goodmoves

Solas Festival is looking for a treasurer to join our board and support the delivery of one of Scotland’s friendliest small festivals.

About Solas Festival

Solas Festival - Scotland’s midsummer festival - has been running since 2009. The all-age, weekend-long celebration of music and the arts is designed to entertain, inspire and challenge. It takes place at Errol Park, Perthshire, a beautiful site overlooking the silvery Tay.

Our programme makes space for challenging debate with activists, writers and thinkers from across the political, cultural and religious spectrum. The festival offers a broad, inclusive, creative and entertaining programme for festival-goers of all ages in a safe environment; everyone is welcome.

Role Description

The role of the Treasurer is to assist and advise the board in overseeing the finances of the organisation. The Treasurer will also be a member of the board and will have opportunity to get involved in other aspects of the running of the festival.

There is some flexibility in the role, which could be adapted to suit the right person, but broadly speaking the treasurer would:

• Present budgets, accounts and financial statements to the Board as required.
• Ensure appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
• Be a signatory on cheques and authorise key payments.
• Prepare and publish accounts in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies.

The ideal person would have a good understanding of financial administration and budget management in the charity, private or public sectors. Full role description downloadable below.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

Solas Festival is a small charity and this is a great opportunity to get involved at the heart of it and directly influence its development. As well as building on your governance, leadership and financial management experience, it’s a chance to get to know the board and creative team behind the festival, to be creative and try out new ideas.

Time commitment?

The full Board meets 4 times a year and the Treasurer would be expected to attend bi-monthly finance meetings in addition to this. Meetings normally take place in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Some meetings could be attended via video conference.

We would hope the Treasurer would also be able to join us at the festival which takes place this year 19th- 21st June 2020 at Errol Park in Perthshire.

The position is voluntary but reasonable expenses will be paid.

Edinburgh University Student's Association has an exciting opportunity to join the Board of Trustees as a External Trustee

**Please note that the role of Trustee is an unpaid volunteer position**

The Role

The Trustee Board at the Students' Association has ultimate responsibility for ensuring good governance, and that the organisation has a clear purpose and strategy which it is fulfilling effectively. It is also responsible for the legal and financial health of the organisation, and sets future direction. As such, Trustees of Edinburgh University Students’ Association are collectively responsible for the legal and financial health of the organisation and for ensuring good governance

The role of the External Trustee is to utilise their personal and professional skills, experience and knowledge to support and assist the Students’ Association in developing and delivering its Mission, Vision and Values, and achieving its organisational goals. The External Trustee will be an active and contributing member of the Board at all levels, individually and collectively responsible for ensuring organisational compliance in all areas of legislation, policy and procedure, and ensuring that the Board reaches structured and sound decisions.

The Board of Trustees meets 5 times per year; Subcommittees of the Board generally meet 3-4 times per year. Additional communication may be required between meetings via email, and Board members will also be required to set time aside in advance of meetings to read all papers relating to meetings.

This is a great opportunity to be involved in the running of the Students’ Association during an exciting period of change

The Person

We are looking for applicants who share our passion for the student experience, with a keen interest in contributing to the effective governance and organisational development of the Students' Association. This is not a political position so candidates should apply based on their skills, experience and ability to carry out the role.

The ideal candidate will have proven, relevant senior professional/management experience, with an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities involved in trusteeship. Previous experience of board membership and/or policy development would also be a distinct advantage.

Equally important is the commitment to supporting the work of the Students’ Association through participation in the Trustee Board. We are also looking for individuals who can demonstrate sound judgement, a creative and innovative approach, strong communication skills, and a 'can-do' attitude.

We are particularly keen to meet candidates with commercial and financial insight and experience, given our varied services and sites and competitive landscape in the heart of the city of Edinburgh

Please note that candidates cannot be currently employed at the Students' Association or the University of Edinburgh

Further Information

For more detailed information about both the role and candidate requirements, please download the Trustee Candidate Pack below. Additionally, please don't hesitate to contact Sarah Purves (Director of Membership Support and Development) sarah.purves@eusa.ed.ac.uk if you have any additional questions about this role.

Are you an experienced professional, looking to utilise your skills, experience and knowledge to help others? Do you want to undertake a Trustee role where your efforts will make a genuinely positive change to people’s lives?

Every year, over 300,000 people need and receive free, impartial advice on money, legal and rights issues from Citizens Advice Scotland.

