Firstport, Scotland’s agency for start-up social entrepreneurs, are looking for up to four new board members to broaden and strengthen the skills and experience of its existing board.

Firstport works with early stage social enterprises and highly motivated people to help them test, refine and grow their ideas into viable social businesses. It is part of the Firstport Group, which supports social entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and purpose-led businesses in Scotland.

As a board member, you will oversee Firstport’s governance and financial arrangements, ensuring that it operates in line with best practice and its charitable objectives. You will play an important role in Firstport’s future direction and will provide support and motivation to the board and the Chief Executive.

Firstport are particularly interested in applications from individuals who can demonstrate specialist knowledge, skills, and/or experience in one or more of the following fields:

• Setting up and/or running an early-stage social enterprise/purpose-led business
• Innovative investment models and investment for scale
• Commercialisation and development of commercial strategies
• Scottish third sector and charity governance
• Working with government and public policy
• Supporting start-ups and the Scottish entrepreneurial ecosystem

As accredited Investors in Diversity, Firstport are committed to making our Board balanced and diverse, reflecting the people and communities they work with. They particularly encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds, abilities, ages, and geographies.

Reporting to: Chair of the Board

SURF is seeking a part-time Facilitator to support its new Alliance for Action programme site in Girvan, South Ayrshire.

The successful applicant will be responsible for helping to build on local progress towards town’s regeneration, supporting collaboration and project delivery in response to community demand.

Specifically, the post-holder will be responsible for helping to build on local demand for complementary economic, physical and social improvements in the town, following consultation activities in recent years including those that informed a 2021 Girvan Place Plan and the emerging Place-based Strategy for Girvan.

Consultation activities highlighted broad local consensus on Girvan’s strengths, such as its strategic location, its rich heritage, its access to parks and nature, and its diverse, active community. It also drew attention to challenges and priorities, such improving pride of place in the town centre, doing more to attract and retain visitors, and providing new social and economic opportunities for young people.

The primary role of the Girvan Facilitator will be to assist in the development and delivery of projects that respond to community priorities, including by providing all reasonable support to local stakeholders for project planning, resource and process development, implementation and evolution.

SURF is confident that this presents an exciting and rewarding opportunity to contribute positively to the future of one of Scotland’s most significant coastal towns.

CHAI helps and empowers people through the provision of free, confidential, high quality, impartial advice, information and representation on welfare benefits, housing, employability and money issues.

Our aim is to alleviate poverty, prevent homelessness and encourage employability.

Our vision is to ensure that no one in our communities endures hardship. We believe that everyone in our communities should have the opportunity to become the best version of themselves.

We are looking for Advice Workers who are passionate and committed to making a meaningful difference for vulnerable people. The role will provide advice on income maximisation through benefit, debt and housing advice and casework for people at risk of drug death who are not yet engaged with the recovery services. The role involves providing outreach drop in help at known community locations where people may already be accessing some level of support such as Well-being centres. Work can typically involve checking benefit entitlement and assistance to applying for benefits, challenging decisions and helping with debt solutions.

The post requires people with an understanding of substance misuse and mental health issues. Individuals should have excellent people skills and experience of providing income maximisation advice. Benefits and debt advice is desirable, along with a good level of education. The ability to research solutions and a desire to assist vulnerable people to resolve issues is required as well as excellent administrative skills, case management and case recording. CHAI will provide an excellent training programme and encourages continuous professional development. We welcome people with lived experience to apply.

We offer the following benefits:

· Flexible working

· Access to Simply Health benefit plan

· 32 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays)

· Enrolment to NOW Pension Scheme

This post is funded to 1st June 2023 and may be subject to continued funding.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

· The Adviser will provide advice, information and representation to individuals who either self-refer or are referred by one of our partner organisations.

· Through maximising income individuals report higher levels of well-being and reduced levels of stress and anxiety.

· The Adviser will manage and maintain ongoing advice casework.

· The Adviser will assist in the promotion and development of advice services within their outreach locations helping to develop smooth referral routes and communications with our partners.

Background information

CHAI helps and empowers people through the provision of free, confidential, high quality, impartial advice, information and representation on welfare benefits, housing, employability and money issues.

Our aim is to alleviate poverty, prevent homelessness and encourage employability.

Our vision is to ensure that no one in our communities endures hardship. We believe that everyone in our communities should have the opportunity to become the best version of themselves.

We are looking for Advice Workers who are passionate and committed to making a meaningful difference for vulnerable people. The role will provide advice on income maximisation through benefit and debt advice and casework for people accessing support from one of Edinburgh’s 4 Community Mental Health Teams. The role involves close working with other care professionals such as social workers and community psychiatric nurses to ensure that people have the help and support they need. Work can typically involve checking benefit entitlement and assistance to applying for benefits, challenging decisions and helping with debt solutions.

The post requires people with an understanding of mental health issues. Individuals should have excellent people skills and experience of providing income maximisation advice. Benefits and debt advice is desirable, along with a good level of education. The ability to research solutions and a desire to assist vulnerable people to resolve issues is required as well as excellent administrative skills, case management and case recording. CHAI will provide a comprehensive training programme and encourages continuous professional development. We welcome people with lived experience to apply.

We offer the following benefits:

· Flexible working

· Access to Simply Health benefit plan

· 32 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays)

· Enrolment to NOW Pension Scheme

This post is funded to 31 March 2024 and may be subject to continued funding.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

· The Adviser will provide advice, information and representation to individuals referred by partner agencies within the locality community mental health teams.

· Through maximising income individuals report higher levels of well-being and reduced levels of stress and anxiety.

· The Adviser will manage and maintain ongoing advice casework.

· The Adviser will assist in the promotion and development of advice services within their outreach locations helping to develop smooth referral routes and communications with our partners.