About Under the Trees

Under the Trees is now in its 15th year of providing positive experiences in the outdoors, delivering a wide range of outdoor learning and wellbeing experiences including topic-based wildlife and environmental education, Forest School and Forest Kindergarten, outdoor play sessions, guided wildlife walks, woodland wellbeing sessions, practical conservation sessions, accredited outdoor education training and more! Partner organisations include local schools, community groups and we delivery to families too. For us no two days look the same.

It is recommended that you visit our website and social media pages to gain an understanding of who we are!

Role Overview:

We are seeking a skilled fundraising officer to help ensure that all the services that we provide, and the ancillary costs are fully funded by developing positive relationships with funders of different types including government bodies, corporate foundations, grant-making trusts, and others, writing high quality funding applications and producing timely, accurate reports showing the positive impact of funder generosity. Some additional admin duties related to the direct sales and delivery of services may be required.

This is a part-time position working 16 hours weekly. We envisage this normally being spread across two working days.

Experience in making successful funding bids within the Scottish charity sector is essential. Experience in outdoor learning is not required for this role, but a genuine interest in outdoor experiences will help you to settle in with the team.

A driving licence is not required for this role.

Where You Will Be Working:

You will be based at our office in Grangemouth in Falkirk District. We have two units within Newhouse Business Park which has good public transport connections and is close to Falkirk’s Active Travel network including National Cycle Route 76. Bicycles (including UK legal ebikes) may be brought into the building for secure storage while working.

Home working may be possible after completion of your probationary period, dependent on the needs of the business.

As part of our succession planning the Social Enterprise Academy are looking to recruit up to 3 new volunteer Board members who are interested in supporting our vision and being part of making amazing change happen and are able to commit to a minimum of 45 hours per year.

We are particularly interested in applications from those with expertise or experience in any of the following areas:

• Connecting us - someone who is commercially minded and who can support us in connecting with future funders and corporate partners
• Promoting us - a digital marketeer who can help us build our reach
• Being a True Entrepreneur - understands what we do and can bring entrepreneurial thinking

As well as having the wider professional skills and experiences that we need on the board we also want a board that reflects and understands the people that we serve.

We will choose candidates who, overall, offer the best contribution and fit with our values. Relevant skills and experience are important but previous board experience is not essential, nor is a long career at a senior level. Applications from first-time board members are welcomed. All board members will be given a full induction and will be supported to maximise the value of their contribution.

Through this recruitment process, we will also be considering whether some applicants who are not chosen for a board role might be open to a committee or advisory role with the Academy.

What does being a board member mean?

As a board member you will work with our Chair, fellow board members and our Chief Executive to contribute towards the future of the organisation. Your work will help ensure that we continue to deliver a high-quality service and encourage innovation in learning and enterprise. You will be legally responsible for the organisation and will be supported in fully understanding how to carry out your role. You will provide ideas, insight, feedback, and positive challenge in order to help increase our reach and impact.

The responsibilities of the board include:

• Overall good governance of the organisation
• Overall strategy of the organisation
• Overall sustainability of the organisation and ensuring finances are well-managed and reported
• Ensuring the organisation acts in accordance with its charitable aims
• Ensuring the organisation fulfils its legal obligations in relation to its charitable and company status

As well as fulfilling these responsibilities the Academy board is a creative and strategic group, engaging with the sector and the wider staff team to support the success of the organisation and its people. It is a supportive and collaborative board with individuals committed to the values of social enterprise and learning and who all bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise and perspectives.

All new board members will undertake an induction process to get to know the Academy, the team and your fellow board members.

Why join the Social Enterprise Academy Board?

This is a unique opportunity to join a motivated and committed board who are working together to shape the future of a leading learning and development organisation supporting social change. Given the Academy’s role in national policy discussions and its international replication, you will have influence considerably beyond the immediate reach of the Academy.

Through your board role you will expand your contacts, knowledge and skills and you will connect with a vibrant and committed group of staff, facilitators and learners in the fast-growing space around social impact.

Interested?

For more information about the role and how to apply please download the recruitment pack from our website.

We are offering opportunities for you to engage with us before applying. You can arrange an informal phone/Skype/WhatsApp/Zoom conversation with our Chief Executive or Chair. Please find details about how to contact us in the recruitment pack.

Organisation profile:

At the Social Enterprise Academy, we believe social entrepreneurs play an essential role in changing the world.

We strengthen their role in local communities through transformational learning programmes that will increase their community impact.

Our programmes are accredited, responsive to learner needs, and are delivered by experienced facilitators who are social change leaders themselves.

Since 2004, we have delivered over 1,900 learning programmes to 28,000+ learners in over 30 countries. We have also engaged over 55,000 young people around the world, using social enterprise as a tool to help them reach their full potential and create positive change in their communities.

Do you believe education is key to transforming lives and communities? Would you like to be part of reimagining education for millions of children? This is your chance to work at the heart of our mission: supporting changemakers across India and South Africa to unlock life-changing learning for every child.

The Maitri Trust is looking for an experienced Grant Portfolio Manager to join our Programmes team. We're seeking someone who believes in the power of strategic philanthropy to identify and scale impactful primary education solutions that have the potential to reach millions of children.

You will manage a dynamic and diverse portfolio of grants across both countries, provide strategic guidance and capacity building support to help our partners grow and scale their impact, and lead the process of identifying new partners through open calls. You'll travel to visit partners and projects and build deep relationships with inspiring people and organisations working to ensure every child can learn, grow and thrive.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The Grant Portfolio Manager plays a central role in ensuring the Maitri Trust’s grantmaking delivers maximum impact. You will manage and support a diverse portfolio of strategically aligned partners, building close and flexible relationships to strengthen capacity, track progress, and respond to challenges as they arise. Alongside this, you will co-lead on the design, delivery, and onboarding of new partners through open calls helping to identify impactful and scalable initiatives. Working closely with colleagues across the team, you will help ensure that evidence from the portfolio drives learning, decision-making, and strategic alignment.