Are you looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to shape the next phase of Ark’s ambitious strategy ?

Ark’s mission to create the best possible customer outcomes through our highly skilled people, the provision of high-quality affordable homes and excellent care will be achieved through creating inclusive communities where quality of housing and care enable people to thrive and live a good life.

Established in 1977 Ark provides 450 tenancies and supports over 400 people through our dedicated and highly skilled workforce of 700+ staff. We operate in 12 Local Authority areas in the North and East of Scotland, and we also have services in The Western Isles.

The Ark Group is made up of three companies:

1. Ark is a registered charity and registered social landlord (RSL) that provides housing and care and is the parent company within the group structure.

2. Ark Services Limited is a private company limited by guarantee and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ark.

3. Ark Commercial Investment Limited (ACIL) is a private limited share company and wholly owned subsidiary of Ark.

Although a housing association, the majority of Ark’s activity relates to the provision of care and support for people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disability, mental health issues, dementia and autism. Our aim is to ensure that those who use our services receive the very best support from Ark to enable them to live a good life. For further information see Ark’s website: arkha.org.uk.

We currently have vacancies for Non-Executive Board members on both the main board as well as the group subsidiary board, at a very exciting time for Ark. We are about to launch a stakeholder engagement exercise across the business to consult on our new corporate strategy as well as celebrate our 50th anniversary. As a new Board Member, you will play a key part in developing and enabling the delivery of the strategy for the next 5-10 years and improving the governance framework to effectively monitor performance. This will be clearly focussed upon delivery of high-quality Housing and Care & Support services.

Ark Group Board

We are seeking 2-3 recruits to fill non-exec positions on Ark’s parent Board: Ark Housing Association.

This Board meets 6-7 times per year in a hybrid approach and will require some attendance face to face. We welcome applications from people with experience in Care & Support, Housing/Asset, Finance or Digital Improvement, and understanding of governance in an RSL would be an advantage, however not essential.

Ark Subsidiary Board

We are seeking to strengthen our governance by appointing non-executive directors to our Subsidiary Board and separate from the Ark Group Board to ensure independence. This Board is completely independent from the parent Board. Your role will be to serve both subsidiary companies with meetings being held consecutively, 4 times per year. This board meets on a remote basis and will be the perfect opportunity for people seeking their first Board role, with the opportunity for exposure to two very different businesses; one a commercial/private company and one a registered Charity. We will provide you with a full induction and an opportunity to be mentored by an experienced Board member and we do not expect you to have any previous board experience. Overall, we are looking for dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic people from a variety of backgrounds to contribute to Ark’s emerging future.

About Scran Academy

Our Vision is a Scotland where every young person has access to their human right of an education that meets their needs, unlocks their aspirations, and enables a future with dignity.

We are on a mission to see every young person, regardless of background or barrier, realise their full potential in learning, work and life. Too many young people in our most challenged communities never realise their talents or aspirations due to the effects of social inequality and poverty. Scran Academy exists to change that.

We are a pioneering youth work catering charity, supporting young people facing barriers to success using the power of food, cooking and hospitality. We operate an innovative social enterprise model, utilising a busy food truck and two cafes in NHS sites across Edinburgh to support several relational education and employment programmes. Our approach is to use meaningful learning and work experiences in supportive real-life settings to empower young people to become leaders in their own lives..

About the Candidate

This is a role for people who are passionate about making transformative change in the lives of young people.

Scran Academy is in a phase of exciting growth. Our strategic priorities are to Scale Sustainably, develop Smarter Solutions and provide Support Sooner for young people in Edinburgh’s most challenged communities.

We are building towards an organisation that can support young people across every high school in Edinburgh, delivering reflexive, effective programmes that prevent crisis and create real opportunity.

We are looking for trustees who are energised by this ambition and ready to help lift Scran into its next phase. You will bring experience, perspective and strategic expertise, alongside a clear focus on the needs, potential and outcomes of the young people we support.

We are open to meeting prospective trustees with a broad range of experiences, but would be particularly interested in meeting people with experience in:

• Youth work and CLD delivery
• Charity law and governance, and financial oversight
• Strategic City of Edinburgh Council engagement
• Scaling a hospitality business
• Marketing, PR and communications

Role Purpose

The purpose of a Trustee at Scran Academy is to provide strategic oversight and sound judgement as the organisation grows in scale, reach and complexity.

Working with fellow trustees, office bearers and the leadership team, you will help ensure that Scran’s development remains focused, sustainable and aligned to its purpose.

