Community Resilience Coordinator Jobs in Edinburgh

Deaf Unity is seeking an Organisational Development Consultant with experience of successfully supporting small charities through growth and change.  

We are planning the transition from a freelance to a PAYE salary structure and require support with: 

• Designing an appropriate staffing structure 

• Benchmarking salaries 

• Business and financial planning 

• HR/employment systems and policies, related training 

• Governance 

The overall aim of this commission is to establish an effective and well-managed staffing structure for the organisation, with strong systems and policies embedded across our teams. Ultimately this will build Deaf Unity’s stability and resilience for the long-term. 

Deaf Unity: mission and purpose 

Deaf Unity is a deaf-led charity (CIO), based in London, that works to empower, nurture and train deaf individuals. Our particular focus is on three main points of transition that are pivotal in enabling deaf people to realise their potential – and to thrive within and contribute fully to society. These transition points are: 

• leaving school to enter further/higher education 

• entering the workforce 

• progressing in the workplace 

We work with our community in London to identify the barriers deaf people face at every stage of this journey, empowering them to make informed choices and to succeed. We partner with stakeholders (universities, employers, voluntary sector partners) to decrease, overcome or eradicate these barriers altogether. 

From our home base in London, we work alongside our community and partners to develop and deliver new initiatives in response to clearly identified needs. We directly engage 300+ deaf people each year: inspiring and supporting school-leavers to take their first steps into higher education; empowering graduates and employees to navigate the world of work with confidence; and connecting deaf people with each other to build community, tackle isolation, mobilise around key issues and break down barriers to learning and employment. Sharing and dissemination of our work (including online to reach the national community) goes on to engage far greater numbers. 

Deaf Unity generates much of its income from providing interpreting and consultancy services and delivering training (British Sign Language and deaf awareness courses).  This activity fully aligns with our charitable mission and generates essential unrestricted funding to support our wider activities. Income in the year ending December 2023 was £115,316, of which over 80% was generated from course delivery and interpreting services. That year we generated a surplus of £11,102. 

Context for the commission 

To date, deaf Unity’s programmes have been delivered entirely by a freelance team: CEO, administrator,  tutors and project managers/coordinators leading on different streams of activity.  We have recently recruited a Training and Operations Manager (freelance) to lead on training and interpreting services. 

Activity continues to grow. Turnover in 2024 was c. £175,000 (final accounts are currently being produced), demand for courses is strong and we have had a successful year of fundraising. 

Our activities engage a broad range of beneficiaries, participants and stakeholders: deaf students and employees; our local deaf community in London; and many different stakeholders – universities, employers and local councils – working with us to remove the barriers that disadvantage deaf people and prevent access to opportunity. We are proud of a track record of impactful interventions that have made a real difference in the prospects of deaf learners, jobseekers and employees. 

This said, we have not reaped the full benefits of the partnerships and experience that have contributed to this success. A wholly freelance workforce means skills, knowledge, relationships and learning are regularly lost. We now wish to bring a core team into a salaried, PAYE structure to assure greater stability and continuity. We wish to invest in our people and demonstrate good employability practices, as champions of Deaf parity in the workplace. Specialist support is needed to ensure a good process, an affordable structure, and that appropriate systems, policies and structures are in place to support future work.

In late 2023, the Board of Trustees agreed a forward plan, setting out the charity’s objectives and the activities we plan to deliver over the next 3-5 years. Our work is guided by 5 high-level, strategic objectives. We aim that by 2028:

1. Deaf Unity will have created in partnership with London schools a high-quality, effective careers advice pack/toolkit which can be accessed digitally by schools across the UK to inspire and support deaf learners on their FE/HE/vocational journey.

2. Deaf Unity will be providing a comprehensive package of support around employability, that is recognised and in use by 5 leading nationwide employers and by the National Union of Students (NUS). 

3.  We will be hosting in London a highly respected, impactful annual event for deaf people in work that is reaching 100 deaf people each year, directly or indirectly 

4. Deaf Unity will be able to evidence that the CIO is making a substantial positive difference in the lives of learners, students and employees - through quantitative and qualitative feedback including testimonials and case studies 

5. Our organisation will be stable, financially secure and resilient, supported by strong governance and management systems and effective partnership networks

This commission directly supports objective 5. 

In parallel with this: 

1. Deaf Unity will work with an Evaluation specialist to develop a practical, effective evaluation framework and plan enabling us to capture and analyse our impact across the full range of our activities. This will enable us to improve the design and delivery of our services and activities, on an ongoing basis and to better evidence the charity’s impact and the difference we are making in people’s lives. 

2. Staff and Trustees will undertake training to address identified skills and knowledge gaps (a modest budget is allocated for this) 

This programme of development activity is kindly funded by Trust for London. 

In the course of the year Deaf Unity will also be working with a corporate partner offering pro-bono support to redevelop the website and advise on online course delivery. 

