrive Edinburgh is about thinking big and thinking differently. We have made it our goal to promote mental health and protect our citizens’ resilience, self-esteem, family strength and joy, and reduce the toll of mental ill-health on individuals, our communities and our city.

The Thrive Welcome Teams are comprised of organisations that provide social, practical, learning and clinical support.

The South West partnership is between Space, SAMH and the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership. Our organisations share a commitment to the Thrive vision and values of trust, respect, collaboration, person-centeredness, innovation, and compassion. Together we deliver a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency response so that citizens receive the right help for their mental health, at the right time. The team includes Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Support Practitioners and Peer Workers.

More information about Thrive Edinburgh can be found here - click here.

The Role

Peer work is a recognised practice in mental health recovery across the world.

The main role of a Thrive Peer Worker is to use their own lived experience of mental health recovery journey to promote good mental health practices with citizens within our communities.

This is achieved by providing short term, one-to-one, emotional and practical mental health support. Through confidential conversations a safe space is provided for people to discuss issues at their own pace, using person-centred tools to help others identify their strengths, and work towards achievable and meaningful recovery goals. These meetings can take place in a variety of locations including NHS venues and community based settings.

Peer Work supports people to establish meaningful and fulfilling links in the community so that people can more easily access the right help when needed including social, therapeutic and medical interventions.

Key tasks in the job:

• Hold initial conversations to assess needs and risk, ensuring people access the services that will best support them.
• Guide people to create individual support plans that draw on their own strengths
• Provide short term support through 1:1 meetings, typically between 2-6 sessions, drawing on your own mental health journey
• Be well connected in the community to understand the different services on offer and the criteria for referring.
• Accompany individuals to appointments to connect them into services.
• Attend cross team meetings to discuss cases and share learning.
• Attend open access ‘drop-in’ sessions that are held within community venues, providing people with instant access to advice and sign posting.

The full job description and person specification for the role is attached.

About Space

Space is a community anchor organisation supporting people and their families in South West Edinburgh, with some of our services stretching city wide.

WE BELIEVE THAT CONNECTIONS BUILD COMMUNITIES

Space delivers 22 projects, with 60+ staff and over 100 volunteers. We deliver diverse services supporting young people, families, older people and carers amongst others.

For more information about Space and all our projects can be found on our website – spacescot.org

Are you a self-motivated, experienced development officer looking to work with an award-winning Development Trust?

ACDT are seeking to recruit an experienced Development Officer to take projects from inception to completion through engaging and working with our members, the community and other charities and groups within the wider “3 Towns” of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston.

Reporting to the Head of Operations the role has responsibility for:

• engaging with funders
• delivery of community led projects
• helping make Ardrossan a better place to visit and to live, work and volunteer

Benefits of working for us

• 2 year fixed term Contract (with possibility of extension if more funding is secured)
• Full Time (35 Hours per week)
• Based at our offices in the middle of Ardrossan
• Competitive Salary: £36,050
• Holidays: 28 days (including bank/public holidays)
• Pension: Company scheme with 3% employer contributions

About the Trust

The Trust were formed in 2019 following a range of significant community consultation within the Town. It’s purpose is to engage in activities that benefit and support the community of Ardrossan, increasing opportunities, endeavour to improve the physical environment of the town, attract more visitors and revive the sense of pride in the town.

Since it’s foundation, and despite the challenges of COVID 19 restrictions in it’s early years, ACDT have been able to undertake wide ranging community engagement activities, secure premises in the centre of Ardrossan, and secure capital funding for projects including regeneration at South Beach promenade.

The Trust are also proud to have won the 2025 SURF award for Improving Scotland’s Places.