Scottish Refugee Council is Scotland’s national refugee charity. We provide support and advice to individuals and families, promote community integration, stand up for refugee rights and campaign for a fairer and more humane asylum system.

We are seeking a Chair to lead our board of directors when the current Chair’s term ends in March 2025. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence the development of the organisation as it enters its 40th year.

Currently in the second year of our five-year strategic plan, we are consolidating after a period of rapid growth. Our recently launched Refugee Support Service is an ambitious, Scotland-wide response to the changing context for Scotland’s refugees and wider dispersal of people in the asylum system. We are strengthening our presence across the country to support statutory and voluntary sector partners to address refugees’ needs and protect their rights, while widening access to direct support and advice through our helpline and digital solutions. Continuing to advocate for refugee rights and asylum reform, we are rising to the challenge of ensuring our long-term sustainability by restructuring to deliver the Refugee Support Service and diversifying our funding base.

Of equal importance is ensuring all our work fully involves, and is driven by, people with lived experience of refugee protection. With strong representation at board level and among our committed and creative staff and volunteers, we have a good foundation on which to build.

Your commitment

As Chair of Scottish Refugee Council, you will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of the charity, ensuring the highest standards of charity governance and effective oversight of its operations and advocacy. Drawing on your substantial non-executive experience, ideally as Chair, you will ensure a cohesive and well-functioning board where diverse views are encouraged to improve consensus decision-making.

You will work closely with board colleagues through sub-committees and quarterly board meetings and provide support and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive, Sabir Zazai, and his senior team. With a track record of identifying and mitigating risk, you will protect and promote the charity’s excellent reputation, and represent us at external events and with key stakeholders.

The role currently takes on average one day a week, with busier periods around quarterly meetings. It is an opportunity to make a real difference, helping refugees to navigate challenges and connect, contribute and thrive in their community.

To note, there is the potential for this role to be that of Co-Chair, along with an existing Scottish Refugee Council Board member and this can be discussed further should a Co-Chair option be of interest.

The Butterfly Trust is the lead agency providing social support for people affected by Cystic Fibrosis throughout Scotland. We provide a comprehensive and diverse range of outreach services for all ages of people with Cystic Fibrosis and their families across Scotland.

We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic, creative and personable individual to join our team. With an appropriate skillset to add value and who has ambition for continued personal and professional development. Someone with a keen interest in promotion, marketing and social media.

We will provide both in-house and external training to ensure all of our team have appropriate skills and knowledge to fulfil their role to the best of their ability.

The Promotion & Finance Assistant will be responsible for collating content for our social media accounts, promotional activities, newsletters along with assisting with inputting invoices into our accounts system and supporting our Fundraising Department. This role is varied and brings the opportunity for training and development.

Full driving licence and a car is essential.

For this regulated work the successful candidate will be required to gain/maintain PVG scheme membership which will be paid for by the Trust.

We offer:

• Out of pocket expenses
• Mileage allowance
• Individual staff training budget/in-house training
• Generous holiday entitlement

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 subsidiary board, at a very exciting time for Ark. We are entering year 2 of our Corporate Strategy and have set an ambitious set of aims to develop and grow the business with a robust set of performance targets. As a new Board Member you will play a key part in developing and enabling the delivery of the business plan 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 or Housing/Asset 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 will be made up of 5 or 6 individuals and chaired by an exisitng board member from Ark Group. 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.

Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) was formed over 50 years ago to provide a holistic advice service to the residents of Hamilton. As a member of the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux network, Hamilton CAB aims to provide free, independent, impartial, and confidential advice and information to ensure that people understand their rights and responsibilities and can express their needs effectively. We campaign and influence to tackle the root cause of the problems people face and work to strengthen their rights.

Hamilton CAB currently operates from two offices in Hamilton and are supported by 18 members of staff and 31 volunteers including board members. The Bureau supports individuals with a wide range of general enquiries whilst project staff provide specialist support on topics including benefits, debt, utilities, and money matters.

The role:

We are seeking a committed and dynamic individual to serve as the Chair of our organisation.

As Chair, you will play a vital role by providing strategic leadership to the board, ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation. You will also provide line management, support and direction to the Chief Officer, helping them to achieve the organisation’s aims and objectives; and ensures the smooth running of Hamilton CAB.

We are looking for an individual who has experience of leadership and governance. You will have a passion for the voluntary sector, strong leadership skills and an ability to drive forward positive change.

Although, not financially remunerated, the role is high profile and respected within the community and will offer a great challenge, learning and networking opportunity for the right person.

There are an average of 6 Board meetings per year to commit to as well as preparation time and regular collaboration /communications with the team and stakeholders.