Down’s Syndrome Scotland was established as a charity in 1982 and is the only organisation in Scotland dedicated solely to supporting people with Down’s syndrome, their families and carers.

Our mission is “To support families and people with Down’s syndrome to reach their full potential by providing a range of services, influencing public policy and by changing attitudes”.

For further information please visit our website: dsscotland.org.uk.

The Roles

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of Down’s Syndrome Scotland.

The pandemic has transformed the way the charity operates. Connection with our community has moved online and expanded rapidly. The Board has also changed its ways of operating. All meetings have switched to video conference resulting in increased efficiency and greater flexibility.

Full Board meetings are held quarterly, with an informal evening get together between each meeting providing information sharing and updating opportunities. Trustees are also expected to attend the Annual General Meeting and to allocate some time each year to step back and look at our strategic direction.

With respect to the current vacancies, the skills and experience of the Board would be particularly enhanced by those who have senior level expertise in at least one of the following areas:

• Adult Mental Health
• Government Policy
• Independent Living Frameworks
• Finance
• Further Education and Employment

We value the benefits of having different experiences and points of view on our Board. We particularly welcome applications from those who would enhance the diversity of our thinking.

Do you find it easy to relate to all ages, from babies through to adults?

Are you enthusiastic and fun? Are you looking for a new, exciting challenge ?

If you have answered yes to the above questions, we have a fantastic opportunity that offers you the chance to use and develop your own personal skills. Down’s Syndrome Scotland has been running the ABC programme (Achieving Better Communication) for the last 15 years throughout Scotland.

We are looking for an individual to deliver weekly ABC sessions to support the development of communication skills of individuals with Down’s syndrome (Ds) through a blended model of online and in person sessions.

You will be involved in supporting parents/carers, support staff and/or educational staff to continue to incorporate ABC programme techniques into their communication with individuals with Ds. Ideally, this role would suit someone with a background in supporting people with additional support needs either in a caring or educational role. However, full training will be given, and we are open to considering all enthusiastic applicants.

Do you have the skills and experience to ensure that individuals with Down’s syndrome can live a full and independent life?

Are you enthusiastic and a good team player? Are you looking for an exciting new challenge?

If you have answered yes to the above questions, we have a fantastic opportunity within our Family Support Service. Down’s Syndrome Scotland is a member-led charity, established in 1982. We are the only charity in Scotland dedicated solely to supporting people with Down’s syndrome and their families and carers.

We are looking for a committed individual to join our Family Support Service Team which offers information and support to families, individuals, and professionals on all aspects of living with Down’s syndrome throughout all ages and stages of life. This is delivered through email, telephone and live chat support, 1:1 online meetings and in person visits, ongoing casework and supporting families at meetings. The team deliver workshops for parents and carers and provide training and consultation support for professionals within Education, Health & Social care and work with Universities and Colleges to help shape the minds and practices of future professionals. Ideally, this role would suit someone with experience of working with children/adults with a learning disability for a minimum of two years preferably individuals with Down’s syndrome but not essential.

Do you find it easy to relate to young people?

Are you enthusiastic and fun? Are you looking for a new exciting challenge?

If you have answered yes to the above questions, we have a fantastic opportunity that offers you the chance to use and develop your own personal skills. TeenZ Space was launched in response to the January 2021 lockdown with the aim of facilitating friendships, having fun together and reducing social isolation in teenagers with Down’s Syndrome. We are looking for an individual to support small groups of between 6-10 participants to meet online & enjoy activities such as craft, music, health and wellbeing and sessions based around shared interests. Sessions run after school and in the evenings. The post is home-based, and the post holder must be available to work weekday late afternoon & evenings with occasional in-person weekend work involving travel across Scotland. Ideally, this role would suit someone with a background in supporting young people with additional support needs. However, full training will be given, and we are open to considering all enthusiastic applicants.

Key responsibilities include: running 4-6 x 45-minute TeenZ Space sessions per week between the hours of 4:30 – 8:30pm on selected weekday evenings. Collaborate with TeenZ Space coordinator and create and deliver the TeenZ Space timetable of online activities. Schedule online TeenZ Space sessions using Zoom and Eventbrite.

Do you think people with Down’s syndrome should be valued, included and have the same opportunities as everyone else?