The bureaux has over 60 members, and coupled with the Extra Help Unit, deliver Scotland’s Largest Independent Advice Network.

Their work encapsulates the entire geography of Scotland and every demographic: they look at the problems people bring to their advice services and campaign for change where it’s needed most. So when they speak out about something, it’s because it matters to people – whether it’s limiting the damaging effects of welfare reform or making sure payday loan companies can’t ruin lives.

In order that they can maintain the governance structure of the organisation, we are seeking experienced and motivated people from outside the Citizens Advice service to join their Board of Trustees.

In particular, we are keen to appoint individuals with the following knowledge and experience:

• Significant senior management experience in a substantial organisation

• Awareness of relationships with Government at Westminster and local level

This is a highly rewarding position, where you can help strategic decisions whilst ensuring the highest level of governance and service to those people who need independent advice the most.

“When I was struggling with my caring role, I was pointed to VOCAL. I was so impressed with the quality of the support I received that I felt this was an organisation to which I could contribute.

I became a volunteer and after a couple of years I was co-opted as a trustee. I really value the help I am able to give the charity.”

Supporting carers … as a VOCAL trustee

VOCAL is a carer-led agency, supporting over 10,000 carers each year in Edinburgh and Midlothian. In 2019 VOCAL celebrated its 25th anniversary.

To increase the health and welfare of carers, relieve the poverty and distress of carers and to give carers a voice, we seek further trustees, preferably with some caring experience within their families and circle of friends, to strengthen VOCAL’s governance and long-term strategic vision.

As we embark on new challenges to meet growing carer demand, we seek trustees who will bring direct or transferable professional or volunteer experience and leadership skills to our Board. Previous board/trustee experience is not essential and we welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds and minority groups.

At present we are particularly looking for applicants with experience in HR, social enterprises, digitalisation, fundraising and income generation, able to offer a minimum of five hours engagement a month.

Trustees attend Board meetings, about 8 per annum, at which the strategies for meeting VOCAL’s objectives are set, and are supported by a senior management team, along with about 30 staff and 60 volunteers. Individual trustees also assist the work of a few sub-committees which address specific areas of our work.

Edinburgh Community Food is a dynamic, expanding food charity and we need some fresh talent for our non-executive board to help take us even further. If you’ve got a professional background in: Human resource management, Marketing/Communications, Information technology, Law, Community Education; or, a background in monitoring and reporting, we would love to hear from you.

Even if you don’t have specific experience but feel that you have a contribution to make to our community – especially raising our profile and connecting us with key organisations and future funders – please get in touch.

We would need you to give at least 4 hours a month of your time in order to benefit from your involvement.

The Welcoming Association is a charity that works with asylum seekers, refugees, migrant workers and newcomers in Edinburgh.

We are looking to recruit a volunteer Chairperson to lead the Board in ensuring the effective performance of its governance responsibilities. The chairperson will work in partnership with the Director to help him/her achieve the objectives set for the organization and to ensure there is an effective relationship between the Board, staff, volunteers, participants, funders and other stakeholders.

We would particularly, but not exclusively, welcome applications from people with experience and skills in the following areas:

Experience

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation and exercising strong people management skills
• Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees
• Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders
• Significant experience of chairing meetings and events

Knowledge and skills

• Broad knowledge and understanding of the Civil Society sector and current issues affecting it
• Understanding of the mission and clientele of the charity
• Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together
• Financial management experience and a broad understanding of charity finance issues
• Strong understanding of charity governance issues

Please see below for the job description.

Cordale Housing Association – Opportunities to join our Management Committee

“Homes and Services that make life better”.

Cordale Housing Association is a registered charity operating in Renton and Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire.

The Association is part of the Caledonia Housing Group.

The Caledonia Housing Group has approximately 6,000 homes within 8 different local authority areas. Cordale Housing Association is a subsidiary of the Group, operating in West Dunbartonshire.

In recent years Cordale Housing Association has undergone considerable change and progress, significantly improving performance, services and results offered to tenants and services users.

The Association has ambitious plans and this is a great time to join us as we embark on the next phase of our development. In 2019 we have opened our new office in the heart of our community, start a large new build programme and progress a Group wide business change programme that is focused on meeting the changing expectations of our customers.

Cordale Housing Association is governed by a Management Committee comprising of a mix of local residents and individuals with specific business skills. The role of the Committee is to ensure the Association is managed well and delivers excellent outcomes for tenants and service users. This involves setting direction, monitoring performance, managing risk and complying with statutory and regulatory requirements.

