National Advisory Board Member

Appointment type:                Part time & voluntary

Appointment term:                To be discussed, approx. 3 years with option to renew.

Time commitment:                Up to 10 days per year

About Barnardo's Scotland

We're here to help children, young people and their families across Scotland feel safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful.

At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. 

For over 150 years, we've been here for children and young people who need us most – bringing love, care and hope into their lives and giving them a place where they feel they belong. We are here because too many children and young people across the UK are missing out on a good childhood, and on the opportunity to thrive when they become adults.

We'll continue to be here for as long as we're needed – working with children and young people to be safe, happy, healthy and hopeful.

We will never, ever give up on the things that matter to them - and we'll do everything we can to give them a place where they feel like they belong.

In everything we do, we work with children and young people to be safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful.

Safer: So children at risk of harm are better protected.

Happier: So children struggling with their wellbeing can access support and feel they belong.

Healthier: So children growing up with disadvantage can experience good physical and mental health.

More hopeful: So children experiencing challenges can move into adulthood with hope and confidence.

We're determined to make this happen.

Central to how we work are our four values:

• Inclusive: Respecting the unique worth of every person
• Supportive: Encouraging people to fulfil their potential
• Accountable: Encouraging responsible Stewardship
• Positive: Working with hope

About the role

The National Advisory Board (NAB) maximises Barnardo's Scotland's ability to change children's lives in Scotland by providing strategic support and advice to the national executive and bringing their individual and collective skills, experience and networks to bear where opportunities present.

We are looking to add up to 3 people to our existing board with at least one new member who is aged between 18-25 and who may be in formal education, in work or training. We are committed to offering appropriate support in what may well be the first role of this type for the successful candidate(s).

Key activities

1. Providing targeted strategic support and advice to the national executive across the following areas in the national setting:

• implementation of Barnardo's corporate strategy
• engagement with key external stakeholders
• visiting our services and service users
• fundraising activities
• acting as ambassadors generally and on specific matters on request

2. Identifying opportunities to raise Barnardo's profile and increase its influence among its key stakeholders;
3. Engaging with the CEO and Trustees in key areas including:

• key opportunities, risks or challenges requiring top level support;
• major planned updates to the corporate strategy.

What we're looking for

Passion for the work of the charity, a willingness to commit time and ideally lived experience that is relevant to the charity's activities.

Candidates should be resident in Scotland, be able to demonstrate they work well as part of a team and be able to use skilful questions to build their understanding.

We are looking to add to our existing board with at least one member who is aged between 18-25 and who may be in formal education, in work or training. We are committed to offering appropriate support in what may well be the first role of this type for the successful person. This is part of our commitment to ensure that our board includes people with recent lived experience and/or awareness of some of the services and support the charity provides.

What we're asking of you

• The NAB meets formally four times a year, sometimes in person (usually in person in Edinburgh or Glasgow) and sometimes virtually.
• There will be likely one or two additional formal meetings involving other colleagues from across Barnardo's to which NAB members would be invited
• Uphold the Barnardo's Values and always act in accordance with Barnardo's Safeguarding Code of Conduct

What we're offering to you

We will offer support throughout the process, from recruitment to onboarding and then in ensuring a successful term of office in the role.

For our successful candidate(s) earlier in their education and professional journey, we will offer enhanced support for you to build knowledge of being part of an organisational board including an individual mentor for your development.

If you are interested in the role please send your CV to lynne.stevenson@barnardos.org.uk 

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.  

Our basis and values