Do you enjoy working with people?

Do you have excellent communication and presentation skills, and experience working with young people?

We are looking for an enthusiastic Project Officer to join Fast Forward’s Going Forward Programme Team. This role will have a focus on formal and informal education settings, and youth participation.

Fast Forward is Scotland’s national youth work agency, focusing on supporting children & young people to make informed choices regarding, and take a harm reduction approach to, risk-taking behaviours, towards reducing the negative impacts of these on their lives and those of their families and wider community.

We promote health through programmes and resources developed by, with and for young people.

Our work is underpinned by the following values:

• Integrity - Our work is dynamic and informed by expertise, lived experience and relevant research
• Forward Thinking - We are brave and bold. We are creative in our approach to identifying and responding to risk taking behaviour.
• Inclusive - We take a person centred approach. We are non-judgemental and
• respectful.
• Collaborative - We coproduce, partner and learn with young people and experts
• from across the field

Going Forward Project Background

Since May 2017, the Going Forward Project has worked with partner organisations to deliver workshop sessions to vulnerable and at-risk young people in formal and informal education settings.

Our sessions focus on core themes of health, wellbeing and risk-taking behaviours, particularly:

• substance misuse (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, e-cigarettes/vaping)
• sexual health and relationships
• online safety
• drink spiking
• consent
• self-esteem and resilience
• gambling harms

Youth Participation

In line with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Fast Foward is committed to developing our children and young people's participation work. We want children and young people's experiences, opinions and suggestions to shape all aspects of our work.

This role will play a key part in supporting this development, embedding a child rights approach to our work. This will include developing our children and young people's Shadow Board.

Our Activity Centres provide innovative and person-centred services and support to veterans struggling with sight loss. This job exists in order to provide tailored support to veterans carrying out woodworking projects. You will work alongside the veterans to identify abilities, share ideas and plan projects within the activity Centre. You will ensure that the support provided is person-centred, tailored to their needs and is the right support for them. You will support the leadership team to coordinate and manage the activities provided within and from the Activity Centre which will support the overall wellbeing of the veterans and their families. You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation and external stakeholders to ensure that veterans can access the relevant support.

About us

We're one of Scotland's oldest charities - for more than two centuries, we've been supporting and empowering people with sight loss to live fulfilling lives. We're proud of all we've achieved in the past - but we have our sights set firmly on the future.

We're determined that no-one should face sight loss alone. We're committed to improving, diversifying and growing our services to make sure we can reach many more people with sight loss - when and where they need us.

About Tripod

Tripod is a small, independent, non-profit workers’ cooperative based in Edinburgh. We build the power of social movements tackling the root causes of injustice in Scotland and beyond. As a collective of facilitators and educators, we connect people and develop skills to embody the liberated futures we’re fighting for. We seed active solidarity and strengthen strategic collaboration within and across movements.

You can find out more about Tripod on our website. We’re in the process of developing our 2025-2027 strategy, you can find a sneak-peak on our blog.

About the Role

You will be responsible for coordinating our Consultation, Collaboration & Training (CCT) programme, which is Tripod’s income generating arm. As a non-profit, we offer training, facilitation,and other support on request to funded organisations using a sliding scale, to enable us to offer support to grassroots groups and movements with fewer financial resources. Due to high demand, one of our areas of focus for the coming years will be anti-racism training for white and mixed-race teams. As a worker-led cooperative, each member of staff also takes responsibility for Tripod’s smooth organisational functioning as we move towards our purpose together.

Co-Directorship

This role will involve an interim period of 8 months. This will be an opportunity for us to review how we have been working together and decide if you and Tripod are a good fit. This will also enable us to decide together if you should become a Full Member of the workers' cooperative which would involve being legally registered as a Director and participating fully in overall strategic and organisational decision making.

Want to help children and young people from armed forces communities to realise their potential and thrive?

Deliver life-changing experiences to develop new skills, build confidence, and forge friendships through a sense of belonging, shared experiences, and collective purpose.

Co-produce impactful projects, services, and campaigns that amplify lived experience, transform attitudes, and lead toward meaningful change in local communities in the West of Scotland and for over 12,500 peers across Scotland.

Establish and maintain a network of youth forums in Helensburgh, West Dunbartonshire, and Lomond. Promote and develop active involvement to reach and support greater numbers from early learning settings and with additional support needs (ASN).

Some of the essentials we are looking for in candidates

A relevant qualification, to a minimum standard of HNC/SVQ 3 (SCQF level 7) in a discipline related to working with children and young people, or equivalent work experience.

Ideally, you will have experience working with children in Early Years settings.

You will also need a minimum of two years’ experience working in youth work, community, or education settings, as well as demonstrate knowledge of co-production, child protection, participatory decision-making, and much more.