Role Purpose

The Learning Coordinator works across all organisational departments to support and deliver the structured learning, training and apprenticeship programmes for members and volunteers of all ages. The role is responsible for supporting a balanced training programme, which offers opportunities for accredited employability outcomes and soft skills.

The Learning coordinator works with the Learning & Development manager and Social Enterprise team to guide clear pathways for learners, including referral routes internally and through to external positive outcomes and destinations. The role is responsible for supporting communications with training organisations to further expand learning opportunities. The Learning Coordinator will also support the Members service team in the engagement and support of Members through all aspects of the programme, and delivery of activities/sessions as appropriate.

Background

Grassmarket Community Project takes an innovative approach to providing sanctuary and support to participants many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable of our citizens. Through mentoring, social enterprise and education in a nurturing environment, the project develops skills enabling participants to develop to their full potential and reconnect with themselves, others and the wider community.

• Our vision is to create an environment where people can realise their full potential and re-connect with themselves, others and the wider community.
• People feel valued and every person is given dignity.
• People feel cared about and can move towards independent living without feeling abandoned or isolated.
• People can be confident to trust and value their own decisions, overcoming a poverty of expectation and ultimately realising their own potential.
• People can build a life which reduces dependence on others, gaining self-reliance.
• There is a commitment to be involved with individuals, meeting and welcoming them within the local community.

Our project is based in the heart of the Old Town in Edinburgh, in the Grassmarket. We work with over 300 people a year and deliver on average 800 hours of support per month.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Work with Members services team to deliver and support the learning & development routes for members & apprentices at GCP to develop their knowledge, skills and competence in a range of areas, sectors, skill sets and industries.
• Work closely with social enterprise and social impact departments to ensure internal opportunities and development pathways are clearly defined and communicated to all parties
• Support and communicate learning programmes delivered by GCP to Members, Volunteers and Staff alongside Learning & Development Manager
• Co-deliver the GCP Learning Hub and associated activities on a day-to-day basis as part of the Members Programme.
• Support regular one to one support meetings for members, apprentices and volunteers engaged in work placements in GCP social enterprises
• Record information and data required to inform performance monitoring (as per GCP Impact Evaluation Framework and guidance) internally and externally to support service delivery, recording attendance, member details, monitoring and evaluation and knowledge transfer.
• To support links and relationships with relevant external contacts and organisations; to build pathways to employment, positive destinations and further education opportunities.
• Supporting the delivery of the Members Programme and Participate in Day-to-day operations; Co-Leading activities, delivering welcome meetings, monitoring and evaluation.
• Alongside Members service team assess the competence of Members and volunteers against national occupational standards for accredited qualifications, such as SVQ.
• To support learning and training activities to be person centred and specific to the individual’s needs.
• Promote the active participation of Members and volunteers in the development, monitoring and review of services to ensure that there is continuous improvement in service delivery and that services delivered are responsive to Member needs.
• Provide support to Members and volunteers to ensure their successful participation in learning programmes and to promote equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice in all activities
• Ensure a consistently high quality of care and support in the organisation’s services
• Accept responsibility for own professional development to remain current and informed about new developments affecting practice.
• Participate the in development of overall Strategic plan.
• Managing your time effectively and productively, including multi-tasking and efficient prioritisation.
• Working flexibly on occasions, including weekend work and other events as required.
• The above list of duties is not exhaustive. To carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your Line Manager, SMT or CEO.

Values

• Passionate about a strengths-based approach supporting individuals to contribute
• Compassionate and trauma-informed in their approach
• Believes in setting of challenging but achievable goals for those they support
• Demands high performance of self and colleagues
• Excellent communication skills
• Responsive to Members’ needs
• Works collaboratively and builds relationships with Members to establish the key issues and anticipate requirements
• Celebrates and promotes the service, the community and Members acting as an advocate for the Grassmarket Community Project

We have an exciting opportunity for a new Outreach and Support Worker to join our Edinburgh and Lothians locality team, supporting individuals in Edinburgh and West Lothian. Venture Trust works with people experiencing complex life circumstances. Through our work, we provide the opportunity for people to recognise their confidence, motivation and core life skills that they need to make positive changes in their lives.

This role will be working across Edinburgh and West Lothian and you will be the first person our participants meet. You’ll be a caring, dynamic and driven person, dedicated to levelling the playing field and equipping people with the tools they need to thrive. You’ll be comfortable and confident working autonomously, working alongside people with complex lives.

Working across Edinburgh and West Lothian, and wilderness places across Scotland, you’ll provide bespoke and holistic 1:1 support for participants, spending time to get to know them, their strengths and where they want to go. You’ll help to shape their journeys, navigating 1:1, community and wilderness journey support, always harnessing the benefits of the outdoors and nature spaces to provide therapeutic benefit. You’ll accompany them on wilderness journeys and support them to develop employability skills.

Across Edinburgh and West Lothian, we need you to work closely with referrers and partners to provide joined up support for participants, managing the differing needs of your case load, including working with young people and adults.