Overview of role 

The consultant will be required to lead and support Deaf Unity’s CEO and Board through a systematic approach to agreeing, implementing and embedding the new structure. We currently envisage that this will include: 

• A review of the functions, skills and competencies required to deliver Deaf Unity’s forward plan 

• Producing a proposed, costed staff structure, with salaries, rates of pay and conditions that are benchmarked against the sector and meet good practice e.g. in terms of Living Wage parity 

• Business planning to include producing a revised budget for 2025 (currently indicative only) and an indicative budget for 2026, based on current levels of activity/growth, to ensure that the new structure is affordable. (An in-depth business development process is planned for a later stage, separate from this commission) 

• A review of governance and existing policies

• Support with the transition process e.g. ensuring that the moving of any freelance staff to salaried contracts is compliant with the law and with good employment practice

• Development of a training plan (spanning the Board, staff and freelance team) to address identified skills gaps 

We will however welcome alternative proposals for how this work might most effectively be structured.

Schedule 

We aim to start work in mid April 2025, completing by end October 2025 (7 months). The consultant will be required to work flexibly throughout this period and this will be negotiated with you on appointment, bearing in mind your other commitments. 

Time commitment: estimated 15-20 days over a 7-month period 

Fees: Fixed fee is £8,250 inclusive of VAT and expenses 

Specification 

The consultant will - 

• Inform and guide the transition to this new staffing model and way of working, to ensure the resulting structures are effective, affordable and compliant with statutory requirements and with best practice 

• Provide hands-on practical support where necessary e.g. benchmarking salaries, drafting job descriptions, reviewing and updating budgets, reviewing policies 

• Be aware of and alert to Deaf Unity’s ongoing, parallel streams of activity (e.g. evaluation work, development of website) and strive to maximise synergies and added value linked to these 

• Have due regard throughout the process to Deaf Unity’s charitable objects, so as to ensure that all progress is made with these and the good of our beneficiaries in mind 

Person specification 

Essential 

• Evidenced skills and experience in supporting projects of this nature for third sector organisations that have limited capacity and resources 

• Comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of employment/HR law and practice 

• An understanding of the operating context of a charity such as ours, that is reliant on mixed income streams including fees, public grants and charitable grants. 

• Experience of business planning for the voluntary sector 

• Exceptional communication and strong facilitation skills, coupled with sensitivity and a commitment to confidentiality 

Desirable 

• Some knowledge of British Sign Language 

• Familiarity with the XERO accounting system 

• Commitment to values of social justice and equity 

• Experience of working with the deaf community 

It is anticipated that you will work remotely: Deaf Unity currently does not use a main office. 

How to Apply 

To apply for this role, please submit an application of no more than 1000 words detailing your relevant experience and qualifications; two or more examples of past, comparable roles you have successfully completed and your interest in the project.  Please provide details of two referees.

Please submit this by 5pm on 7 April 2025.  Please use “Organisational Development” as your title.

This will be a Freelance contract. You will be responsible for paying your own Tax and NI contributions.

Interviews will be held online in the week commencing 14th or 21st April 2025 

Deaf Unity celebrates diversity and opportunity. We strive to ensure the deaf Community and its members have access to the same opportunities as those in wider society and the same chances to contribute their talent and skills to the workforce. We will guarantee an interview for all deaf applicants to this role who meet the essential criteria. 

Location: To cover the Dorset, Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire area

Working pattern: Remote work with frequent travel required. You will be expected to deliver a face-to-face service to clients in their own home or safe meeting place within the South West area.

Deadline for applications: 16th March (we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications)

Interviews to be conducted: Late March

Start date in role: Late April / early May 2025

 Rare opportunity: Help those affected by road crashes and create lasting change with Brake, the renowned road safety charity.

 Who we are: Brake has been supporting victims of road carnage since 1995, and we're on a mission to prevent future collisions. Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads, impacting lives profoundly.

 Join our team: We're expanding our National Road Victim Service and need a dedicated caseworker to join our dynamic, compassionate team. Your role will involve delivering world-class support services to those at their most vulnerable.

 Not your average job: This isn't a 9 to 5. You could play a significant part in rolling out trauma-informed support services nationwide. Make a real difference in the lives of those affected by road crashes.

 What we offer:

- A generous 35 days of annual leave (including bank holidays and 3-day shutdown period between Christmas and New Year, pro-rata for part-time working patterns)

- Birthday day off

- Enhanced sick pay and compassionate leave

- Death in service benefit

- Pension

- Employee Assistance Programme

- A rewarding role with purpose

- Be part of a skilled, friendly team with an engaged Board of Trustees 

Who you are: We need passionate, self-starters with a background in providing high-quality emotional support and advocacy. Your experience in roles within the police, criminal justice, counselling, caseworker or health and social care sectors could make you an ideal candidate.

 Specifically seeking candidates with:

- frontline support service experience

- a full, clean UK driving licence, access to your own transport and are willing to use it for work purposes (we reimburse travelling expenses)

- experience supporting people who have suffered sudden bereavement or working with those with heightened vulnerabilities.

