Rosalind Hardie

We’ve published our April programme, which can be viewed online by clicking here, or downloaded by clicking here.

A new weekly group for those aged sixty & over is coming soon. A chance to connect with others through activities such as arts & crafts, puzzles, bingo and more, with tea & biscuits!

A new weekly group for those aged sixty & over is coming soon. A chance to connect with others through conversation, with tea & biscuits!

A new local area gardening & nature group is coming soon! The group will meet weekly and will visit local garden and nature spots, as well as work in our centre garden. Expected to launch in May 2024. More details to follow.

We are pleased to test this new news story.

Michael became our Chief Executive in winter 2023, with a remit to support the Board of Trustees to develop and manage Southside Community Centre over the next three years.

Prior to working at Southside Community Centre Michael spent nearly eighteen years working in local government followed by a brief period in the retail industry. Michael has been active in his community for many years in various role such as being a charity trustee and Community Councillor.

In his spare time Michael enjoys spending time with his Ragdoll cat.

Fiona was born in Edinburgh and has lived in south Edinburgh for over 30 years. She graduated from Heriot Watt University and worked for City of Edinburgh Council and then the Scottish Government for most of her career. She took up music in later life and also graduated in Music Composition from Abertay University. She plays violin in the South Side Community Orchestra.

ewfwefwef

Neill Walker is Scottish, born in South Queensferry, Edinburgh, and is very actively involved in spiritual, social, cultural, environmental, and political events and projects in Scotland. Neill is also a freelance photographer who photographs widely across contemporary Scottish society

The Southside Community Centre Association SCIO wishes to appoint a Chief Executive

Background

The Centre currently hosts a wide variety of activities, and we strive to support the health and wellbeing of all members of our diverse community regardless of race, gender, ability, background, beliefs or orientation. The Southside in Edinburgh is an inner-city area of great social and cultural diversity; the University of Edinburgh is close to the Centre.

The Southside Community Centre Association Management Committee, in conjunction with the City of Edinburgh Council, is enthusiastic to develop and support community-based activities within the Centre’s facilities. The Centre is based in a handsome heritage listed building of historical significance and has a well-appointed kitchen and café space, two meeting rooms, as well as a large, impressive auditorium.

The Association has recently upgraded its charity status to that of a SCIO to support the development of its activities. Since April 2023 a consultant has been employed to take forward existing projects, plan new ones and oversee the administrative arrangements to enable the Association to function efficiently.

This new post is to lead the Association’s aim to enhance, and further expand, the range of community and cultural activities in the Centre. Applications are especially welcomed from individuals who may consider themselves a member of a minority group.

The Association is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace, so if you are excited about this role but don’t match every single criterion, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate and be able to showcase skills we didn’t know we needed.

The Association is a member of the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and is also working with Edinburgh Voluntary Organisation Consortium (EVOC). Further details about the Centre can be found at www.southsidecommunitycentre.co.uk

Main duties of the post

The Chief Executive will be expected to;

1. Under direction from the Management Committee develop and lead the Association’s activities.

2. Work collaboratively with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) and in partnership with its Centre based employees with the aim of promoting the smooth running of the Centre’s activities. Provide key-holding responsibility periodically (subject to CEC/
Management Committee approval).

3. Develop new local events, groups, shows, and activities which further the Management Committee’s vision for the Centre, and work with the Management Committee to agree classes, events, and shows operating in the building.

4. Develop outreach work to deliver our goals and further the engagement remits through networking and open dialogue across and between current Centre users, local neighbourhood and the wider diverse communities. Liaise and network with other Community Centres.

5. Manage and develop existing projects in the Centre at the direction of, and responsible to, the Chair of the Southside Community Association SCIO Management Committee.

6. Familiarise themselves with groups and activities currently taking place in the Centre and offer support and guidance to groups/group leaders as required and where appropriate.

7. Work with the Management Committee to identify and deliver fundraising activities to support the Association’s activities, such as researching potential sponsors and funders, developing fundraising events, and writing proposals to potential sources of
funds. The post-holder will be expected to raise annually 50% of their gross salary costs from other organisations and funding bodies.

8. Ensure that appropriate events within the Centre are advertised. Maintain and develop the Associations website with the assistance of appropriate IT support.

9. Develop use of the main hall theatre/cinema space to attract commercial lets, to raise the profile of the Centre and create both income and resources to support community projects.

