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.

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.

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people? Do you want a flexible, varied and meaningful job in a supportive team? Do you value great employee benefits such as 360 Wellbeing membership and an annual training budget? Apply to join us!

Bridges Project is a leading youth work charity that helps young people aged 12-25 in East Lothian and Midlothian overcome challenges and adapt to adulthood. For nearly 40 years, we have helped young people develop their life skills, improve their educational attainment and move into employment or further education.

We have a vacancy for an Educational Support Worker to deliver an effective casework and group work service to young people experiencing a range of challenges such as non-attendance at school, low attainment, poor mental health and family poverty.

The successful candidate will:

• Support young people to gain employability skills, life skills and accreditation; helping them in to work, apprenticeships, further education or vocational training
• Provide vocational/industry specific accreditation and training to groups of young people alongside individual support to address particular barriers
• Take the lead on the service and to provide an effective interface between young people, partners and stakeholders involved in the service.

This is an exciting position in which the successful candidate will take pride in developing a programme of delivery which will provide young people with clear pathways to positive destinations.

It is essential that candidates have a full, clean driving licence and constant use of a car. Membership of the PVG scheme will be an essential requirement of the post. A contributory company pension scheme is offered with a 10% employer contribution.

Circle is a children and families charity working at the heart of communities across central Scotland. Our purpose is to improve the lives of children by strengthening families.

Circle’s approach builds on strengths, is solution focussed and uses a whole family approach to create a family environment that promotes healthy development in children.

Offering peer support across Edinburgh to parents who are affected by substance use.

We have an exciting opportunity for a committed and enthusiastic individual to join our Harbour team and be part of delivering a service for parents, children and young people affected by parental substance use in Edinburgh.

Funded by Scottish Government, and administered by Corra Foundation, our project aims to develop family inclusive practice and involve families in the development of group opportunities within the recovery community.

The post holder will work alongside families to ensure that their views and experiences inform not only their support, but wider family inclusive practice.

Applicants should be parents and have lived experience of substance use.

Expected to be funded until 31 March 2027

We offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary, generous pension contribution, flexible working, an employee assistance programme and generous annual leave.

We are committed to finding the right people for the jobs that we advertise.