An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and experienced manager to oversee the day-to-day management of Cruse Scotland North Area, this includes our teams in Grampian, Highlands and Islands.

Candidates are required to have excellent interpersonal and organisational skills to provide volunteer managerial support, which is often provided from a distance.

Excellent communication skills are essential as the postholder is required to respond effectively to a wide range of enquiries which include bereaved people. You will be required to establish effective working relationships with a range of Cruse Scotland volunteers and staff, as well as funders and partnership organisations. Experience in volunteer management would be advantageous.

Due to the geographical spread of the role, from time to time the postholder will be required to travel to each of the service bases within North Area; and to other locations within Scotland for meetings and training.

The role is hybrid with a minimum of one day a week in our office at Rose Street, Aberdeen including management of the area co-ordinator (staff).

About Cruse Scotland: We are Scotland’s leading bereavement charity, providing bereavement support to anyone in Scotland who needs us. Bereavement is often one of the toughest experiences that people will face in their lifetime and for some it can be truly debilitating and completely overwhelming. The range of support we offer includes our helpline, instant web-based support, individual and group counselling support, children and young people’s services, training to workplaces and more. See our website crusescotland.org.uk for more information.

The most remarkable thing about Cruse Scotland is the fact that our client services are delivered purely by a volunteer workforce - who are all trained to professional standards. It’s fair to say that their motivation and commitment is contagious, and as such, we value their contributions highly.

Our volunteer workforce of 250 people is located in communities across Scotland and are supported by a small but mighty staff team of 18, the majority of whom are employed part time. The staff team comprise a mix of roles and talents and share a similar passion for the work of Cruse Scotland. The staff team connects fortnightly to ensure a real sense of community and good relationships across the team.

Feedback from our staff satisfaction survey included:

“I haven't been here long, but I can confidently say Cruse Scotland is one of the best organisations I have worked for, both from work and flexibility and overall organisation support from all staff and management”

“I find Cruse Scotland to be a very inclusive organisation with a great ethos, responsive to staff and volunteers”

The Support Worker role is to support and engage with people to manage and recover their mental health, in line with our trauma-informed approach. You will help people with safer substance use and assist them with the process when they choose to stop. You will assist our people to build a positive network of connections to enable them to gain and sustain their own housing.

As a Support Worker, you will provide work alongside people impacted by homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges and trauma. You will provide guidance and assistance to the people we support to achieve their goals of securing safe housing and accessing the necessary support to feel secure, manage their challenges and live an independent life free from harm or abuse.

We are very excited to be launching our mentoring programme in the Dumfries and Galloway and are looking for a Mentor Services Coordinator to support volunteer mentors in the region. This is a unique opportunity to be involved in introducing our programme from the very beginning.

About the role

Our Mentor Services Coordinators are the key contacts for our volunteer mentors from their first enquiry about mentoring until they are matched with a young person. The Mentor Services Coordinators conduct in depth interviews with all prospective volunteer mentors, organise training, organise PVG checks and make the process as smooth and supported as possible.

Key responsibilities:

• Providing excellent customer service to prospective and existing mentors using strong communication skills on the telephone, in virtual meetings, by email and sometimes in person
• Ensure all of our volunteer mentors are individually supported and fully engaged at every stage of their mentor journey
• Deliver information sessions, participate in mentor one-to-one conversations and facilitate mentor training sessions and other mentor engagement activities.

About you

• Customer service experience
• Must be based in Dumfries and Galloway
• Experience of or strong interest in working or volunteering in the charity or third sectors
• An understanding of young people and educational settings
• People person with excellent communication and listening skills and empathy
• Well organised with great administrative skills and attention to detail
• Excellent desktop and database skills

About us

MCR Pathways is an award-winning charity established in Glasgow in 2007. Our mentoring programme is now delivered in schools across the whole of Scotland as well as North East and South East England. We are committed to helping the country’s most vulnerable young people gain self-confidence, identify their skills and recognise and fulfil their potential.

Our mission: To connect every young person with a trusted adult mentor, someone who sparks confidence, fuels ambition, and walks beside them as they find their way.

Our vision: MCR Pathways will work until every young person has someone to help them find their way.

You will be joining a friendly and supportive team who love what they do and enjoy working with each other. MCR Pathways’ values are Respect, Communication, Trust and Growth and they inform everything we do.

Benefits of working for MCR Pathways include: 30 days annual leave in first year rising to 35 days from 2nd year of employment, 3 further days of annual leave between the December and January public holidays, additional day off for your birthday, Employee Assistance Programme, Life Assurance – 4 x salary.

We are delighted to be launching our mentoring programme in Dumfries and Galloway and are looking for a Programme Manager. This is a unique opportunity to be involved right from the beginning – launching and implementing MCR Pathways’ Mentoring Programme across secondary schools and college campuses.

About the role

You must be based in Dumfries and Galloway and will manage all aspects of the MCR Pathways programme delivery, actively engaging with participating schools, colleges, the local authority and key partners including Skills Development Scotland and Developing the Young Workforce.

In this role, you will empower your regional team to drive substantive, positive change for young people by supporting and challenging appointed delivery leads to build a vibrant, impactful mentoring programme. Additionally, you will lead mentor recruitment, training, and support initiatives to guarantee every young person has access to a dedicated mentor, while managing your local Mentor Services Coordinator to align the mentor pipeline perfectly with the local need.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead on and manage all aspects of programme delivery
• Provide support, development, training, management and motivation to MCR staff and delivery leads
• Support integration of the programme and a consistently high quality standard of programme delivery across all settings
• Develop and support partnerships with the Local Councils, further and higher education institutions, local business and all MCR stakeholders
• Provide analysis of programme performance, impact and development

About you

• Experience of developing and effectively managing teams and programmes
• Self-motivated and skilled at motivating others
• Experience of or strong interest in working or volunteering in the third sector
• Experience of working within or in collaboration with secondary schools and or further education
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Attention to detail and ability to prioritise

About us

MCR Pathways is an award-winning charity established in Glasgow in 2007. Our mentoring programme is now delivered in schools across the whole of Scotland as well as North East and South East England. We are committed to helping the country’s most vulnerable young people gain self-confidence, identify their skills and recognise and fulfil their potential.

Our mission: To connect every young person with a trusted adult mentor, someone who sparks confidence, fuels ambition, and walks beside them as they find their way.

Our vision: MCR Pathways will work until every young person has someone to help them find their way.

You will be joining a friendly and supportive team who love what they do and enjoy working with each other. MCR Pathways’ values are Respect, Communication, Trust and Growth and they inform everything we do.

Benefits of working for MCR Pathways include: 30 days annual leave in first year rising to 35 days from 2nd year of employment, 3 further days of annual leave between the December and January public holidays, additional day off for your birthday, Employee Assistance Programme, Life Assurance – 4 x salary.