10. Represent the Centre at local events to promote the Centre’s contribution to the locality.

11. Data protection – ensuring that the Association complies with current Data Protection legislation.

12. Monitor specific budgets as approved by the Management Committee and report financial performance against those budgets to the Management Committee Meeting

13. Other duties that are commensurate with the position of the Chief Executive.

Contractual arrangements

1. The post-holder will be directly responsible to the Chair of the Management Committee (or other named Committee member). A regular report on duties caried out should be provided to the monthly Management Committee.

2. The contract is for a permanent full-time position for 37.5 hours per week.

3. The salary will be £35,000 pa.

4. Annual leave entitlement is 28 days, which includes public holidays. Leave will be negotiated with the Chair, Management Committee.

5. Job share arrangements are negotiable.

6. Working pattern to be agreed between post-holder and Chair Management Committee (or named deputy). Although most of the time will be during the working week should be spent in the Centre, there will be a periodic need to work out with the Centre and the normal working week (including occasional evenings and weekends), at the discretion of the Chair (or deputy) of the Management Committee. Home working arrangement for part of the week will be possible. A log of work undertaken must be kept.

7. Office facilities will be provided in the Centre.

8. The SCIO is an equal opportunity employer and is guided by the SCVO Equality, Diversity and Inclusion recommendations.

The successful candidate should have demonstrable;

1. experience of working in partnership settings with a wide range of stakeholders including, but not limited to, Local Authorities, Community Councils, Local Community Planning Partnerships, Tenants and Residents organisations, Community Centre Management Committees, statutory agencies and voluntary sector partners.

2. ability to communicate, influence and negotiate effectively at all levels whilst maintaining effective relationships with a diverse range of people and organisations.

3. excellent problem-solving skills including interpretation of policy and guidance in a range of situations and the ability to provide creative solutions to problems that may arise with a range of partners, stakeholders, and funders.

4. experience in supporting community engagement and capacity building, in the decision-making processes associated with the development of Centre based and community development programmes.

5. experience in managing expenditures within budgets.

Evidence of the following would be valuable

1. experience in the development and leading of multi-agency groups in a partnership setting with particular emphasis on collaboration, consistency, coordination, and public engagement.

Qualifications and training

Qualified to degree level or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline. In exceptional cases this requirement may be satisfied through relevant experience and demonstrated competence.

Application

Individuals interested in applying for the post are invited to speak informally to the Chair of the Management Committee, Nahid Aslam (chair@southsidecommunitycentre.co.uk), or Vice Chair, Christopher Ludlam (vice-chair@southsidecommunitycentre.co.uk) in the first instance.

Applications, including proposals for developing the Centre’s activities, a CV and the names (and contact details) of two referees, should be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Management Committee and sent to Recruitment, Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicholson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9ER, or to chair@southsidecommunitycentre.co.uk, by Friday 15 September 2023.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates are provisionally planned for the week beginning 25 September.

Under the auspices of the Gambian Community in Edinburgh, the Southside Community Centre Association was privileged to host Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, the High Commissioner of the Gambia in the UK.

The Gambian Community in Edinburgh, under the leadership of Lamin Bajo, a member of the Southside Community Centre’s management committee, hosted the event.

Lamin had invited local politicians and others to help build community relations. Gambian Dignitaries from across the UK had attended the event. Councillor Simita Kumar (SNP) and MSP Foysol Chaudhu ry (Labour) also spoke.

Imam Yahya Barry, a former priest of Edinburgh Central Mosque (our neighbour), started off the event with a recitation from the Holy Quran and then an address on the importance of unity and community cohesion.

Dr Bensouda, in her address, encouraged the Gambian diaspora to educate itself and to work diligently for the betterment all their host country and their country of origin. She said it is the Gambian diaspora that can work to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Gambia. she said reiterated the importance of building bonds of unity. She said that as a nation Gambia is proud of the fact that it is a country where unity between communities of ethnicity, religion and gender is strong. Gambians of all persuasions value unity and work wholeheartedly towards maintaining it.

As a nation Gambia is proud of the fact that it is a country where unity between communities of ethnicity, religion and gender is strong.

Councillor Simita Kumar, in her address, spoke about health equalities within marginalised minority communities and encouraged the community to seek out health services as a Right. She stated that, as an elected representative, she is there to support all Southside residents and, as an ethnic minority person, herself she is there as a support to them.

MSP Foysol Choudhury, in his address, encouraged the Gambian community to get involved in local politics for the improvement of their own community and the community at large. As a member of the working group on International Development, he was keen to see more voices speak on issues affecting the Global South, particularly Africa. He stated that we all have a role to play in promoting good governance so that all the citizens of the world can live in peace and harmony with each other.

Southside Community Centre

0131 667 0484

Rosalind Hardie

0131 667 0484