Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) are Scotland’s leading advice charity. They support a network of Citizens Advice Bureaux, all operating as independent charities, to deliver frontline advice services in almost 300 locations.

The charity is driven by the strong belief that every person in Scotland should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice to help them make well-informed decisions. CAS looks at the problems we can all face at times and campaign for change where it is needed most. Their support and advice is available to all and is of particularly benefit to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

The Chair of the Board will lead a team of trustees dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of people across Scotland. Crucial to ensuring the organisation fulfils its purpose by providing strategic leadership, the Chair leads the Board in offering support and constructive challenge to the Executive team, enabling CAS to successfully achieve its ambitions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing leadership to the Board ensuring trustees fulfill their governance responsibilities.

• Inspiring and supporting the CEO and Executive team to deliver on strategic priorities.

• Fostering excellent relationships with members, Scotland’s network of 58 Citizens Advice Bureaux, at a governance level.

• Working closely with the CEO and Executive team to ensure that this network remains at all times well-positioned and forward looking in a challenging political and economic environment.

• Fulfilling a highly visible ambassadorial role for CAS, helping to further develop its profile and representation with government, other organisations and multiple stakeholders.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly experienced leader with a background in public, corporate and/or the charity sector, to drive impact at scale. Providing stewardship in the implementation of the CAS Strategy 2025- 2030 will make a real difference to so many peoples lives.

The Chair will gain unique insight into the social and economic issues in society and play an extremely fulfilling role in addressing these. A structured training programme will be provided to support development and enable the CAS Chair to excel in this role.

This is a voluntary, non-remunerated position and will require a time commitment of approximately two to four days per month.

The Croft Family Support - Supporting Visitors at HMP Barlinnie

Welcoming, Connecting and Supporting Families and Visitors is at the core of what we do here at the Croft

Providing practical and emotional support, information and advice to the families who come into contact with HMP Barlinnie, improving the visits experience and through an earlier intervention model, supporting complex needs, easing often extremely difficult life circumstances for children and families - including the multi-faceted impacts of deep poverty.

Role

Do you want to help make a difference to the lives of families affected by another’s imprisonment – this is a group of people, including many children, often marginalised and severely impacted, practically, emotionally and financially by the actions of another. Want to learn new skills in the process? - you can by becoming a volunteer Board Member for the Croft at HMP Barlinnie and help us to lead and guide the Management Team and staff to deliver the ambitions sets out in our 5 year strategy.

What we are looking for

We welcome applicants from any background and experience, including people who have been personally impacted. We welcome all skills but do have particular skills gaps we would love to bring aboard –

• Communications Experience - to further guide and help us develop work we have already undertaken to improve our communications offering as we grow and diversify our work
• Commercial business experience (particularly Social Enterprises / Community Interest Companies) – to support the further development of our Social Enterprise ambitions - supporting a more self-sustaining approach to our funding
• Bookkeeping / Accounts – finance – as we grow and diversify what we offer we find ourselves managing more complex funding arrangements
• Other experience and skills will always be welcomed – a cross section of skills is what makes our Board such a great environment to work in

What you get from being a Board Member

• The chance to give something back into the community and make a real difference to the lives of families impacted by imprisonment - Becoming a Trustee is a fantastic way to give something back to a cause you care about. You’ll be playing an integral part in the way the charity is run, ensuring it remains sustainable and financially viable. The help you provide will be invaluable.
• Meet new people - joining a new organisation or charity is a fantastic way to meet new people from a range of different personal and professional backgrounds. There will be meetings to attend (the Board itself meets quarterly), projects to get involved.
• Learn new things - getting involved as a charity Trustee is a great way to put your professional skills to use, but can also be a fantastic opportunity to learn new things. You’ll get great insight into what’s involved in the management of charities and gain skills on working well within a leadership role.
• Improve your CV and enhance your professional development - from learning how organisations are run to planning finances and attending meetings, this experience can be the perfect way to boost a CV and set you apart from the crowd.

Background

For more information about the Croft and its work see:

Visit our new website: Home | The Croft HMP Barlinnie Visitors Centre | 81 Lee Ave, Glasgow City, G33 2QX

Visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/CroftVisitorsService

Recruitment of New Board Members and Trustees

Fife Law Centre is currently seeking to recruit Board members with various skills, including financial management, Third Sector organisations and their purposes in Fife, and statutory bodies e.g. local government and health.

Fife Law Centre was established in 2009 and is a registered charity, constituted as a company limited by guarantee. It is the product of the vision of local agencies and providers who saw a need for accessible and specialist legal services for clients served by the Third Sector in Fife. These founding agencies are now our partners as we seek to provide for those with unmet legal needs.

We operate as a Board which sustains and supports a private legal firm, Fife Community Law Ltd, which itself is regulated by the Law Society of Scotland.

The purpose of the Board is to set the strategic direction of, and secure the resources for, Fife Law Centre, and to work with the Principal Solicitor to support the delivery of services. Our principal funders are Fife Council and the Scottish Legal Aid Board, under the Making Justice Work Project.

The current focus of legal work is on cases of homelessness, welfare law, supporting victims of domestic violence, employment and immigration. Matters in other fields are dealt with at the discretion of the Principal Solicitor.

The Board meets 5/6 times a year in a formal setting, with Board members taking a lead in different topics, occasionally in work groups.

Since 1984 Granton Information Centre (GIC) have worked hard to improve the lives of individuals and families by providing free & impartial advice, advocacy and representation on matters relating to welfare rights, debt and housing. If you are passionate about alleviating poverty and supporting people and communities in Edinburgh, we want to hear from you!

Main Tasks

• Provide advice and assistance with welfare benefit entitlement claims and money, debt and general housing issues, via centre based, telephone, outreach and home visit appointments.

• Represent claimants at appeal tribunals.

• Record and maintain accurate client case records using our Advice Pro recording system.

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of changes and developments in welfare, housing and debt legislation and liaise with colleagues on any issues that need to be communicated wider.