- research and advocacy skills – you will reach out to other organisations to support your cases where required

- competent IT skills for remote work

Join our mission: Your greatest reward will be knowing you've made a positive difference in someone's recovery from psychological trauma.

About us: Brake is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. We particularly welcome applications from those who are part of the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community or disabled. We are proud to be a disability confident employer. We don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it. So, if you have a passion for making a difference and share in our vision for a world where no one is killed on our roads, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now: If you're up for a new challenge and have the skills, apply now.

Not for traffic offenders: Due to the nature of our work we can't accept applications from traffic offenders. Candidates will be asked to disclose whether they have any unspent points on their licence at interview.

A DBS check is required due to the sensitive nature of our service.

Join us today and be part of the solution! 

Not your average job: This isn't a 9 to 5. You could play a significant part in rolling out trauma-informed support services nationwide. Make a real difference in the lives of those affected by road crashes. 

Location: Covering the North Yorkshire area, you must live in this area or within easy commutable distance.

Hours: 36.25 per week, spread across 5 days, between the hours of 8am–6pm

Reporting to: Regional Case Manager (North)

Working pattern: Remote work with frequent travel required. You will be required to deliver a face-to-face support service to clients in their own home or safe meeting place within North Yorkshire.

Rare opportunity: Help those affected by road crashes and create lasting change with Brake, the renowned road safety charity. 

Who we are: Brake has been supporting victims of road carnage since 1995, and we're on a mission to prevent future collisions. Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads, impacting lives profoundly. 

Join our team: We're expanding our National Road Victim Service and need a dedicated caseworker to join our dynamic, compassionate team. Your role will involve delivering world-class support services to those at their most vulnerable. 

What we offer: 

• A generous 35 days of annual leave (including bank holidays and 3-day shutdown period between Christmas and New Year)

• Birthday day off 

• Enhanced sick pay and compassionate leave 

• Death in service benefit 

• Pension 

• Employee Assistance Programme 

• Flexible working 

• A rewarding role with purpose 

• Be part of a skilled, friendly team with an engaged Board of Trustees  

Who you are: We need passionate, self-starters with a background in providing high-quality emotional support and advocacy. Your experience in roles within the police, criminal justice, counselling, caseworker or health and social care sectors could make you an ideal candidate.

Specifically seeking candidates with: 

• frontline support service experience 

• a full, clean UK driving licence, access to your own transport and are willing to use it for work purposes (we reimburse travelling expenses) 

• experience supporting people who have suffered sudden bereavement or working with those with heightened vulnerabilities. 

• research and advocacy skills – you will reach out to other organisations to support your cases where required 

• competent I.T skills for remote work 

Join our mission: Your greatest reward will be knowing you've made a positive difference in someone's recovery from psychological trauma. 

About us: Brake is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. We particularly welcome applications from those who are part of the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community or disabled. We are proud to be a disability confident employer. We don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it. So, if you have a passion for making a difference and share in our vision for a world where no one is killed on our roads, we would love to hear from you. 

Apply now: If you're up for a new challenge and have the skills, apply now. 

Not for traffic offenders: Due to the nature of our work we can't accept applications from traffic offenders. Candidates will be asked to disclose whether they have any unspent points on their licence at interview. 

A DBS check is required due to the sensitive nature of our service. 

Join us today and be part of the solution! 

An exciting opportunity to be involved in the development of a growing adult literacy charity as it expands across London

One in 20 adults in the UK has never learnt to read at all, but it is never too late to learn. Read Easy UK is a volunteer organisation that delivers one-to-one reading coaching to adults aged from 18-88 through a network of affiliated, locally run volunteer groups.  

With its free, flexible, confidential approach, Read Easy encourages many people who are too embarrassed to join a class to come forward for one-to-one support. Each new reader is provided with their own personal Reading Coach, so that they can learn in private and at their own pace. Learning to read transforms their lives in many other ways as well, including enabling them to support their children’s and grandchildren’s reading, and so transfers the benefits to the next generation.

There are currently 80 affiliated Read Easy groups across England, together involving more than a thousand volunteers. Read Easy UK is the registered charity and umbrella organisation which supports this network of affiliated volunteer groups and provides the structure, training and support to enable volunteers to establish groups in new areas.

As our London Regional Adviser, your aim would be to find volunteers to ‘pioneer’ four new groups in London, and then provide them and our 15 existing groups in the city, with high-quality support. Your support will ensure that they provide the same for their volunteers and new Readers. From meeting with Team Leaders to provide one to one support, to delivering presentations and training for small groups of volunteers, this is a dynamic and rewarding role.

This is a part-time (18 hours per week) home-based post requiring flexibility, some early evening working and occasional travel to visit groups.

The successful candidate will have been employed to work with volunteers for at least two years; have strong people management and interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills; and the confidence to run meetings and deliver presentations.

Applicants must live within Greater London.