Do you want to join a committed and supporting team in raising awareness and changing things for the better for everyone with Down’s syndrome right across Scotland?

If it’s a definite YES, we have a fantastic opportunity within our Adult Services developing new programmes and activities around friendships, citizenship, community, health and wellbeing and employment.

We are looking for an individual who has experience in planning sessions, facilitating groups (in person and online) for young people and adults with learning disabilities and supporting people to deliver training or take part in meetings. The ideal candidate would also have knowledge of and ability to make information easy read.

Download an application pack. For an informal chat regarding this post please contact Karen Fraser at karen@dsscotland.org.uk or call 07825 873726

Do you have the skills and experience to ensure that individuals with Down’s syndrome can live a full and independent life?

Are you enthusiastic and a good team player? Are you looking for an exciting new challenge?

If you have answered yes to the above questions, we have a fantastic opportunity within our Family Support Service. Down’s Syndrome Scotland is a member-led charity, established in 1982. We are the only charity in Scotland dedicated solely to supporting people with Down’s syndrome and their families and carers.

We are looking for a committed individual to join our Family Support Service Team which offers information and support to families, individuals, and professionals on all aspects of living with Down’s syndrome throughout all ages and stages of life. This is delivered through email, telephone and live chat support, 1:1 online meetings and in person visits, ongoing casework and supporting families at meetings. The team deliver workshops for parents and carers and provide training and consultation support for professionals within Education, Health & Social care and work with Universities and Colleges to help shape the minds and practices of future professionals. Ideally, this role would suit someone with experience of working with children/adults with a learning disability for a minimum of two years preferably individuals with Down’s syndrome but not essential.

This is an exciting role for a talented community and events fundraiser that will see you working to improve the quality of life of individuals with Down’s syndrome living in Scotland.

You will play a key role in the fundraising team, supporting the Fundraising Manager to maximise income generation from a variety of audiences in the community, as well as recruiting participants for our programme of self-organised and third-party events.

About Down’s Syndrome Scotland

Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS) is the only organisation in Scotland that focuses solely on supporting people with Down’s syndrome and their families. We are a member led charity established in 1982 and we have been in direct regular contact with people with Ds and their families across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland for almost 40 years.

Our operations focus on the delivery of 3 key areas:

1. Supporting families and working with professionals through our Family Support Service (FSS), and providing quality training provision to professionals working in the education and medical sector.
2. Supporting the development of communication skills in children and young people with Ds through our ABC programme (Achieving Better Communication).
3. Supporting teenagers and adults with Ds via our FriendZ Space and TeenZ Space social online programmes.

In addition, the charity raises awareness, and challenges inaccurate perceptions about Down’s syndrome; we promote the rights and ambitions of people with Down’s syndrome to lead rewarding and inclusive lives. We also influence and support research and the development of policy for the benefit of people with Down's syndrome.

We also manage our network of 10 Groups/Branches located throughout Scotland, linking our members in with local activities, events and services that in addition provides a hub for local fundraising, campaigning, and awareness raising.

About the role

The Community and Events Fundraiser will report to the Fundraising Manager, and will have specific responsibilities to deliver on key projects areas.

The successful candidate will be the first point of contact for those wishing to raise funds for or support the charity across Scotland, and will be expected to proactively generate income by engaging community support through a varied programme of relationship focused activities across different fundraising disciplines such as, but not exclusive to, events & campaigns, digital and community fundraising. In addition, you will be required to demonstrate and report on outcomes measured against an agreed set of KPIs monthly.

Experience of all these disciplines is not essential – we are looking for people with transferable skills who can learn quickly and work on projects with the Fundraising Manager and other staff throughout the organisation, to sustain and grow Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s service provision throughout Scotland.

About you

Ideally practiced in community and event fundraising you will have worked with individuals, groups, schools and businesses for example, developing networks, maintaining relationships and recruiting volunteers, which have resulted in activities that have generated income.

You will be a creative thinker with adaptable communication skills, combined with effective sales and negotiation abilities. A can-do, solution focused attitude with experience of managing a varied workload independently including, but not limited to, administration and project management skills as well as IT and marketing skills

Responsible to: Fundraising Manager

Responsible for: Network of volunteers