This includes supporting the organisation to make robust decisions that enable expansion, strengthening its model and maintaining the quality and integrity of its work as it grows.

Duncan Place Community Hub in Leith is looking for up to six volunteer Trustees to make up a board of twelve. We are looking for Trustees willing to share their skills, knowledge and experience, and who can work in a team to ensure good governance and provide strategic direction to the staff team who carry out the day-to-day operations and management.

Trustees should be universally welcoming and supportive of our diverse community.

If you have the following skills and experience, let’s talk:

• Charity management and Development
• Community and Membership Development
• Marketing and Communications
• Social Impact Measurement
• Accountancy / Finance / Investment
• Staff Development

We welcome other skills and experience too and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences who can add value to the organisation.

Duncan Place offers some activities for children. Whilst day to day contact is unlikely, Trustees are involved in safeguarding via policies and procedures, so are therefore required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) Scheme. Duncan Place will organise this at no cost to the Trustee. More details are available here: mygov.scot/pvg-scheme

About Duncan Place Community Hub

Duncan Place Community Hub is a registered charity operating as a social enterprise. Through offering a range of inclusive and low-cost community events, we aim to promote well-being, reduce social isolation, and build social connections in Leith and the surrounding areas.

We also provide affordable office space to organisations making a positive social impact in the area, and hourly room hire for local groups, businesses and individuals.

The organisation has grown from the potential demolition of a very tired council owned community centre, to a fully refurbished hub owned by the charity and serving the people of Leith. The income we generate from tenancies and room hire is used to maintain our building, employ our team at the real living wage, and to subsidise our community events. This innovative model means that the charity is financially healthy, has decent reserves and is able to use funds raised to respond to the communities’ needs without the need to rely on short-term funding.

Our Vision, Mission

Our Vision

Our vision is for a happy healthy community where people are welcomed to take part in what we offer.

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote well-being, reduce social isolation, and build social connections in Leith and the surrounding areas.

We do this through

Offering a range of inclusive and low-cost community events and activities covering a wide range of ages and interests.

Providing affordable office space to organisations making a positive social impact in the area, and hourly room hire for local groups, businesses and individuals.

Generating income from tenancies and room hire to maintain our building, employ our team at the real living wage, and to subsidise our community events.

Our Values

Maintaining Duncan Place Community Hub as a welcoming and inclusive space takes kindness and effort from all of us. We thank all building users for sharing in our values and being part of making it such a great space.

Inclusion: We are committed to creating a space and providing services where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.

Community: The people that use our building, our tenants, room-hirers, staff and visitors are central to all that we do. We are proud to be a part of the diverse and exciting community that is Leith. We will continue to build strong relationships within and outside our organisation to support our community.

Diversity: We celebrate the unique backgrounds and experiences of those that use our community hub.

Wellbeing: We prioritise the health and happiness of all hub users and employees. Physical, mental, social, and emotional health are equally important and underpin the decisions we take.

Making a difference: We strive to create a positive impact on the lives of our members, visitors, employees, tenants and the broader community.

Training Details

Current board members and the chief executive of the charity will provide induction and ongoing support. We will support you to access online training for the role of a charity trustee which is available through Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) and will explore other training opportunities as required and as budget allows.

About Our Board

We are keen to continue developing the organisation by welcoming up to six new Trustees, bringing fresh eyes with a range of skills, experience and perspectives. New Trustees will join our current board of committed and engaged individuals who have been with the charity for between two to six years. Our current chair is reaching the end of their maximum length of service and will be retiring at the next AGM. The board will be appointed at the AGM (18th June) and then, at the first meeting following the AGM, the board themselves will decide on the office bearing roles. Current trustees have skills in organisational management, facilities management, staff support, strategic planning, policy development, treasury skills, funding and more.

Expected Commitment

There are 8-10 in-person board meetings per year. These are currently monthly on a Thursday evening and approx. 1.5-2hrs long. Following a mission and values day last October we will be progressing through our next phase of growth. The frequency of board meetings will be under review with the intention of reducing the number held each year.

Trustees are expected to attend the board meetings and to also join and contribute to sub-groups to oversee ongoing areas of work in line with their interests and/ or organisational need. Depending upon the area of work, the sub-group can be short lived, medium or longer term. The times of the sub-group meetings are flexible and decided by the sub-group members. We hope that potential candidates will commit to a 3-year term of office, but we are realistic and know that ‘life happens!’

The estimated commitment is 4 to 6 hours per month e.g.

