Join the Board of East and Southeast Asian Scotland (ESAS)

About ESAS

East and Southeast Asian Scotland (ESAS) is a community-led organisation working for justice, rights, and empowerment of East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities across Scotland. We centre the voices of ESEA people while building solidarity and belonging across diverse communities.

• Founded in 2020 and incorporated as a Community Interest Company, ESAS has grown into a trusted and recognised voice. Our achievements include:
• Leading community research (Migrant Life in Scotland survey) on ESEA migrants’ access to services during the pandemic.
• Delivering emergency food, clothing, and IT support during COVID-19.
• Supporting wellbeing and inclusion through peer support groups, befriending, English lessons, and women’s sessions.
• Partnering with COSLA and the Scottish Government to support Hong Kong BN(O) migrants and improve access to services.
• Providing hate incident reporting and casework support through the national On Your Side service.
• Advocating for labour rights across the UK through the ESEA Migrant Alliance UK project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

The opportunity

We are seeking new Board Directors who share our commitment to justice, rights, and empowerment. As a Director, you will play a vital role in shaping strategy, strengthening governance, and ensuring our work has lasting impact.

Previous Board experience is not essential—we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, skills, and lived experience. We are particularly interested in candidates with knowledge or experience in:

• Governance and organisational leadership
• Finance (including an applicant for the Treasurer role)
• Fundraising and understanding of the NGO/funding landscape
• HR and compliance
• UK policy and systems that shape migrant and community wellbeing

Commitment

This is a voluntary, non-executive role (reasonable expenses reimbursed). The time commitment is around 29 hours per year, covering meetings, preparation, and occasional reviews. Meetings are mainly online, with one in-person meeting in Scotland annually. Every five years, Directors attend a Governance Development Weekend (the next in Jan/March 2026).

Why join us?

• Make a meaningful contribution to long-term systemic change for ESEA communities.
• Help shape the governance of a growing, grassroots organisation at a pivotal stage.
• Gain experience in third-sector governance, policy advocacy, and organisational development.
• Connect with grassroots communities, statutory partners, and national networks.

Are you interested in supporting ambitious community groups take assets into community ownership? Do you have experience of supporting organisations at different stages of their development? This could include community engagement, organisational development, governance, feasibility/ business planning or financial advice.

We are looking for an Advisor to join our team and provide a range of services for communities from one-to-one advice at every stage of the asset transfer process, access to Expert Help, networking and training opportunities.

This post will cover Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. It will involve hybrid working from home and office, with travel throughout the country.

Ark is a major provider of Housing, Care and Support to people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and autism.

Ark supports people to live independently in their own homes providing everything from a few hours a week social and life admin support to 24/7 care supporting with personal care, medication, household tasks, attending appointments and leisure activities.

We have lots of opportunities across Scotland for our Support Worker roles. As we provide full training no previous is experience is required.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting people to live their best lives, then apply now to join our team!

Your main duties will include but not be limited to:

• Working with colleagues as part of an effective and efficient team to support vulnerable people.
• Communicate and work well with our supported people to provide individual care and maintain appropriate relationships.
• Being responsible in supporting individuals throughout the activities, giving positive feedback and encouragement.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records using a tablet on Arks Information Management system.

Previous experience of the following is an advantage but not essential as Ark will provide full training: Care Worker, Social worker, Home Carer, Case Worker, Care Assistant, Autism Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant , Social Care Worker.

View our job outline, find out what you working week could look like and hear from our current Support Workers on Arks website arkha.org.uk/work-with-us

Why Ark?

• No Previous Experience Required - Ark provide full training so no previous experience is required making our Support Worker roles the perfect place to start your career in Adult Social Care.
• Get a qualification while you work - Ark fully fund your SVQ2 in Health & Social Care which you complete with the support of our in house SVQ team.
• Employee Discounts - Employee Discounts Portal with 1000s of discounts on your favourite brands including Supermarkets, Cinema Tickets, Gym Membership and Holidays.
• Career Progression -Over 75% of all Managers within Care & Support have been promoted internally.
• Employee Assistance Program - Arks Employee Assistance program (EAP) gives all employees access to counselling sessions. There is also support available through weekly webinars and the EAP Website & App.
• Contracted hours to suit you-We have Full-time, Part-time and Relief Support Worker roles available at our services throughout Scotland.

In return for your valuable contribution, Ark will also offer you:

• Up to 36 days paid holiday per year pro rata
• 4% Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Fully funded PVG & 1st year SSSC registration paid by Ark

Our employees told us in a recent survey that they stay with Ark because they believe in our values, we have supportive managers who continually appreciate their staff and they love making a positive difference in our supported peoples lives, helping them to achieve their dreams.

Ark would love to hear from you whether you are an experienced Support Worker or new to Social Care.

Scottish Book Trust is Scotland’s national reading charity. We believe that reading and writing for pleasure can transform lives – supporting mental health, breaking the poverty cycle, improving employability and inspiring creativity. Every year, our programmes reach over three million people across Scotland, from babies receiving their first Bookbug bag to adults discovering the joy of storytelling.

You'll find us in schools, libraries and community spaces across Scotland – in towns, cities and in isolated rural communities. We bring books to life for children in care, families experiencing hardship, people in prison and anyone who may not otherwise have access to the joy of reading. In short, we go wherever we’re needed most.

We are looking for up to three new Trustees to join our Board and help guide this work. Trustees play a vital role in shaping our strategy, ensuring good governance, and championing our mission to make books and stories accessible to everyone.

We want a Board that better reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We particularly encourage applications from people who are currently underrepresented on our Board, including people from minority ethnic communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, and people with lived experience of poverty or marginalisation. We also welcome younger voices and first-time Trustees, and we provide training, mentoring and ongoing support.

We’re interested in your values, your ideas and your lived experience, as well as any professional skills you may bring.

Experience in any of the following areas would be helpful (but not essential), and you do not need to meet all of these:

• Strategic thinking and leadership
• Advocacy or influencing decision-makers
• Education, culture or community engagement
• Finance, audit or risk management
• Fundraising or financial planning
• Working with the Scottish Government or local authorities