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Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the work of Homeless Action Scotland. The organisation was formed in 1974 and has evolved from being volunteer based, focused on ending the provision of traditional night shelters, to a professional staffed membership charity and company limited by guarantee and part of the ‘second tier’ of third sector bodies in Scotland.

This is an exciting time to join Homeless Action Scotland as we have just appointed a new CEO, Gavin Yates, who will build on the success of his predecessor to invigorate and steer our organisation into its next phase of development.

Historically, we focused on single people but we now seek to cover all issues relating to homelessness in Scotland. We have always been at the forefront of recognising that tackling homelessness is more than a housing issue but is inextricably linked to, for example, employability, health, social care, addictions and violence against women and girls. We therefore exist to highlight the needs of homeless people and offer practical ideas and information to tackle homelessness. To do this, we work closely with our membership which includes local authorities, third sector organisations, housing associations, health bodies, academics and individuals.

We currently have six board members and we are keen to supplement our board with first class individuals who share our values and ethos but do not necessarily have particular experience of homelessness or housing policy. We therefore look forward to introducing people with an appropriate range of skills and experience to our team.

In return we offer the opportunity to support a Scotland-wide organisation with a varied and ever-changing set of challenges to address.

Above all, the new Trustees should share our belief that homelessness should be a relic of the past and not a stain on our present.

Sue Irving
Chairperson

About

Homeless Action Scotland is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland (SC77026) and recognised by the Inland Revenue as a charity (SC002734).

Homeless Action Scotland is the national membership organisation for homelessness in Scotland. We exist to improve the conditions of homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Our mission is to be the leading organisation influencing and supporting the development and implementation of effective policy and practice that meets the challenges of homelessness in Scotland.

As well as providing information and training, we seek to influence both policy makers at national and local level and service providers by:

  • Offering support to those delivering homelessness services and other services relevant to homeless people.
  • Providing an information source for policy makers and other interest groups.
  • Acting as a vehicle to ensure the experience of front line services providers and service users is conveyed to policy makers and to allow service providers to share experience with each other.

We have participated in the Homelessness Task Force, Homelessness Monitoring Group, Rough Sleepers Initiative, Health and Homelessness Steering Group, Supporting People Stakeholders Group and a range of other steering and consultative groups. Our members inform the views we take to all of these bodies.

In addition to the above we:

  • Work with our members to prevent and tackle homelessness
  • Provide a voice for service providers to policy makers
  • Lobby Holyrood and Westminster for improvements in policy and law
  • Promote good policy and practice in local authorities and housing providers
  • Carry out and disseminate research
  • Provide regular good quality information of topical interest to our members
  • Provide training and seminars
  • Organise the annual Scottish National Homelessness Conference
  • Raise the profile of youth housing issues
  • Support the development of leaving home and housing education in schools, youth work and housing support settings
  • Carry out specific commissioned pieces of work on homelessness for our members

The Board of HAS have agreed that the following objectives are critical to our future:

  1. Developing capacity and governance
  2. Improving communication
  3. Stability of funding and sustainability
  4. Strong commerciality
  5. Ensuring best value
  6. Increasing our influence
  7. Managing complex relationships

The Role

We wish to appoint four additional new Trustees who share our passion and ethos and who are influencers in their own sphere. Candidates should be able to demonstrate broad experience of corporate governance, sound business understanding and the ability to think strategically as well as have experience at Board level and knowledge of the non-profit sector. In particular we welcome applications from people with experience of income generation, marketing and public relations, strategic planning and digitalisation.

Board Responsibilities

Trustees should be able to commit to attend up to six Board meetings per year, although we may convene extra meetings in the short term. These meetings are held in Edinburgh at our HQ near Haymarket Station. In addition, we expect members of the Board of Trustees to attend occasional Board development sessions, related meetings and fundraising events, which can promote and develop Homeless Action Scotland.

Trustees do not receive any remuneration. However reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out Board duties can be fully reimbursed.

Please visit our website at www.homelessactionscotland.org.uk for more information.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in joining Homeless Action Scotland. Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on their application matching the detail provided in the job description. We would therefore ask applicants to provide clear evidence to show how your experience, skills and knowledge match those requirements as well as why you are interested in the role.

Enquiries

If you have any queries or would like a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Donogh O’Brien or Lauren Neil on 0141 212 7555.

Application

To apply, please click here to submit your CV and covering letter. We would also be grateful if you could include the following information:

  • Details of two referees (please note that referees will not be contacted until offer stage or without prior consent)

Please note that you will receive an acknowledgement of your application within 24 hours - if you do not receive this please contact Lauren Neil to ensure it has been received.

Recruitment Timetable

Please note the key dates in the recruitment process below.

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