Join the Turn2us Edinburgh Trust Committee and Make a Difference! 

About us: Turn2us is a national charity tackling poverty and the structural causes of financial insecurity. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive. The Turn2us Edinburgh Trust focuses on improving financial insecurity in Edinburgh.

End Poverty 2030: In 2020, the Edinburgh Poverty Commission published "A Just Capital - Actions to End Poverty," the largest inquiry into poverty in any Scottish local authority. The City of Edinburgh Council has committed to ending poverty by 2030. We are dedicated to playing a key role in this mission, having committed to invest £5 million to increase our impact in Edinburgh. In the last financial year, we provided over £740,000 in grants to more than 600 people.  

While grants offer crucial support, we believe systemic change is essential for long-term solutions. Our work focuses on developing effective local actions and investments designed with community input. We also provide tools for accessing benefits and grants through our online and helpline services. We challenge the systems that necessitate our programmes, aiming for long-term change.  

Membership of the Committee: The Edinburgh Trust Committee ensures Edinburgh voices are represented and provides scrutiny and assurance to the Turn2us Board. Currently, the Trust is chaired by a Turn2us Trustee and includes two other Trustees, two members appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council (including the Lord Provost), and one independent member.  

Opportunity: We are now looking to appoint two more independent members to join us during this exciting time of change. We would like these members to be Experts by Experience - individuals who have lived experience of financial insecurity. 

Role of the Committee: The Committee oversees the Trust’s performance and strategic plan implementation; monitors and evaluates programme outcomes and recommends new initiatives; reviews the Trust’s strategy and policies regularly; increases the profile and reach of the Trust; provides local knowledge and experience.  

Term: This is an 18-month pilot, with the possibility of reappointment for an additional term, for up to three years. The committee position is unpaid, but expenses are covered. Participation in Lived Experience in Governance Advisory Panel meetings is paid at Turn2us co-production rate of £84/day.

Time commitment: 3 x 3 hours committee meetings per year. 3 x Lived Experience in Governance Advisory Panel meetings. With preparation time, including for example pre-reading of materials and post-meeting follow up actions, this commitment should not exceed 6 days per year.  

Skills and Attributes:

We encourage you to apply if you have two or more of the following:

• Live in Edinburgh

• Have experienced poverty or inequality and can use that experience to help find solutions

• Stay informed about poverty-related issues

• Have worked with Edinburgh residents facing poverty or inequality

• Committed to fairness and equality 

• Know about the voluntary sector and have connections with other anti-poverty groups in Edinburgh

• Familiar with local resources and community support in Edinburgh

• Have experience in community work, engagement, or activism in Edinburgh

• Committed to being accountable to the people of Edinburgh             

We encourage you to apply even if you don't have previous governance experience. Support and training will be provided to help you succeed in this role.  

How to Apply: Interested? Please apply on the Applied website 

Then, the next steps will be: 

You will then be asked to submit personal details including diversity data. All diversity data will be treated as confidential. Those involved in the selection process will NOT have access to it. The information given by candidates will be solely used for the purpose of improving the recruitment process. 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete some questions which are linked to the requirements of the role. These will be blind-reviewed, and the scoring of these will determine whether you move forward in the process. 

The closing date for applications is 19th August 2024 at 09:00AM      

If you have questions or would like to chat first, please email Patrycja, Head of Edinburgh Trust, at patrycja.kupiec@turn2us.org.uk . We will also host an online Q&A session on 8th August, please contact Patrycja to sign up.

We look forward to hearing from you! Join us and help create a brighter future for Edinburgh residents!

Turn2us is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from members of all communities. It is committed to equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity. We encourage and welcome applications from all parts of the community regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Turn2us wants to enable an environment where everyone is kept safe from harm and can thrive. We are committed to safeguarding everyone involved in our charity and the work we do. You can read a safeguarding policy on the Turn2us website.

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