As an Outreach and Support Worker, you will:

• Deliver group activities outdoors in community greenspaces
• Provide one-to-one support for participants, identifying and removing barriers to participation and supporting towards their individual goals
• Maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, generating referrals for all programmes
• Promote Venture Trust within local communities
• Support the delivery of wilderness journey opportunities in Scotland’s wilder places
• Work closely with referral partners and any other stakeholders to provide joined up support for participants
• Work within a team structure with hybrid working arrangements

Full job description.

The official purposes of Earth in Common (EiC), a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC044220), can be summarised as to encourage and support the people and organisations of Leith to grow food vegetables, and flowers for pollinating insects, in urban spaces, in order to improve health and wellbeing, community cohesion and the environment. However, EiC brings together a diverse group of enthusiastic staff, freelancers, volunteers and members/supporters who are tackling an array of social and environmental issues at local, national and international levels, and so it has broader activities and interests than suggested by its current official purposes.

The charity was appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council to manage, with and for the local community, two acres at the northwest corner of Leith Links Park. Now known as Leith Community Croft (LCC), our pioneering and model ‘urban croft’ offers cross-cutting solutions to social and environmental problems through a suite of integrated projects. It accommodates a community growing project with >100 participants. The growing project is distinct from allotments and benefits agrobiodiversity (see tinyurl.com/croftabdiv).

LCC is also the site of our tree nursery, market garden, composting facilities, our Hingabootery (shed-based café, with a serving hatch), our Market on the Croft (to be re-launched in 2023), and our lovely new building (largely funded by the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund), with a well-equipped kitchen, flexible meeting/training/dining spaces and office space. This building constitutes a multipurpose community hub at the core of LCC.

To learn more about EiC, candidates are advised to familiarise themselves with the organisation’s history and current projects and campaigns by visiting its website (earth-in-common.org). More information is also provided in the Job Description.

Summary of the job

• Appointees will work as a team with other Croft Café Co-ordinators, with a main focus on preparing and serving simple but high quality food and drink. They will also sell fruit and vegetables (many from our market garden on Leith Community Croft) from our farm shop area of the same building. Barista and/or kitchen experience would be preferable, but we can provide training to the right candidates. An understanding of food safety standards is essential as well as a proactive attitude, a sense of urgency and ability to pinpoint priorities and act on them.
• The appointees will also perform all necessary ancillary work (food preparation, cleaning, stocktaking, till operation, ordering supplies, etc.). Opening hours are currently 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (subject to change during spring and summer), but there will be some meeting, preparation and cleaning time outside these hours, and possibly occasional catering at events. Candidates must be able to work weekends and early mornings.
• As well as ensuring the smooth running of all aspects of Earth in Common’s café and farm shop operations, they will assist with other aspects of running Leith Community Croft, as required. This may include, for example, waste management, litter-picking and assisting with market garden work.
• Croft Café Co-ordinators are expected to be flexible, use their initiative, and help each other as necessary, turning their hands to whatever needs to be done to further Earth in Common’s services and reputation. This includes contributing ideas to the development of café and farm shop operations to make them more biosphere- and customer-friendly and to improve profitability.
• Croft Café Co-ordinators are important public-facing representatives of Leith Community Croft and Earth in Common, and are expected to abide by the charity’s Code of Conduct, offer efficient and friendly service, also engage with people who don’t necessarily use the café, and be able to inform members of the public about the charity’s history, values, long-term vision and ongoing projects and services and direct them to Earth in Common contact points and colleagues as appropriate.
• While no guarantees can be given, it is hoped that the charity’s finances will allow contracts to be extended, assuming appointees have performed well.

Are you passionate about community engagement and making a positive impact? Join Scotmid, one of the largest independent retail cooperatives in the UK. Operating Lakes & Dales Coop food retail stores in the north of England, we are committed to fostering strong community ties and driving meaningful change.

Role Description:

We are seeking a proactive Membership & Community Manager to lead our membership, community, and charity strategy across the Lakes & Dales Region. Your responsibilities will include developing membership initiatives, nurturing community relationships, fundraising for our Charity Partner, and orchestrating engaging events. This role will be instrumental in furthering our presence in the Lakes & Dales area.

Desired Qualities:

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues from various departments.
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Eagerness and ability to take a hands-on approach to tasks and projects.
• Proficiency in independently managing multiple projects.
• Ability to organise engaging events.
• Ability to build meaningful connections with colleagues, members, communities, and charities.

Travel and Location Details:

You will be required to attend meetings and events at our head office in Newbridge, Edinburgh, as well as occasional travel across trading areas in Scotland and Northern Ireland. A valid driving license and willingness to travel are essential. Some overnight stays may be necessary.

What We Offer:

• A dynamic home-based role primarily centred around the Lakes & Dales Region (encompassing postcodes DL13, CA 10 & 12, NE25)
• Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a company car
• 30-hour work week, with occasional evening and weekend commitments