The Association is looking to recruit new co-opted Management Committee members. Cordale Housing Association is particularly interested in speaking to individuals with strong governance experience and a background in strategy development and/or organisational change.

These are exciting and rewarding opportunities for individuals with the appropriate knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to make a difference. The posts provide the opportunity to gain governance and leadership experience as part of a large, progressive Housing Group, whilst supporting a community based Housing Association committed to providing “homes and services that make life better”.

Staf, (the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum) is the only national membership organisation in Scotland working with care experienced young people and the professionals who support them, with the vision of creating a country where the wellbeing and success of young people leaving care is indistinguishable from that of their peers in the general population.

Our current Board of Directors has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the sector, and bring passion and commitment to supporting Staf in making our vision a reality. As part of succession planning, with pending end of tenure for some Board Members, our Leadership team are now looking to bring additional skillset and experience to the Board, specifically in the following areas:

· Financial qualification/ expertise (specifically for the role of Treasurer)

· HR knowledge and experience

· Fundraising

· Marketing/Sales

· Corporate experience

· Experience as practitioners and Senior Managers from within relevant sectors including Throughcare and Aftercare, Housing, Justice System, Employment, Education and Health

In particular we want to continue to have the experience and voice of care leavers on our Board. If you have skills and experience in any of the above areas and you want to help Staf to continue influencing policy and practice, create platforms for care leavers and practitioners to have their voices heard, and offer opportunities for networking, collaboration and sharing good practice – then please let us know.

We are a voluntary sector organisation that provides information, advice and support service to lone parents and families in need all over Fife.

Our aim is simple: to provide accessible, approachable and non-judgemental support, advice and information to lone parents. We are the only voluntary sector organisation in Fife with charitable status that has lone parent families as the primary focus. Based in Glenrothes, we cover the whole of Fife, providing a variety of services to lone parent families, in their local communities.

We seek to empower lone parents and families in need to promote their wellbeing and opportunities. We offer holistic support through our various projects, working at the pace and timescale that is right for the parent to overcome barriers such as poverty, isolation and poor mental health. Throughout all projects our ethos is the same: Engage – Support – Progress.

Trustees are responsible for the financial and corporate governance of Fife Gingerbread. To oversee the running of the organisation and to ensure we comply with charity law, remain financially solvent, and act within our charitable purposes. We also work to develop and improve the organisation so that we can deliver even better services in future.

Are you interested in International Development, Global Citizenship and Fair Trade?

We educate and enable people in the North East of Scotland to take action to create a fairer world and we need trustees!

About us

We are part of a vibrant, confident, voluntary sector. Apart from our overarching value of global justice, we are committed to transparency, diversity and inclusion.

Founded over 30 years ago as the Third World Centre, running the first solely Fairtrade retail outlet in the Kirk of St Nicholas, our activities grew as we led the Aberdeen Fairtrade City campaign, achieving Fair Trade status for the city in 2004. Alongside this work we established the Montgomery Development Education Centre (MDEC), offering training, support and resources for global citizenship education.

Currently we are:

• working with schools and teachers to promote and support global citizenship education, through our education section, the Montgomery Development Education Centre
• a leading member of the Aberdeen Fairtrade Steering Group, raising awareness of fair trade and initiating related activities
• a key member of the International Development Education Association of Scotland (IDEAS)
• a member of Scotland’s International Development Alliance
• facilitating initiatives in the Aberdeen community such as One World Week each autumn

In all of this work, we focus on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, which aim to end extreme poverty, fight inequality & injustice and fix climate change by 2030.

We receive funding from the Scottish Government and DfID/British Council for our education work and have four part-time salaried staff, supported by other staff and volunteers.

We welcome interest from potential new trustees – anyone with commitment and enthusiasm for creating a fairer world, but particularly at the present time those with some experience in governance/legal compliance or in Human Resources and/or an interest in future chairing responsibilities.

Our Trustees manage the work of AFW, which is a SCIO. Currently we have nine trustees, but really do need more! We hold Board meetings every six weeks or so (on a weekday, usually 5pm – 7pm).

Opportunities for volunteers: Even if you can’t commit to becoming a trustee, we appreciate many forms of volunteer help in our activities. We have projects in the office and off-campus that always welcome outside help.