About Us

Forth Environment Link (FEL) is a Scottish environmental charity, based in the Forth Valley. We work in partnership with others in the public and third sector to enable citizens to live more climate-friendly lives, while also making our communities better places to live.

Through our work, we support more day-to-day journeys on foot, by bike or wheeling, we encourage more local food to be grown and eaten in our communities, and we help promote the principles of reuse. We create opportunities to test new ideas, learn from them and share that learning with others. FEL is an organisation anchored in our communities. Our team are passionate about practical climate action and work in a way that supports collaboration and partnership working. We focus on inclusivity in everything we do, reflecting the needs of the people and communities we work with.

We are a flexible, welcoming and friendly organisation with a reputation nationally for delivering great projects. Make a difference to where you live by joining the FEL team and help us put cycling, walking and wheeling at the top of the climate action agenda.

About the Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic person to drive forward our work with employers on a range of sustainable travel projects. Help us transform our everyday travel landscape and increase walking, cycling and wheeling across Forth Valley and beyond. The role will collaborate with local, regional and national partners.

As Senior Project Officer, you will be helping workplaces take practical steps to becoming more resilient to the effects of climate change. The successful candidate will work with private and public sector employers and their employees to promote active travel for everyday journeys, commuting and wellbeing. NHS Forth Valley, one of the region’s largest employers, will be a primary focus for your role and your work will involve supporting and promoting active and sustainable travel choices for staff, visitors whilst also leading on patient health projects.

You will manage a small, flexible and dynamic team helping to create a positive active travel environment and shape our employer services. Together, you will plan and deliver outreach activities and support behaviour change with existing and new employers. Working alongside the Active Travel Co-ordinator, you will play a key role by ensuring FEL continues to innovate as an active travel hub exemplar, leading the way on demonstrating the practical steps we can all take to tackle climate change.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about active travel

• Has excellent communication skills

• Excellent engagement skills with partners and stakeholders

• Is self-motivated and proactive

• Is committed to helping people live well locally.

You will become part of a highly motivated, committed and enthusiastic team and will enjoy the benefits of joining a flexible, adaptable and ambitious workplace that puts people at the heart of everything we do.

Paths for All has an exciting opportunity to join our Smarter Choices Smarter Places team to lead on scoping the potential of a new Education Fund encouraging and supporting Walking and Sustainable Travel in Schools and wider education settings.

Paths for All’s vision is for Scotland to be a walking nation. We want everyone to have the opportunity to be active every day, creating a happier, healthier, and greener Scotland. A key element of this work involves encouraging and supporting people to walk and or travel sustainably as part of their everyday journeys.

The Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme is supported by Transport Scotland and encourages behaviour change to more sustainable forms of transport. We are scoping an addition element encouraging more delivery in schools and education settings and supporting increased capacity in Education departments and active travel delivery partners with a view to increasing the numbers of children walking and travelling actively to school.

The Senior Development Officer has a key role in ensuring that the scoping exercise is carried out in partnership with delivery partners and education professionals. They are responsible for delivery of a report and recommendations that can shape future funding and delivery in this area. The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate strong organisational, partnership and communication skills alongside a commitment and passion for encouraging and developing behaviour change towards walking and sustainable travel within the school and education setting.

It is expected that this scoping exercise will lead to a new grant fund increasing capacity and reach within schools and education settings in financial year 2023-24.

With a high percentage of the existing Local Authority fund already being used to support work in schools the Senior development officer will also be responsible for supporting the work of the Local Authority team within the Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme.

We offer the opportunity to be part of an organisation that recognises staff as our most valued asset. Attractive employment conditions include a contributory pension scheme and flexi-time policy. Paths for All has achieved the Healthy Working Lives Gold Award.

About Us

Forth Environment Link (FEL) is a Scottish environmental charity leading the way on connecting people and place. FEL supports more day to day journeys on foot or by bike; encourages more local food to be grown and eaten in our communities; and helps increase the lifespan of our everyday items.

The following values underpin our activity as an organisation:

· People first - Investing in our team to ensure we can provide tailored support where it is needed most.

· Enabling – Delivering activity in a way that is practical, easy to understand and accessible to everyone.

· Collaborative - Ensuring we work in partnership to add value where we can.

· Innovative - Testing and developing new ideas and being a catalyst for change.

· Passionate – Demonstrating a love for the environment and our place within it in everything we do.

· Fair– Working in a way that is inclusive and reflects the needs of the people and communities we work with.

Our strategic approach reflects our ambition as an organisation and recognises the role third sector will perform in delivering national outcomes at a local and regional level.

The Opportunity

Forth Environment Link is looking for new Trustees to join the organisation and help shape our future direction as we emerge from the last 12 months of working within a global pandemic.

We are looking for applicants who are passionate about the environment and climate action, possess good independent judgement, will appreciate the collective responsibilities of the Trustee Board and who think strategically. Our Trustees are appointed for a three-year term and can be re-appointed for two further terms of up to three years each.

We wish to increase the diversity, knowledge, age and experience on our Board so hope to attract applications from a wide range of talented individuals. We would particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented on our Board including people from BAME backgrounds, younger people and people who have engaged with our organisation and/or services.

Applications from people with a commitment to community climate action would be welcomed. We are keen to attract people with experience or knowledge in the following areas but these are desirable, not exclusive:

• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Fundraising
• Digital Leadership
• Youth Engagement
• Lived experience of food or transport poverty

The Board is currently made up of 8 members and meets every 2 months. This is an unpaid position, but reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

General Trustee Duties:

To enable the organisation to meet its aims, trustees will contribute towards:

• Setting and maintaining the vision, mission and values
• Developing the strategic direction
• Ensuring the organisation has the structure and resources it needs for delivery.
• Establishing policies and procedures to govern organisational activity, including guidance for the board, volunteers and staff.
• Establishing appropriate systems for reporting and monitoring.
• Managing risk and ensure compliance and accountability with the governing document, external regulators and the law.
• Ensuring the financial affairs of the organisation are well managed and reported on accurately.

Other duties

In addition to the statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This involves:

• Scrutinising board papers
• Leading discussions
• Focusing on strategic priorities
• Providing guidance on new initiatives

Equal Opportunities

FEL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We would welcome applications from all suitable candidates regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We would love to hear what you can bring to the organisation. Training and support is available for anyone who doesn’t have previous board experience.

In 2016, after community led consultation and design collaboration with local children, we fundraised and built ‘The Natural Play Area’. We have around 160 children registered to play and deliver 300 plus, play-based activities each year.

Over the last three years we have transitioned from externally contracted play rangers to our own team of 3 part time Outdoor Play and Learning youth workers and 5 sessional Outdoor Play and Learning youth workers. We also have big plans - our current play area has become too small for all the kids who want to play – we have ambitions to take over a large plot of Vacant land next to our current site, and to work with the Children and our community to develop this into a purpose-built adventure playground and outdoor play and learning hub

About You

Do you enjoy developing projects and people? We are looking for an experienced, dynamic, motivated person to work hand in hand with our Play Delivery Manager to develop and grow our sustainable and Innovative Outdoor Play and Learning service for the children and families of Possilpark and the wider Canal ward communities.

• We want someone who is passionate about community development, outdoor play and the essential role this has in children and young people’s lives.
• We want someone who is passionate about development of projects, people, policy and process.