Volunteering Matters

At Volunteering Matters we use volunteering’s unique power to bring people together and build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK.

We bring people together to resolve some of society’s most complex issues. From social isolation and loneliness; improving health and wellbeing; building skills, confidence, and opportunity; to ensuring young people can become change makers in their community, the impact that we make is great. And we won’t stop until everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive.

People-led and impact driven, we are a national charity that is deeply embedded in local areas across the UK. We operate in five regions: London and the South East; Wales and the West of England; East of England; the Midlands and North West England; and Scotland and North East England. We also have an Employee Volunteering Team with over 25 years’ experience, acting as a broker to provide tailor-made solutions to employers. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all.

This is an exciting time to be joining the team. We’re changing the way we work to meet new ambitions and make sure our impact continues to grow alongside out business.

Role Purpose

ProjectScotland, part of the national charity Volunteering Matters, supports young people to get on in life through the power of volunteering. We are looking to recruit a dynamic and professional Community Development Worker to join our team in West Lothian. We are looking for a creative, self-starter. The right candidate would be someone who can work flexibly, and can demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment, to our organisational values. Our ideal candidate is someone with experience of consulting with young people, engaging them in various ways and using their feedback to change the way services are designed and delivered. We are open to recruiting someone to this role based on a secondment arrangement, if of interest.

Programme Overview

ProjectScotland have secured a small amount of funding to complete a short-term project in West Lothian, involving various external partners and local young people (aged 16-30).

Feedback from Employability Services in West Lothian is that young people are increasingly presenting themselves with poor mental health, and these services are not necessarily designed or equipped to effectively respond to that need. Waiting lists for mental health support are long, and young people often need to engage with multiple agencies to receive appropriate support that works for them.

In this role, you will:

• Attract local young people to take part in this short-term research and social action programme.
• Engage with those young people – by listening, consulting, understanding their experience of accessing local employability services, the extent to which these services have supported their mental health needs, identify new ideas, solutions and recommendations for change.
• Create a final report, presentation, or toolkit which presents the findings, with recommendations for the future.
• Work alongside our partners, SAMH, who will be delivering a range of mental health training for West Lothian organisations. Support SAMH by understanding what training organisations would find helpful and supporting the coordination of these sessions.
• Engage with a range of partners, networks and forums across West Lothian including the Local Employability Partnership, Third Sector Employability Forum, West Lothian Gateway and others.
• Contribute to the development of an evaluation for the work, to articulate its value locally and nationally with a view to supporting its further roll out

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Consistently role model and display our organisational values.
• Successfully attract and engage young people, ensuring they can easily participate in this research and social action programme irrespective of background.
• Develop strong relationships with young people, ensuring they are supported, valued, and listened to. Find creative ways to engage with young people to get their feedback and views.
• Develop strong relationships with partner organisations in West Lothian to identify young people who could take part in this programme, and to understand each organisations training needs and requirements.
• To manage the risk assessment, quality assurance and audit processes as appropriate
• Ensure monitoring, impact and evaluation information and data is collected and that the project meets its agreed targets, reporting format and schedule.
• Effective use of IT including Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and social media. This includes creating engaging publicity content that can be promoted across our website and social media.
• To ensure all the above is done with excellent record keeping, in accordance with compliance requirements. This includes the use of Salesforce CRM system (training will be given).

Skills Required

• A confident self-started, someone who is creative and can use their own initiative.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the life challenges and barriers that young people face today in Scotland – ideally trauma-informed in your approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being able to have strategic conversations with external partners one minute and talk to an anxious or unsure young person the next.
• Excellent people skills with the ability to build professional, long-term relationships with various stakeholders, to influence and motivate others.
• Excellent organisational and IT skills including the ability to manage workload and prioritise effectively, the use of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
• A creative approach to problem solving, with strong attention to detail.
• Skills around creating content for social media.
• Creating, coordinating, and supporting reporting channels around contract compliance and impact measurement.
• Commitment to, and knowledge of managing inclusive practice and a commitment to equality and diversity.

Experience Required

• Experience working directly with young people, particularly those who face challenges and barriers achieving employability or other goals.
• Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, proven ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team.
• Experience of project coordination/management, achieving high targets, managing a busy workload, and working to strict deadlines.
• Understanding of and full commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• Day to Day Working

Part of your working week will be based within West Lothian communities, meeting young people, partner organisations and other stakeholders. For the remainder of the time, you can work from home (must be relatively local to West Lothian due to the need to travel for part of the week).

Good internet access and a suitable home working environment is required. All I.T. equipment, mobile phone and infrastructure will be supplied.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme

This role requires membership of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme. We will support

you to become a PVG member if you are not already. Having a conviction will not necessarily cause a bar to employment.

Qualifications & Experience

Relevant experience and values alignment is more important for this role than specific qualifications. The role does require someone with experience of working with or supporting children and families with a focus on ethnically diverse communities. Speaking/understanding additional languages to English is also desirable.

This role requires an enhanced DBS check which will be undertaken with the successful candidate before starting.

Location

With a flexible working policy, the postholder will be based from home. The postholder will need internet access to enable remote working. I.T. equipment and infrastructure will be supplied. There is an expectation to travel across Hounslow in the role.

Role Purpose

ProjectScotland, part of the national charity Volunteering Matters, supports people to move on in life, through the power of volunteering. We are looking for a talented, dynamic, and professional Parental Engagement Manager to join our team in the City of Edinburgh. The right candidate would be someone who can work flexibly, while demonstrating a strong understanding and commitment to our organisational values.

You will provide intensive Employability Support to 25 parents over the next 12 months. This role will focus on parents who are New Scots (Refugee’s, Asylum Seekers, Displaced people) and parents from ethnically diverse backgrounds. You will:

• Work 1:1 with parents to understand their strengths, skills, and barriers to employment, putting steps or strategies in place to overcome these barriers or challenges
• Support with vocational activities – developing CV’s, job search, applications, mock interviews etc.
• Provide work-ready support – access to volunteering experiences, identifying training opportunities etc.
• Work alongside colleagues in the ProjectScotland Mentoring Team, ensuring that parents can benefit from an empowering and positive Mentoring relationship - provided by our team of local volunteers
• Work with external partners across Edinburgh to secure referrals for our service, and to set up new opportunities for parents.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Consistently role modelling and displaying our organisational values

• Contribute to effective teamwork across the regional team and the wider charity, in line with our “flexible working by default” and “self-managed teams” philosophy

• Provide intensive support to parents in a person-centered way, to achieve positive outcomes for all

• Understanding each parent’s skills, strengths, experience, barriers and development areas, resulting in the creation of a personal development plan

• To manage all elements of the parent’s experience, from referral to completion of their support

• Work alongside the ProjectScotland mentoring team to ensure parents have the opportunity to benefit from the experience and life skills of a dedicated volunteer mentor

• To identify, develop and maintain excellent relationships with referral partners, third sector organisations, statutory agencies, and others, who can provide training, volunteering placements, or other opportunities

• To manage the risk assessment, quality assurance and audit processes as appropriate

• Ensure monitoring, impact and evaluation information and data is collected and that the project meets its agreed targets, reporting format and schedule. Assist the Delivery Leader by preparing reports to funders

• Administration tasks including maintaining effective and accessible records, the use of Microsoft Office, Teams, Zoom and other software such as Canva and Salesforce – full training will be given

This job description is intended to include the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but while some variations will be expected, these will be at an appropriate level for the role.

Person Specification

Skills Required

• An excellent knowledge and understanding of the life challenges and barriers that parents face today in Scotland, particularly those who are New Scots (Refugee’s, Asylum Seekers, Displaced people) or those from ethnic minority backgrounds

• An understanding of how to assess the needs of an individual using a person-centered approach

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being able to have strategic conversations with stakeholders one minute, and talk to a nervous parent the next

• Excellent people skills with the ability to build professional, long-term relationships with various stakeholders, to influence and motivate others

• Excellent organisational and IT skills including the ability to manage workload and prioritise effectively, and strong attention to detail

• Able to use own initiative and work independently at times

Experience Required

• Significant experience working with people who have challenges/barriers to employment, particularly parents and carers

• Experience in providing Employability and vocational support

• Evidence of relationship management experience with a wide range of stakeholders

• Experience of project management, achieving high targets, a busy workload and working to strict deadlines

• Proven ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team

• Understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities

Qualifications

Relevant experience and an understanding and commitment to our organisational values is more important for this role than any specific qualifications.

