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

Are you passionate about the importance of green spaces within our communities? Do you have an interest in gardening? Do you have the knowledge, skills and experience to lead an organisation that is playing an important role within the community? This year Amisfield Preservation Trust (Amisfield Walled Garden) celebrates its 25th year anniversary. We are looking to recruit a new Chair who can lead the organisation forward to the next stage in its development.

About Amisfield Preservation Trust

Amisfield Preservation Trust provides a regenerative community space (Amisfield Walled Garden) just outside of Haddington for a wide range of groups. The project is volunteer led. Since project inception, volunteers have recreated a beautiful, historic and peaceful 8 acre walled garden which had fallen into disrepair. The project helps improve the life chances of those most vulnerable in our community, through support for individuals with barriers to employment; drives inclusion through involving volunteers with a range of additional support needs; promotes learning through educational activities for school groups with their teachers, and for the general public through a variety of training events; helps the community to flourish through increased social connection and regenerative activities that improve mental and physical wellbeing and resilience and help increase pride in the local community and place. Amisfield Walled Garden is a beautiful, tranquil garden. We are a 3 star Visit Scotland attraction which is open to the public (free of charge) for 6 days in the week.

We are looking for a volunteer Chair to lead the Amisfield Preservation Trust, the small charity that looks after the garden. The role involves working with our volunteer Board of Directors, Volunteer Coordinator, Wellbeing and Outreach worker and garden volunteers to ensure that the garden continues to play an important and much-loved role at the heart of the local community.

The qualities and experience we’re looking for in our new Chair are:

• An enthusiasm for gardening (whether amateur or professional)
• Great leadership skills
• A real sense of community, with great networks across the county or a willingness to create them
• Knowledge or experience of the voluntary/charitable sector
• Somebody comfortable with being the public face of the garden
• Ideally somebody based locally in East Lothian or willing to travel to Haddington.

Chair Role Description

Specific duties:

• Organising and Chairing monthly Amisfield Preservation Trust Board meetings
• Promoting good governance amongst fellow Board members and ensuring activity is in line with the garden’s charitable purposes
• Leading the Board in planning and coordinating a programme of garden developments and improvements
• Leading the Board in planning and coordinating a range of community events
• Working with fellow Board members to support and manage the garden’s two employees.
• Contributing to regular communications to the garden’s volunteers, supporters and stakeholders across email, the website and social media
• Being a key contact for the garden for stakeholders, funders and donors, including East Lothian Council
• Working with fellow Board members to compile applications for funding and collate impact reports to funders
• Representing the garden in the local media and with stakeholders across East Lothian

There are currently 8 members of the Board. The Chair role will be for a term of three years, with an initial probationary period of six months.

The Community Links Worker programme, funded by EVOC & Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, is delivered in partnership with GP Practices and the 3rd sector to support people to live well through strengthening connections between community resources and primary care.

The Community Link Worker will be employed by Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and will work as part of three practice teams (Gracemount, Liberton and Inch Park) in the South East locality of Edinburgh to provide 1:1 person-centred and practical support to people in contact with the GP practice team.

Taking a person-centred approach, you will work with individuals to enable them to identify personal outcomes and priorities for their health and well-being and link them to local, city and national activities and support services.

The postholder must have experience of working with people who are facing complex social and emotional circumstances, a strong understanding of the challenges affecting people living in areas of disadvantage in relation to living well, extensive effective interpersonal skills in working with people on a 1:1 basis as well as experience in networking and relationship building with other professionals and organisations.

PVG: This post requires membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. Application will be processed for the successful candidate.

About Us

Cumbernauld and District Women’s Aid (CADWA) SCIO is a voluntary organisation based in Cumbernauld providing a confidential service offering valuable information, support and temporary accommodation to women and their children who have experienced domestic abuse in the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Stepps, Moodiesburn, Chryston, Mount Ellen and Gartcosh areas. CADWA also campaigns to raise awareness of domestic abuse and supports other domestic and sexual violence services throughout the area. Referrals mainly come from Social Work, educational professionals and Housing in addition to self referrals.

As a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Cumbernauld and District Women’s Aid is controlled by an independent, voluntary Board of Directors drawn from the local community and is also accountable to funders including Scottish Government.

Cumbernauld and District Women’s Aid is a member of Scottish Women’s Aid and works in partnership with other Women’s Aid organisations throughout Great Britain to maintain an “open door” policy which allows women to access Refuges in any part of the country if they feel the need to move out of their local area.

We believe in equality of all people regardless of race, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation or ability. We BELIEVE all women and children who come to us for support. We believe women and children have a right to live free from all forms of violence and abuse and that society has a duty to recognise and defend this right. Domestic violence is a violation of human rights.

Board currently has 6 members but can have a maximum of 9.

About the Role

CADWA is looking for up to 4 committed women with a strong background in one or more of the following areas to join the Board as Trustees guiding the strategic direction of the organisation.

• Finance, Fundraising,
• Lived experience of domestic abuse or service user experience with Women’s Aid or similar organisations
• Being a charity trustee
• Local knowledge and connections as a resident in the area CADWA serves.

We would also welcome applications from young women and from women who may not have Board experience but who are passionate about creating a better future for those who have been affected by domestic abuse.

You do not need to be an expert on domestic abuse or other forms of violence against women, but you will need to prove that you are interested in our work, be reliable, action focussed and committed to our principles and values.

Board meetings currently take place 6 weekly during the day at our office in Cumbernauld. Where this is not possible Board members can attend by video link. The positions are voluntary but we will provide you with training and support and pay your expenses.

Cumbernauld and District Women’s Aid is committed to promoting equality and diversity and positively welcomes applications from women from all sections of the community. Under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 only women need apply