Help us to legalise assisted dying for the terminally ill in Scotland

Friends at the End’s mission over the past two decades is to legalise the choice of assisted dying for people who are terminally ill and suffering unbearably. We have sponsored and supported three Bill’s in the Scottish Parliament, including the current proposal and are the Secretariat to the Cross Party Group on End of Life Choices.

We provide expert advice and information to professionals, politicians, our member base and all stakeholders in the campaign. We work in partnership with other third-sector organisations to support the campaign's progress and regularly hold events and contribute to press releases to inform the debate.

We engage with colleagues internationally and provide practical help and support to those who want to put their end-of-life wishes in place by assisting with advance directives, anticipatory care plans, and other support. We offer free professional counselling to those needing help after a terminal or other diagnosis.

We are now recruiting board members who will contribute to delivering our strategic aim to legalise assisted dying in Scotland.

Whether you have previous board experience or not, we are actively seeking new ideas, perspectives and challenge. We want to encourage applications from people with diverse professional, personal and cultural backgrounds to enrich the experience we currently have on the board.

We particularly welcome applications from interested people with lived or professional experience in any of these areas:

• Working with people at the end of life, including medical professionals;
• Political and/or legal experience;
• Campaigns and communications support;
• Social media expertise;
• Human Rights, Equity, Diversity, Participation and Rights, especially advancing autonomy and choice;
• Corporate Governance, Business or Finance roles;
• Human Resources experience.

The board meets four times per year, and Trustees are asked to serve on one of three subcommittees during their term. The term is for three years and can be extended by the same period.

Friends at the End have been operating since 2000 and achieved Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) status in 2018. We are seeking a Convener of the Board of Trustees to lead the organisation in partnership with the CEO.

Friends at the End SCIO works to increase public knowledge about end of life choices and supports people to die with dignity. We provide comfort and support to those suffering distress towards the end of their lives and offer assistance with end of life planning services such as Advance Directives, Advance Care Statements, and Powers of Attorney. Our aim is to see the passing of assisted dying legislation in Scotland, and we are currently supporting MSP Liam McArthur with his proposed assisted dying Bill.

Role Description

• Overall, to exercise leadership skills in a way which ensures that the SCIO occupies a significant position in the United Kingdom and the wider world, with a particular focus on Scotland.
• Facing outwards, to represent the SCIO before national, international, local and municipal governments and organisations – as a focus of liaison with them, acting as a spokesperson when appropriate and ensuring that information about the SCIO and its objectives is accurate.
• Facing inwards,
  • To ensure that FATE acts in compliance with its SCIO obligations and constitution
  • To Chair and facilitate Board meetings and agendas, ensuring impartiality and objectivity in decision making, ensuring all the Charity Trustees are able to participate, and monitoring implementation of Board decisions, thereby:
    • Ensuring that meetings are run competently
    • Ensuring that discussion and decision-making are fair
    • Liaising with and preparing for meetings with the Chief Executive and Treasurer
    • Ensuring that at meetings, all relevant matters are discussed
    • Ensuring that appropriate decisions are taken and recorded in line with the obligations of the SCIO and its constitution
• Ensure that the Board sets strategy and policy objectives in consultation with the Chief Executive and that appropriate resources are secured in order to achieve agreed goals.
• Liaise with the Chief Executive to support the Board and periodically review its role and composition, ensuring that induction, training and succession planning take place.
• Liaise with the Treasurer to support the management of the annual budget and assets.
• Provide feedback to Trustees as required to ensure the effective performance of the board.
• Work with the Chief Executive to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs and to provide support to the Chief Executive and others as appropriate.
• Facilitate change where appropriate, ensuring effective links between Trustees, staff and volunteers and, in conjunction with the Chief Executive, resolve conflict within the organisation.
• Plan the annual cycle of board meetings and set agendas in liaison with the Chief Executive.
• Line manage the Chief Executive and assist the Board to set the annual and longer term objectives for the Chief Executive.
• Support, monitor and lead the appraisal of the work of the Chief Executive, being responsible for soliciting feedback from Trustees and providing that to the Chief Executive in a constructive manner on a regular basis.

Friends at the End have been operating since 2000 and achieved Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) status in 2018. We are seeking an Administrative Officer to join our team working with WordPress, GSuite and Xero alongside carrying out general office administration tasks and providing support to the Board of Trustees, the Cross Party Group on End of Life Choices in the Scottish Parliament and the CEO.

Friends at the End SCIO works to increase public knowledge about end of life choices and supports people to die with dignity. We provide comfort and support to those suffering distress towards the end of their lives and offer assistance with end of life planning services such as Advance Directives, Advance Care Statements, and Powers of Attorney. Our aim is to see the passing of assisted dying legislation in Scotland, and we are currently supporting MSP Liam McArthur with his proposed assisted dying Bill.

Job Purpose: To provide an effective and comprehensive administration service for the Friends at the End SCIO across a diverse range of activities. The post holder will maintain the charity’s website, draft and publish communications for diverse audiences, administer membership records, provide effective financial processing with progression to financial management, plan and organise events, take minutes of meetings and respond to/escalate enquiries. Occasional evening and weekend working will be required to attend Board of Trustees meetings

About our work

Friends at the End SCIO works to advance human rights (especially of those in need by reason of age, ill health, and other disadvantage) by increasing public knowledge concerning end-of-life choices and dignified death and supporting those suffering distress at and towards the end of their lives. This includes the promotion of knowledge relevant to the processes of death and terminal illness and research into the causes, cures and prevention of distress in the dying and those caring for them.

Our long term aim is to see the passing of assisted dying legislation, until this happens we work to ensure that every UK citizen has a Good Death within the current legal framework.

We believe that medically assisted dying should be available to all mentally competent adults with either a terminal illness or an incurable condition, causing hopeless and unbearable suffering with no reasonable alternative to relieve it, provided this is their own persistent request.

Invitation to prospective charity trustees

Friends at the End’s (FATE) board is currently made up of 7 Trustees. Our Trustees bring a wide range of experience, all from diverse backgrounds. We are currently recruiting for a

Trustee with finance/treasury/accountancy experience who will shape and undertake the role of Treasurer.

The Board meet four to six times per year to shape FATE’s strategy, whilst advising and supporting our Chief Executive and staff. Meetings are normally held on a weekend, although this is flexible. At present, there are a few Board SubCommittees who meet according to their own availability.

All of FATE’s Trustees are volunteers, however travel and other expenses relating to the role of being a Trustee are fully reimbursed. FATE was formed as a voluntary society in 2000 and registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in November 2018. The Board of Trustees is responsible for:

• Overall governance and strategic direction.
• Developing the organisation’s goal in accordance with its constitution.

Trustee’s responsibilities include:

• Furthering FATE’s objectives and Strategic Ends.
• Being subject to charity law, FATE’s constitution, and good governance.
• Supervision of, and support of our Chief Executive.

This means that Trustees would be expected to:

• Regularly attend our Board Meetings.
• Be committed to participate in the Board’s work.
• Prepare for Board meetings.
• Get to know the Board and the organisation.
• Where possible, attend FATE events.

A full Role Description is available for download below.