Main Purpose:

To break the cycle of food bank dependency by building financial capacity, energy capability and independent living skills within the target community; reducing social isolation, tackling poverty and inequality, reducing social drift, building community cohesion and developing community capacity and resilience.

Roles & responsibilities

The post-holder will support TRI (Tackling Rural Isolation) Outreach Support Service users to achieve increased financial capacity, become energy capable and develop independent living skills, by providing bespoke advice, support & advocacy as follows:

• Assistance with mitigating the impact of the cost of living crisis and maximising income.
• Help with financial and digital inclusion: support to access bank accounts & to digitally access cheaper services to free up income and build digital capacity, confidence and savings.
• Support to access appropriate affordable borrowing; to explain implications of borrowing; and to access debt resolution strategies.
• Support to access, efficiently use and manage economically viable energy provision in partnership with the Stirling CAB Energy Advice team
• Social prescribing & assistance to access further support to address underlying vulnerabilities such as loneliness, mental health, addiction, chaotic lifestyles, offending behaviours.
• Support to better integrate into the local community to address social & economic isolation and loneliness.
• Support for developing financial confidence and responsible financial management, improving independent living skills.

Full details can be found in the job description below.

Are you passionate about making a difference to your local community? Are you willing and able to give up some of your valuable time to work with a Charity that has a social ethos and values to make a difference in the local communities we serve? As the need for our services has grown, we are looking for new trustees to contribute to help us develop and deliver our strategy, values and vision.

About East Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau

As a member of the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux network, East Ayrshire CAB provides 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.

East Ayrshire CAB currently operates from two offices in Kilmarnock and Cumnock. We have 17 staff and are supported by 12 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’d like to enhance our board to better reflect the diverse individuals and communities we work alongside, so we welcome applications from all backgrounds. Our bureau is a place for learning, innovating and connecting, so whether you’re already an experienced trustee, or taking your first step, we’d love to hear from you. Just some examples of the experience or expertise you may bring include:

• Equality, diversity and inclusion

• Third sector leadership and governance

• Digital strategy

• Legal

You may bring different skills and strengths – more important is your passion to use your skills and experience in guiding and supporting us as we tackle the challenges people face today.

Becoming a volunteer Board member is not just about what you can offer us, it is a rewarding role that helps you learn new skills, broaden your network, raising your profile and make a real difference for the people in East Ayrshire.

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

The post holder will be responsible for developing and delivering training courses/sessions to enable the EASE Project end users (AFTAR/CAB tenants of five partner Housing Associations, located throughout North Lanarkshire) to empower digitally excluded clients to claim online benefits, grants, offer IT sessions and employability sessions. The post- holder will have responsibility for planning group training sessions as well as one to one coaching sessions for the end users in their own home, or at community based venues or at partners’ premises. Learning will be evaluated through client user surveys and other feedback.

Owing to the flexible delivery nature of this project, a clean current driving licence and use of a car is required for this post.

Employee Benefits

• Competitive reward package including annual performance bonus scheme

• 5% employer pension contributions

• Generous holiday entitlement 38 days inclusive of public holidays

• Additional holidays for length of service

• Family friendly policies

• Home & Flexible working scheme

• Occupational Sick Pay

• Dedicated Training and Personal Development Budget as part of our Talent Management Pool

• Leadership Mentoring

• A wide range of Social Events and Team Building Days

VisionPK is an exciting and growing charity, recently opening our new Sensory Hub in the heart of Perth. We provide specialist services for people with sight and hearing loss living within the Perth and Kinross local authority area.

We are currently recruiting a Community Involvement Coordinator, which is a newly created role, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. This role will strengthen VisionPK’s presence in the community by overseeing volunteer recruitment and governance, building stakeholder relationships and managing our telephone befriending project.

The Role

Volunteer Recruitment and Governance

• Collaborate with the CEO to update and implement volunteer management policies, ensuring legal compliance and best practices.
• Develop and deliver induction and ongoing training for volunteers, equipping them with the skills needed to contribute effectively.
• Provide continuous guidance and supervision to volunteers, ensuring a positive experience and high performance in their roles.

Community Engagement and Relationship Building

• Establish strong connections with local community groups, service users, and stakeholders to expand VisionPK’s network and influence.
• Work with community partners to align VisionPK services with local needs and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Raise awareness of VisionPK’s services through participation in local events, presentations, and outreach activities.

Telephone Befriending Project Leadership

• Lead the setup and delivery of VisionPK’s new telephone befriending project, designed to support isolated individuals with sensory impairments.
• Build and manage a dedicated team of volunteers for the befriending service, ensuring they are well-trained and supported.
• Promote the befriending project throughout the community to engage potential service users and volunteers.
• Track the project’s impact, providing regular reports and recommending improvements as needed.

Raising Awareness and Promoting VisionPK

• Actively promote VisionPK’s services, events, and initiatives through local and digital channels.
• Work closely with the Fundraising Manager to implement community-based fundraising events that engage local supporters and raise essential funds for the charity.

About You

• Experience in volunteer management, community engagement, or project coordination.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse groups.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• A proactive, collaborative, and compassionate individual who is passionate about making a positive difference.

Why Join Us

• Be part of an exciting time as we grow and develop our newly opened Sensory Hub in Perth.
• Make a real difference in the lives of people with sensory loss.
• Join a supportive and fun team that values hard work and collaboration.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.