• Reading papers in advance of meetings
• Attending and contributing at meetings
• Progressing action points
• Sub-group commitments

Trustees are expected to be confident and self-sufficient in using digital tools, including email, WhatsApp, shared document platforms (such as SharePoint) and video conferencing (teams/ zoom or similar). Board papers and organisational documents are managed digitally; trustees are expected to access these independently using their own device. This means having reliable access to a laptop, tablet, or similar device capable of running a current web browser and accessing cloud-based platforms. A smartphone alone is unlikely to be sufficient for this purpose.

If you have any concerns about meeting these requirements, please contact us to discuss before applying.

Location/Travel Details

Duncan Place Community Hub, 4 Duncan Place, Leith, EH6 8HW

Expenses

Reasonable travel expenses are available. All other expenses must be agreed prior to spending.

Accessibility Details

Disabled parking space available. Ramp access. Accessible loos. Wide corridors and doors. Lift access to upper floors. Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments needed.

What happens next?

Duncan Place is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) – a type of charity that is run by and for its members. The constitution specifies the recruitment process.

• Potential trustees should complete the form linked below.
• We will then invite you to an info session with some of our current trustees and register you as a member. (Candidates must be registered as Ordinary Members of Duncan Place in order to stand for election).
• We will share some info on potential Trustees with our members.
• At the AGM, potential Trustees stand for election and are voted for by our members.
• The Trustees provide good governance for the charity and leadership to the team of paid staff.
• The staff carry out the day-to-day operations of running the organisation.

To share the Board’s collective responsibility for the effective governance of St Joseph’s Services, setting its strategic direction and major policies in accordance with the charities objects, vision, mission and Vincentian Values. To be fully engaged with the ethos of St Joseph’s Services and support the development and future growth and sustainability of the organisation.

Specific Duties:

Leadership and Strategic Direction

• To ensure St Joseph’s Services strategic direction, policies and objectives are clearly established and kept under review, maintaining effective communication with the Chief Executive and senior staff
• To discuss and approve the charity’s annual plan and budget, ensuring that these are formulated within a sound and viable financial framework
• To consider the organisation as a whole and the people we support in all discussion of planning, strategic direction and activity
• To work collaboratively with the Board of Advisors ensuring inclusion and representation of the people we support in our strategic direction
• To bring fresh thinking and ideas to the Trustees discussion, enhancing the boards effectiveness and St Joseph’s ability to deliver its charitable services.

Ensuring Policies and Procedures are in keeping with St Joseph’s aims and objectives

• To ensure robust and comprehensive policies and procedures are in place which meet the charity objectives and safeguard the people we support, staff and the organisation.

Safeguarding Ethos and Values

• Safeguarding and promotion of the Vincentian Ethos and the particular Vincentian Values of the organisation.

Ensuring Best Practice

• To fulfil the Trustee’s legal and financial responsibilities – ensuring risk and compliance is appropriately managed
• To maintain partnership and good relations with the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team, the wider staff team and the people we support.
• To be an active member of the Board and as appropriate, any of its Sub-Committees and Working Groups
• To ensure St Joseph’s Services complies with all appropriate regulatory and statutory bodies: Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), Companies House, The Care Inspectorate (SCWIS), Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• To monitor Health and Safety compliance and ensure staff members, volunteers and People we support live and work in a safe and healthy environment.

Commitment:

Four Trustee meetings are held annually plus one development day. Trustees may also be asked to chair / sit on organisational sub-committees.

Meetings are held in St Joseph’s Services Head Office, in Rosewell, Midlothian.

Person Specification:

• A commitment to support services to Adults with a Learning Disability
• A strong commitment to the vision and mission of St Joseph’s Services
• Support the upholding of St Joseph’s Services Christian Principles and Vincentian Philosophy and Values.
• Ability to think and act strategically, using your expertise, skills and knowledge to help our own team deliver this growth.
• Good independent judgement and the ability to communicate effectively with others
• Ability to forge effective relationships with stakeholders internally and externally to further the organisations strategy.
• Knowledge / Experience of the Third Sector
• Ability to devote sufficient time to St Joseph’s Services
• Willingness to attend events in support of St Joseph’s Services
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of trusteeship.

About us

Established in 1924, we provide high quality person-centred care and support services to adults with learning disabilities in a variety of locations in Midlothian and Edinburgh. The flexibility we offer means people have individualised care and support plans which are tailored around their current lifestyle. Our large and experienced organisation is set up in models of ‘Circles of Best Practice’ to ensure that all we do focuses on connection, friendship, inclusion and belonging.