Trustees/Board Members for greenspace scotland

Are you passionate about greenspace? Would you like to help shape the work of greenspace scotland?

We have exciting opportunities for four new Trustees to support the governance and strategic leadership of our organisation. Suitable for experienced or first-time trustees, you will be joining a supportive and welcoming Board. We are seeking diversity in experience, thinking and background. If you could contribute to our future please find out more on ourwebsite.

The Role

Our Trustees play a key role in the governance and strategic leadership of our organisation. You will be joining an experienced Board and we are looking for Trustees who will bring their own individual range of knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to the overall richness of the Board.

Specific areas we are looking for technical/professional input in are:

1. Health and Wellbeing
2. Culture and Arts
3. Planning and Placemaking
4. Communications and Marketing

We want a diverse board of Trustees with a depth and breadth of insight experience and perspective. We welcome and value people of different backgrounds, thinking and skills. We recognise that the environment sector is under-represented by people from ethnic minority and low-income backgrounds, LGBT+ and disabled people, and we want to change that. We especially welcome candidates from these backgrounds and from young people.

We are interested in hearing from first-time Trustees who are interested in our work and can commit to training so they are able to make a valuable contribution to our long term development.

About Us

Greenspace makes a big difference to our quality of life and sense of place. Parks and greenspaces are our natural health service, our children’s outdoor classrooms and our cities’ green lungs.

greenspace scotland has provided a national lead on greenspace since 2002. As Scotland’s parks and greenspace charity, we have been influential in shaping a supporting policy context for greenspace, promoting good practice on greenspace delivery, and pioneering new approaches to managing and resourcing parks and greenspaces.

Never before has our work been more important. Recent experiences of extreme weather events have led many to re-evaluate the importance of greenspace and blue-green infrastructure in our lives and places. The Covid 19 pandemic highlighted the value of local high quality greenspace and the related socio-economic disparity across the nation in terms of easy access to this resource.

It’s a very exciting time to join the Ramblers. We have been instrumental in helping Britain experience the great outdoors for almost 90 years. But we are looking to the future, not the past.

We know not everyone has the same access to the outdoors, so we’re continue to fight for change. We campaign, protect paths and lead walks so no matter who you are, you can enjoy the benefits of getting out into the fresh air and wide-open spaces.

We need your drive, knowledge, skills, and creativity to help us raise awareness of the Ramblers and what we stand for, helping the charity grow its supporter base and meet our brand goals. Ultimately, you will help open up the joys and wellbeing benefits of walking to many more people.

About us

You might know us for our group walks, thousands of which take place every week across England, Scotland and Wales.

But there’s a lot more to the Ramblers. Since 1935, we’ve been fighting for the public’s right to enjoy Britain’s landscapes. We do it through campaigning for changes in legislation, opening up green routes in cities, maintaining paths and signposts, saving lost paths … and so much more.

Purpose of Role

We are looking for someone to help us shape public policy in Scotland in a way that ensures everyone can enjoy access to the outdoors. We want your help to make sure that those who currently have the least access are enabled to overcome the barriers they face, because they have the most to gain. You will help us engage with formal policy making processes, but also with the broader networks through which public policy is informed and shaped. You will become a key member of the small team that drives our public campaigning in Scotland.

The role

Key Responsibilities:

• Become the leading expert on access to the outdoors in Scotland and use your expertise to help make access more equitable.
• Create Ramblers Scotland policy and engage with formal opportunities to shape public policy.
• Develop and maintain high level professional relationships on behalf of the organisation to influence key stakeholders.
• Help Ramblers position itself in the Scottish public policy space and shape our campaign priorities.
• Develop and support a network of campaign volunteers and build their capacity.

The person

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Good knowledge of policy issues relating to walking and the walking environment in Scotland or related policy areas.
• Proven ability to use your knowledge of Scottish political systems and structures to conduct effective advocacy.
• Line management of staff and/or volunteers or leading project teams.
• Ability to develop strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholder

Desirable:

• Ability to travel throughout Scotland and occasionally across Britain, full driver’s license and access to a car
• An active and demonstrable interest in walking and engaging people with the outdoors

The Ramblers promote diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Values and Behaviours

Our values are the core principles that guide us daily in our work and our membership of the Ramblers. We all share the passion that walking is for everyone and by living our shared values we can ensure the Ramblers is an organisation to be proud of. Our values will earn trust for the Ramblers brand which will allow us to open up a world of walking opportunities for even more people.

Inclusive– We make everyone feel welcome and part of the Ramblers community. We make sure we all feel respected and accepted and know our contributions make a difference in achieving our mission.

Inspiring– We strive to inspire people through the way we act and the things we say. We channel our passion and ambition so others are moved to help us achieve our mission.

Empowering– We empower and encourage each other to make a positive contribution to our teams and the Ramblers. We do all we can to make sure everyone has the ability, and feels confident, to take action.

Responsible– We take responsibility for ourselves and those around us seriously, by always acting in a safe and supportive way. We care about the environment and make sure we do what we say we will do.

We are seeking a visionary Chief Executive Officer with exceptional leadership qualities to spearhead our charity, Concrete Garden, though a new and exciting period of growth and transformational change. The ideal candidate will be bold and brave and embody a passion for community empowerment and sustainability, driving forward our community’s ambition and charity mission with dedicated commitment and innovative thinking.

This role presents a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact, leading our community and team towards a brighter future for all those we serve.

Overview of the Position:

The Chief Executive Officer will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of Concrete Garden, working closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure the organisation's long-term success and impact.

And leading on the recruitment for a number of new posts to build capacity in leadership and drive forward community growth and regeneration. This position demands a dynamic individual with a proven track record in fundraising, asset management, financial management, strategic planning, and team leadership.

Start Date: Immediate or must be able to start by 27th May for a one-month handover with the incumbent CEO.

Reporting to: The Board of Trustees

We are looking for a dynamic individual who is driven, visionary, and deeply committed to long-term goals in community youth work and play. The ideal candidate will bring a wealth of lived experience in supporting marginalized communities, championing their voices, and advocating for their needs. They should have a genuine passion for the outdoors and play, recognising the profound impact it has on the lives of children and young people. If you are ready to inspire change and create lasting impact, this is the opportunity for you.