The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Perth and Kinross Association has just marked 30 very successful years. As we move ahead we are seeking enthusiastic, dynamic and motivated people to join our Board of Trustees.

Would you like to help us grow further and achieve our mission of helping to improve the lives of young people with additional support needs?

About us:

A registered SCIO, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Perth and Kinross Association (PKDofE) provides young people and families in the Perth and Kinross local authority region with unique opportunities to discover themselves and build the confidence and skills they need to realise their potential.

Since August 2018 we have embarked on a unique and ambitious programme of direct, close support work with young people called the Starfish Way. Thanks to the wonderful owners of Megginch Castle, near Errol, the young people we support can enjoy the space and tranquillity of the walled garden, orchard, and wilder spaces of the estate whilst working towards certificated Awards.

Together, the Starfish Way, Megginch Castle and our team of dedicated and compassionate staff offer a safe, therapeutic and beautifully nurturing learning environment where young people can feel secure, find hope, grow in confidence and ultimately thrive and achieve.

By the end of a season with us, the vast majority of young people achieve either a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a John Muir Award, a First Aid certificate, a Saltire Award or a National Navigation Award. Often, more than one! Even just completing a section of an award can be a truly remarkable achievement which they may never have believed possible before, but which opens up a world of new possibilities and opportunities to them.

Our Board of Trustees:

At PKDofE, we have a wonderful team of hard working staff, a heart to make a difference, and a vision of how to do it. At the helm is a small but energetic Board of charity trustees who come from different backgrounds and bring a broad range of skills and experience to the organisation. The Board meets 4 times a year whilst also engaging with each other and staff digitally and in person on a regular basis.

Role and requirements:

We are seeking to grow our board and expand its skillset with enthusiastic, dynamic and motivated people who care deeply about helping young people to become the best they can be. As we move ahead and seek to deliver our new strategy, you will join at an exciting time.

We welcome interest from all career stages and backgrounds but we are particularly keen to recruit two individuals at this time with expertise in either Human Resources, Scottish charity governance or fundraising. Being a Duke of Edinburgh or John Muir Award holder is not a necessity, but an understanding and appreciation of the Award schemes is important.

Being located in the central belt of Scotland is preferred, however, not essential as digital attendance at meetings is available. The role is non-remunerated but reasonable expenses can be reimbursed with any training and induction provided.

Perth & Kinross Duke of Edinburgh Award is an inclusive charity and we welcome applications from people of all ages, and from all communities. No previous Trustee experience is needed.

Volunteering Matters

At Volunteering Matters we use volunteering’s unique power to bring people together and build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK.

We bring people together to resolve some of society’s most complex issues. From social isolation and loneliness; improving health and wellbeing; building skills, confidence, and opportunity; to ensuring young people can become change makers in their community, the impact that we make is great. And we won’t stop until everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive.

People-led and impact driven, we are a national charity that is deeply embedded in local areas across the UK. We operate in five regions: London and the South East; Wales and the West of England; East of England; the Midlands and North West England; and Scotland and North East England. We also have an Employee Volunteering Team with over 25 years’ experience, acting as a broker to provide tailor-made solutions to employers. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all.

This is an exciting time to be joining the team. We’re changing the way we work to meet new ambitions and make sure our impact continues to grow alongside out business.

Role Purpose

ProjectScotland, part of the national charity Volunteering Matters, supports people to get on in life through the power of volunteering. We are looking to recruit a talented, dynamic, and professional Mentor Project Worker, to join our team in West Lothian. The right candidate would be someone who can work flexibly, and can demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment, to our organisational values.

Young people we support include those facing multiple barriers or disadvantage. Our support helps them to achieve positive outcomes for their future. As our Mentor Project Worker, you will work closely with our partner organisations locally to deliver a high quality, impactful mentoring service across West Lothian.

Aid to the Church in Need is a Catholic charity, supporting persecuted and suffering Christians around the world.

Working alongside the Community Fundraiser in Scotland, this key part-time role will engage with both primary and secondary schools in the Catholic Dioceses of Galloway, Paisley, Glasgow and Motherwell, in order to support them in delivering the ACN Schools Programme and expanding the take up of the programme, increasing school engagement and delivering assemblies in person and virtually.

We currently have several Trainee Habilitation Specialist vacancies advertised. Please only submit one application; this should be to your preferred location. If invited to interview, you will be given the opportunity to express interest in other locations.

As this role requires an Enhanced Disclosure check job offers will be subject to the receipt of a satisfactory check.

As a Trainee Habilitation Specialist, you will contribute, as a full-time member of staff, to the services delivered by the Scotland team whilst successfully completing all elements of the 2-year Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People).

The content of the training will be covered through a mix of on the job, and off the job training.

On the job training will be provided by Guide Dogs as part of the habilitation team in the role of Trainee Habilitation Specialist. Off the job training will be covered by the University course, delivered by University College London (UCL), key details of which are below.

University College London Course key dates:

Application deadline date (if successful, applications must be made to UCL by this date): 30th June 2023

Course dates: UCL Starting in September 2023, 2-year course.

Successful applicants will be required to apply to, and be accepted by, University College London for Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) course.

The applications need to be submitted after a job offer has been made and accepted and before 30th June to increase the chance of gaining a place on the course. Places on the University course are limited for the September 2023 start date and offers will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Positions are not held back for Guide Dogs employees.

More information on the course can be found here:

ucl.ac.uk/ioe/courses/graduate-taught/habilitation-disabilities-sight-children-young-people-graddip-specialist

Note: Guide Dogs will pay the tuition fees as part of the position of Trainee Habilitation Specialist.