Other

Part of your working week will be based in local Edinburgh communities, meeting parents, volunteers, colleagues, and other stakeholders. For the remainder of the time, you can choose to work from home (must be based locally) or from our Edinburgh office premises (EH7 5JT). If working from home, you will need good internet access and a suitable home working environment. All I.T. equipment, mobile phone and infrastructure will be supplied by our organisation.

Volunteering Matters are looking for a talented, dynamic, and professional Engagement Manager to join our team in the City of Edinburgh. The right candidate would be someone who can work flexibly, while demonstrating a strong understanding and commitment to our organisational values.

In this role you will work as part of a small staff team, coordinating the delivery and development of our established Family Supporters programme across the City of Edinburgh.

Family Supporters is an effective mentoring programme which offers practical, emotional, and social support to parents and families across Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges and issues. We recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family.

The programme supports parents and families in lots of ways such as help to access Employment, further Education or Training, improved living standards, budgeting skills, healthier eating, better school life and behaviour, access to physical and mental health and wellbeing resources/aid, as well as introducing parents to community resources and volunteering, to name a few.

This role has a particular focus on supporting parents/families who are New Scots (Refugee’s, Asylum Seekers, Displaced people) as well as parents/families from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Further details and information on Family Supporters Edinburgh can be found on the Volunteering Matters website.

Skills / Knowledge Required

· Excellent knowledge & understanding of the life challenges and issues that families face in Scottish society, particularly New Scots, or families from ethnically diverse backgrounds

· An understanding of how to assess the needs of an individual using a person-centered approach

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being able to have strategic conversations with partners and stakeholders one minute, and talk to an anxious or unsure parent

· Excellent people skills with the ability to build professional, long-term relationships with various stakeholders, to influence and motivate others

· Excellent organisational and IT skills including the ability to manage workload, prioritise effectively and strong attention to detail

· Able to use own initiative and work independently at times

Experience Required

· Significant experience working directly with families, particularly those who face barriers/life challenges

· Experience in supporting volunteers through quality Volunteer Management practices

· Evidence of relationship management experience with a wide range of stakeholders

· Experience of project coordination, achieving high targets, a busy workload and working to strict deadlines

· Proven ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a larger regional team

· Experience in Safeguarding / Child Protection / Adult Protection

· Understanding of, and full commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Qualifications

Relevant experience and an understanding and commitment to our organisational values is more important for this role than any specific qualifications.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Consistently role modelling and displaying Volunteering Matters organisational values Contribute to effective teamwork across the regional team and the wider charity, in line with our “flexible working by default” and “self-managed teams” philosophy

• Deliver and develop the Family Supporters programme across the City of Edinburgh, meeting ambitious targets and milestones, ensuring all families/parents engaged achieve positive outcomes

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including colleagues, volunteers, families, social work, NHS, Education partners, third sector organisations and others.

• Effective recruitment, selection, training, and ongoing support of a diverse pool of talented and dedicated volunteer mentors from a wide cross-section of the community

• To maintain Volunteering Matters standards around quality and effective Volunteer Management

• To manage all elements of family’s experience, from referral to completion of their support journey

• To manage the risk assessment, safeguarding, quality assurance and audit processes as appropriate

• Ensure monitoring, impact and evaluation information is collected and that Family Supporters meets it’s agreed targets, reporting format and schedule. Assist the Project Manager by preparing Impact Reports.

• Administration tasks including maintaining effective and accessible records, the use of Microsoft Office, Teams, Zoom and other software such as Canva (use to develop relevant promotional material and information)

Other

Part of your working week will be based in local Edinburgh communities, meeting families, volunteers, colleagues, and other stakeholders. For the remainder of the time, you can choose to work from home (must be based locally) or from our Edinburgh office premises (EH7 5JT). If working from home, you will need good internet access and a suitable home working environment. All I.T. equipment, mobile phone and infrastructure will be supplied by our organisation.

Social Enterprise Scotland are growing their Membership Team to support the successful delivery of member activities, events, campaigns and services and ensure that feedback from members is used to inform continuous development and improvement in the organisation and services. You will be expected to support the organisation and promotion of events across Scotland, contribute to relevant and timely content and data for the website, social media and marketing campaigns as well as maintaining and updating our membership CRM system. More detailed information on the role can be found on the Job Description.