Fife International Forum is a leading third-sector charity dedicated to supporting migrant and refugee communities across Fife. We work in partnership with these communities and other stakeholders to deliver holistic, professional, and high-quality services. Our people-led approach is grounded in human rights, aiming to foster positive, inclusive community development and integration. Our vision is to build a sustainable, collaborative organisation focused on engagement, participation, and social cohesion. We empower individuals to fully contribute to their communities and advocate for policy and practice changes that benefit migrant and refugee populations.

Join our Board of Trustees to help lead and shape our charity's mission.

We are looking to fill several Trustee vacancies to assist with the governance and in continuing to set the strategic direction of the organisation with current Members, ensuring its long-term success. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, skills, and experiences. If you think you have something to offer, please get in contact with us. A list of responsibilities and full person specification is available in the downloadable document.

Further information on the role, responsibilities and duties of Trustees is available on the website of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

The full role descriptions for Trustees are available to download.

ABOUT EAST LOTHIAN COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP

Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) were first established in England in the 1990s as a formal mechanism to reinvigorate local and rural railways. CRP status provides a framework for community involvement in strategic planning, development and operation of a specific railway line.

Since 2014, the East Lothian Community Rail Partnership has been pulling together a wide range of local organisations with an interest in communities and sustainable transport, to fix the link between railway stations, town centres and the surrounding areas, and realise an integrated transport network accessible to all. We work with four train operators (ScotRail, LNER, TransPennine Express, and Cross Country), Transport Scotland, East Lothian Council, the Regional Transport Partnership (SEStran), local businesses and community groups towards the following aims:

• Supporting the local economy by promoting rail use and rail facilities
• Actively promoting the use of rail and other public and low carbon-emitting transport
• Supporting safety, security and access initiatives relating to railway use
• Working with ‘station adopters’ (individuals and groups) to provide a more pleasant environment within the station areas.

ABOUT THE VACANCY

Harry Barker has been chairing East Lothian CRP since its inception in 2014 and is now preparing to pass on the reins of a well-established and respected organisation. In addition the time is right to expand the Board and also appoint a vice chair. Examples of projects completed to date include:

• restored the murals at Prestonpans Station (best community project 2023)
• improved signage to stations
• provided information boards for display in stations promoting local attractions and historical information
• supported many local events in the North Berwick and Dunbar areas
• producing a line guide and leaflets to encourage tourism
• working with bus operators to improve integration between bus and rail

Projects have always been dependent on external funding which to date has not proved problematical, and, as such, the incoming Chair will have the flexibility to pursue their own agenda. The CRP is financially sound and new ways of operating are being explored by The Community Rail Network and the new Chair will be well placed to provide input to these.

East Lothian CRP has no paid staff, and projects are led by volunteers under direction from the Board, and therefore the amount of work involved can vary but can be expected to be around 10 hours per month for the Chair.

DUTIES OF THE CHAIR

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that the CRP is run in accordance with the constitution
• Guiding and encouraging projects that will be undertaken from time to time
• Ensuring that the Action Plan is kept up to date
• Chairing four meetings per year, including the AGM (normally held in November)
• Producing an annual report for the AGM
• Ensuring that the activities of the CRP are within the guidelines produced by the Train Operating Companies in all respects particularly including safely

BENEFITS

You will receive a ‘staff’ rail pass from ScotRail permitting free rail travel throughout Scotland when travelling on ScotRail trains.

Reasonable expenses will be paid if required to travel on other rail services and/or stay overnight.

REQUIREMENTS

The successful applicant will be expected to support public transport in general, with a keen interest in integration between modes such as buses, active travel and rail.

A willingness of Board members to attend committees and conferences is essential (expenses will be covered) and these will give valuable access to professional railway staff and management on the front line, where your views can be heard. These include:

• the local ‘Rail Forum’ involving MSPs, Councillors and Train Operating Companies - twice a year, usually virtually
• in-person or virtual annual conferences of the four local Train Operating Companies (ScotRail, Cross Country Trains, TransPennine Express, and LNER) which may be held anywhere in the UK
• An annual event in Scotland sponsored by Modern Railways magazine which is attended by many high profile railway managers and senior representation from Transport Scotland
• Virtual attendance (via Zoom) at the national Community Rail Network meetings
• In-person Community Rail Networks Awards ceremony, if the CRP is short listed for an Award – this year’s was in Swansea over three days
• Six Community Area Partnership ‘On the Move’ groups consider local transport in East Lothian – CRP representation on one or more of these groups is important for a full appreciation of issues surrounding each station. Each On the Move Group meets every two months

A knowledge of railways and their workings is desirable but not essential.

Living in East Lothian and using the county’s rail services from time to time would be advantageous.

You will be expected to liaise with the station adoption groups from time to time. They have a separate relationship with ScotRail.

You will be expected to be pro-active in instructing the website to be kept up to date via the CRP’s appointed webmaster, and in responding to public enquiries which come via the website. You will not be required to answer complaints from the travelling public but direct these to ScotRail for attention.

From time to time it may be necessary to communicate with the local Press (East Lothian Courier and occasionally Edinburgh Evening News).

St Andrews Botanic Garden Trust is looking to recruit two trustees to join its Board of Directors at a time of significant organisational transformation and change.

We are looking for capable, organised and experienced individuals with a strong professional background who share our enthusiasm for plants and their habitats, and our broader commitment to education and sustainability. New trustees will be joining a collegial Board of Directors dedicated to supporting the Garden as it navigates new opportunities in a challenging and ever-changing environment.

Our mission of botanical conservation and education has seen us take transformational steps in a short period of time, including development of the Garden’s habitats, investment in building projects, growth in the team, establishment of national and regional partnerships, and publication of research that establishes the botanic garden’s expertise in urban ecology.

These steps have been critical to establishing strong foundations, and our focus now is to consolidate this progress by preparing for ambitious capital investment and in turn, growth in turnover and expansion of our charitable activities. The success of these next steps will depend on governance and strategic plans that connect our mission and opportunities with society’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.

The Ecology Centre is looking for a Chair to lead our community and environmental charity in collaboration with the Board of Trustees. We are looking for an individual to join our dedicated and expanding Board of Trustees to ensure effective strategic oversight and governance of the charity in line with our mission, vision and values. If you might be the right fit for our charity, we’d love to hear from you.

About Us:

The Ecology Centre’s vision is to connect people and nature for the sustainable wellbeing of both. We aim to provide a welcoming, safe and green space for communities to connect with each other and celebrate the joy of nature. We foster connections between people and the environment through environmental education for all and provide benefit to community, health and wellbeing.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for an individual who shares our values and who brings suitable commercial acumen and leadership skills to drive strategic growth and effective governance. As Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will play a critical role in designing and overseeing the strategic direction of our charity in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and General Manager. You will act as Chair to a close-knit, committed Board of Trustees, ensuring robust financial oversight, governance and innovation. We are looking for an individual who can help to bring our mission and vision to life and who can oversee the effective commercial management of the charity. Proven leadership experience within the charity sector is preferred but we are open to hearing from any individuals who can bring a proven track-record and understanding of leadership and financial management and who fits our values. Key responsibilities will include:

Providing strategic leadership to the charity in collaboration with the Board of Trustees

Guiding the short and long-term strategic development of the charity

Assuring and strengthening effective governance, including effective controls and monitoring of financial health, risk management and legal compliance

Building strong relationships with key stakeholders (in the community and beyond) to establish best practice sharing and an effective fundraising strategy

Managing a collaborative and inclusive culture at all levels of the charity and working closely with the Board of Trustees, General Manager and management team to ensure a thriving charity in line with our values.