Age Scotland is the national charity for older people. We work to improve the lives of everyone over the age of 50 so that they can love later life.

We support and enable hundreds of communities and older people’s groups across Scotland. We provide information, friendship and advice through our free helpline and publications. We tackle loneliness and isolation with our Friendship Line and much more.

We work in Scotland with older people’s groups who provide vital activities and services for older people in their local community. We campaign on the issues that older people tell us are important to them.

We know that growing older doesn’t come with a manual. Later life can bring opportunities and challenges, and people may need to know about rights, organisations and services which are often unfamiliar. That’s why we provide free information and advice to support older people on a diverse range of topics.

You will lead on the day-to-day development and delivery of online and face-to-face social security workshops for older people, their families and carers and professionals. You will also attend local community events to raise awareness of entitlements for older people.

Using a collaborative approach, you will work closely with the Helpline Manager to provide social security training for Helpline Advisers that meets the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.

Living our values, you will help create better outcomes for older people by empowering and enabling them to access their rights and entitlements.

We know that the traditional ‘nine to five’ in the office does not suit everyone, and we also love spending time with our colleagues creating some of our best work and ideas. That’s why you can spend up to 60% of your working week at home, if that suits you.

In return for your enthusiasm, expertise and commitment to our values you’ll receive a generous holiday allowance, a range of learning and development opportunities, optional healthcare benefits and a contributory pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 9%.

LifeCare Edinburgh is a registered charity (SC012641) with a proud history of supporting local older people for over 80 years. Our vision is a city where no older person is alone or isolated, where they can thrive, and are active members of their communities. Our mission is to ensure that every older person receives the best possible care, companionship, and advice they need to live well and independently in their own homes for longer.

Through our relationship-based approach we support local older people (50+) who are living with dementia, in isolation, with reduced mobilities, mental health concerns and those managing on low-incomes. We also provide dedicated support for unpaid carers and run a busy community hub which provides significant social value.

LifeCare operates with a team of over 70 staff supporting over 1,000 local older people a year. All our care costs are subsidised through our fundraising efforts. We are working hard to deliver as much free care as we can for those that need it including free meals on wheels, free social activity groups, free mobile hairdressing for those living with dementia and our community café currently operates as a welcoming warm space offering free hot food and activities for those struggling with the rising cost of living.

Role Purpose:

This is an exciting new role designed to help LifeCare grow its profile positively and professionally across all stakeholder groups. LifeCare’s communications help the charity to improve the lives of older people, make an impact and produce meaningful change. Across the last 12-months we have steadily increased our profile, but we need a dedicated person in post to develop this great work, taking forward successfully ensuring consistency of branding and voice.

The Marketing and Communications Coordinator will take the lead across all our online and offline promotional channels to promote our charity and our impact, raising awareness of LifeCare overall, promoting our services to maximise client numbers and income, and the beneficial impact of funds raised. The role will work across departments to create and source content for use across multiple platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• The Marketing and Communications Coordinator will work alongside the Chief Executive and Fundraising and Communications Manager to develop an energising communications strategy designed to support the charity to deliver on its recently revised organisational strategy.
• Oversee the implementation of this communication strategy across online and offline platforms, within specific budgets, ensuring consistency of brand and messaging. This includes all formal contact with clients, carers and activity providers, communications throughout our community hub, regular newsletters for stakeholders, all online activities, events and promotional materials as appropriate, such as posters, ads, flyers/leaflets.
• Work across departments to create compelling and engaging content to be used across the charity’s communications. Working closely with care service colleagues to create an effective system to share positive stories and experiences to help generate positive client stories to showcase the charity’s great work. We are interested in developing our use of effective story-telling using videos and images to drive results and impact through our socials.
• Working alongside colleagues to deliver a series of local community events designed to increase the profile of the charity’s activities and support the organisation’s fundraising targets.
• Manage and monitor effectiveness of campaigns, appeals, and social communication platforms to make an impact and continually improve our effectiveness.
• Support the Chief Executive and Fundraising and Communications Manager to develop and improve the organisations internal communications; ensuring all staff are involved, informed and proud to work for the charity.
• Work with the Fundraising Coordinator to develop and update fundraising materials and resources including website, socials, email newsletters, printed materials and presentations.
• Measure the impact of our communications to inform future communication and fundraising activities.
• This is a new role and will require some flexibility within the day-to-day role helping to ensure the charity delivers on its new organisational strategy

Who we are looking for:

• We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, driven and committed to our cause. We hope to engage someone who understands the changing needs of older people and who can demonstrate that they are passionate about making a positive difference to an older person’s life. fun, insightful, and collaborative.
• We hope to engage someone who is creative, results driven, collaborative and keen to share ideas.
• Effective at managing a brand, you will possess excellent attention to detail, communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• The successful applicant will be able to effectively manage deadlines and multi-task.
• Experience of working alongside fundraising activities desirable but not essential.
• Experience of managing and delivering against budgets, reporting on KPIs, and reforecasting useful.
• You will be flexible, able work well on your own and as part of a team

Selection criteria

• Excellent written and verbal communicator with the ability to write clear and accurate communications across the full range of marketing channels.
• Can easily demonstrate a solid track record of delivering integrated marketing and communications strategies and campaigns, designed to secure organisational objectives.
• A strong understanding and good experience of using online, digital, and social media tools for engaging, mobilising, influencing, and growing key audiences.
• Design experience using programmes such as Canva or equivalent.
• Experienced at supporting fundraising activities including public appeals and generation of compelling fundraising content.
• Understanding and appreciation of the changing needs of older people
• Be results oriented with an excellent eye for detail, strong writing, proofreading, and editing skills.
• You’ll ideally have worked in a similar role previously – this can be on agency or client-side – and have good knowledge about current best practice in marketing.
• Team player and ability to represent the organisation internally and externally.

Would you like to join our board?

We are looking for new trustees to help LifeCare in its great work supporting local older people.

LifeCare is at an exciting stage in its development and we are looking for Trustees who will passionately inform our services bringing new skills and experience to help lead the organisation.

We are particularly (but not exclusively) interested in individuals with experience in the following fields:

• Health and Social Care
• Finance
• Fundraising
• Marketing and Digital Innovation
• Hospitality

Most of all, we are looking for people with lived experience of care, or as an unpaid carer, to help strengthen our capacity to better embed the voice of the people who use our services at Board level.

Can you help us? We are looking for people who share our values, that are passionate and committed about supporting local older people, who can be creative in building our profile and work closely with our team and stakeholders to deliver outstanding person-centred services to our clients.

The Board usually meets in the evenings (either in-person or via Zoom). The role is non-remunerated however reasonable expenses will be reimbursed and training / ongoing support will be provided. If you have any questions or would like a quick chat to find out more, please contact our chair beverleyfrancis@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk.