The official purposes of Earth in Common (EiC), a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC044220), can be summarised as to encourage and support the people and organisations of Leith to grow food vegetables, and flowers for pollinating insects, in urban spaces, in order to improve health and wellbeing, community cohesion and the environment. However, EiC brings together a diverse group of enthusiastic staff, freelancers, volunteers and members/supporters who are tackling an array of social and environmental issues at local, national and international levels, and so it has broader activities and interests than suggested by its current official purposes.

The charity was appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council to manage, with and for the local community, two acres at the northwest corner of Leith Links Park. Now known as Leith Community Croft (LCC), our pioneering and model ‘urban croft’ offers cross-cutting solutions to social and environmental problems through a suite of integrated projects. It accommodates a community growing project with >100 participants. The growing project is distinct from allotments and benefits agrobiodiversity (see tinyurl.com/croftabdiv).

LCC is also the site of our tree nursery, market garden, composting facilities, our Hingabootery (shed-based café, with a serving hatch), our Market on the Croft (to be re-launched in 2023), and our lovely new building (largely funded by the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund), with a well-equipped kitchen, flexible meeting/training/dining spaces and office space. This building constitutes a multipurpose community hub at the core of LCC.

To learn more about EiC, candidates are advised to familiarise themselves with the organisation’s history and current projects and campaigns by visiting its website (earth-in-common.org). More information is also provided in the Job Description.

Summary of the job

• Appointees will work as a team with other Croft Café Co-ordinators, with a main focus on preparing and serving simple but high quality food and drink. They will also sell fruit and vegetables (many from our market garden on Leith Community Croft) from our farm shop area of the same building. Barista and/or kitchen experience would be preferable, but we can provide training to the right candidates. An understanding of food safety standards is essential as well as a proactive attitude, a sense of urgency and ability to pinpoint priorities and act on them.
• The appointees will also perform all necessary ancillary work (food preparation, cleaning, stocktaking, till operation, ordering supplies, etc.). Opening hours are currently 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (subject to change during spring and summer), but there will be some meeting, preparation and cleaning time outside these hours, and possibly occasional catering at events. Candidates must be able to work weekends and early mornings.
• As well as ensuring the smooth running of all aspects of Earth in Common’s café and farm shop operations, they will assist with other aspects of running Leith Community Croft, as required. This may include, for example, waste management, litter-picking and assisting with market garden work.
• Croft Café Co-ordinators are expected to be flexible, use their initiative, and help each other as necessary, turning their hands to whatever needs to be done to further Earth in Common’s services and reputation. This includes contributing ideas to the development of café and farm shop operations to make them more biosphere- and customer-friendly and to improve profitability.
• Croft Café Co-ordinators are important public-facing representatives of Leith Community Croft and Earth in Common, and are expected to abide by the charity’s Code of Conduct, offer efficient and friendly service, also engage with people who don’t necessarily use the café, and be able to inform members of the public about the charity’s history, values, long-term vision and ongoing projects and services and direct them to Earth in Common contact points and colleagues as appropriate.
• While no guarantees can be given, it is hoped that the charity’s finances will allow contracts to be extended, assuming appointees have performed well.

The Fundraising Officer will work with the Chief Executive and the wider team at Green Hive to secure funds (unrestricted and restricted) from a range of sources, meeting specific targets for each of the next two years (April 2024-March 2026), while managing relations with existing and new investors and leading on the development of a long-term strategic fundraising plan.

Context: Launched in 2015, Green Hive (formally Nairn River Enterprise) is a community hub and a charity that specialises in volunteer-led projects and other initiatives, helping to conserve, restore and sustainably develop the natural habitats and public amenities of Nairn and Nairnshire, while cultivating skills and employability and improving outcomes for residents and visitors. Over the last decade the organisation has developed a suite of core business operations that focus on reducing pollution and waste, recycling and re-using discarded man-made materials and promoting more positive interactions with the local environment. It has done this while gradually consolidating its own financial position in support of longer-term organisational sustainability and growth. Recent investment from the Postcode Innovation Trust takes us to the next level, and the recruitment of a dedicated Fundraising Officer will be key to our ongoing plans. In November 2022 Green Hive took ownership of Seaman’s Hall in the Fishertown precinct of Nairn; over the last year it has been developing public programmes aimed at re-establishing this important historic building as a community hub. We are also formulating capital development plans for the facility. The Fundraising Officer will support these activities, playing a pivotal role in the implementation and continuing evolution of our five-year strategic business plan.

The Enterprise Officer will work with the Chief Executive and the wider team to develop and implement a marketing plan that increases income through the efficient delivery and strategic long-term growth of Green Hive’s various lines of commercial trade, meeting specific targets for each of the next two years (April 2024-March 2026) and using both in-person and online channels to facilitate profitable business-to-business and business-to-consumer interactions.

Context: Launched in 2015, Green Hive (formally Nairn River Enterprise) is a community hub and a charity that specialises in volunteer-led projects and other initiatives, helping to conserve, restore and sustainably develop the natural habitats and public amenities of Nairn and Nairnshire, while cultivating skills and employability and improving outcomes for residents and visitors. Over the last decade the organisation has developed a suite of core business operations that focus on reducing pollution and waste, recycling and re-using discarded man-made materials and promoting more positive interactions with the local environment. It has done this while gradually consolidating its own financial position in support of longer-term organisational sustainability and growth. Recent investment from the Postcode Innovation Trust takes us to the next level, and the recruitment of a dedicated marketing and sales specialist will be pivotal to our ongoing plans. In November 2022 Green Hive took ownership of Seaman’s Hall in the Fishertown precinct of Nairn; over the last year it has been developing public programmes aimed at re-establishing this important historic building as a community hub. We are also formulating capital development plans for the facility. The Enterprise Officer will support these activities, playing a key role in the implementation and continuing evolution of our five-year strategic business plan.

About Lanark Community Development Trust

Lanark Community Development Trust (LCDT) is an independent Scottish charity, and one of a growing network of Development Trusts across Scotland. Established in 2009, our aim is to develop and deliver community projects which have a positive social, environmental, or economic impact on the town of Lanark and the surrounding area. We were one of the lead partners in the development of the ‘Vision for Lanark’, a strategic plan for the town, and continue to work in partnership with Discover Lanark and other third sector groups to deliver projects and maximise our impact.

LCDT is led by a team of Trustees who all serve on a voluntary capacity. We are also a membership organisation and offer a number of volunteering opportunities.

Recent projects delivered by LCDT include the redevelopment of Deadman’s Lane with Lanark Grammar School, the interpretation of the Wallace gap Site, and the installation of the Clydesdale Horse at Lanark Market. One of our core projects is the management and development of Castlebank Horticultural Centre (CHC). This purpose-built facility is located within the historic grounds of Castlebank Park and provides a community growing space, with associated training and learning facilities. Income generated through CHC is reinvested in the LCDT and our projects.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for a motivated and energetic Development Manager to lead the operations of Castlebank Horticultural Centre and support the development of other projects run by LCDT, whilst working with local partners to maximise capacity to create positive interventions for Lanark. This funded position is initially for one year, but we hope your drive will lead to continuation funding.

What you will be doing:

You will lead on the operation and development of Castlebank Horticultural Centre and other LCDT properties, working to create well-managed and engaging spaces with sustainable income streams. You will also provide support to LCDT-wide operations including project co-ordination, administration & membership management, volunteer support, board meeting facilitation, and marketing & communications. You will work the equivalent of one day a week with the Trust’s partner, Discover Lanark, on their social media pages and website.