We are always keen to hear from people who are interested in volunteering and supporting our work with their time. This is a great opportunity to:
- Become a part of our friendly team and meet new people
- Help to support carers in the local area
- Gain valuable experience and skills
There are many ways volunteers can get involved with Carers of East Lothian and we’d be delighted to hear from you if you’d like to know more.
Current opportunities include:
- Volunteer Befrienders – Role Description – Befriender
- Carer Events Volunteers – Role Description – Events Vol
- Carer Support Group Volunteers – Role Description – Groups Vol
- Creative Wellbeing Volunteers – Role-Description – Creative Wellbeing Volunteer
- Administration Volunteer – Role Description – Admin Volunteer
- Fundraising Volunteer – Role Description – Fundraising Volunteer
All volunteers receive a full induction and relevant training, with ongoing support and expenses paid. If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please contact Hilary Smyth on hilarys@coel.org.uk or call the office on 01316650135.
Our Board of Directors is responsible for overall governance of Carers of East Lothian and setting it’s strategic direction. Membership is open to people who are carers or used to be a carer. It is an important role for CoEL as without good decision making at the top the organisation will not be best able to meet the needs of carers. For this reason we interview potential members of our Board before inviting them to join.
However, we are very keen to attract a diverse group of people onto our Board to ensure that CoEL can meet the needs of all carers. We are a welcoming and supportive group and if you feel you may have something to offer the organisation we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please note that when someone becomes a member of our Board they must also become a Charity Trustee and a Company Director. Certain people are barred from taking on these roles (for example people who are un-discharged bankrupts) and, because our staff are members of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) and are Police checked, it is also necessary for Board Members to go through the same process. For more general information on the role of a Charity Trustee please see http://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-your-charity/trustee-duties/.
Join our Carers’ Panel to strengthen the collective voice of carers in East Lothian. This is a group of carers and former carers who meet on a monthly basis to discuss potential solutions to common problems, comment on service providers proposals and lobby for changes to improve the lives of carers and the people they care for. To read more about the panel’s work, follow this link.
If you would like to find out more about the Carers’ Panel, or sign up to the email list to receive the meeting agendas, minutes and Zoom invites, please call 0131 665 0135 or email gemma@coel.org.uk.
All carers over the age of 18 are welcome, including carers who no longer have an active caring role, or who have been bereaved, but who wish to use their experiences to help others.
Please note the Carers Panel is a campaigning group rather than a support group. For more information about our peer support groups for carers, please visit the Support Groups page, call 0131 665 0135 or email centre@coel.org.uk.
Donate
We always need to try to raise money to continue the work that we do. If you would like to support our work please consider making a donation or becoming involved in fundraising for us.
To make a donation please go to JustGiving.
Please do not forget giftaid!
Fundraise
We are always pleased if people want to fundraise for us. There are lots of different ways that people can do this:
- Sponsored Runs or Walks – You don’t need to run a marathon but there is nothing to stop you! Get your shoes on and ask others to sponsor you.
- Coffee Morning – Why not throw on the kettle and bake a cake, all in the name of charity?
- Quiz Night – Consider organising your own quiz night for charity! Charge people an entry fee or even a levy on every wrong answer.
- Garage Sale – One person’s trash is another person’s treasure? You can spring clean your home making money for CoEL.
- Sky Dive – Raise money for CoEL by launching yourself out a plane! Ensure you plan in advance so that you raise enough money.
- Pack Shopping Bags – Get a group of friends to pack peoples shopping bags at the local supermarket in return for a donation.
- Golf Match – Organise a charity golf match.
- Swear Box – Stick a swear box in the office or at home to raise money for CoEL. Every time someone swears they have to put a 20p in the box.
For other ideas see https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/fundraising-ideas/
It is important that we know who is raising money for us as a charity so if you are interested in doing so please make sure that you get in touch first. We will do what we can to support you.
Please also remember Gift Aid as this can add 25p to every £1 you raise. We can explain how you can use gift aid in your fund raising.
We are currently recruiting for two roles at Carers of East Lothian. We offer very flexible working and 6% matched pension. We are a Carer Positive Exemplary employer, as well as being Disability Confident Committed and a Living Wage employer. We have an excellent reputation, recently gaining recognition through the Carers Trust ‘Excellence for Carers’ Award and have recently secured the contract to deliver adult carer services across East Lothian for an initial two-year period and a total period of up to six years, to 2031.
Chief Executive Officer (28 hours per week)
£42,853 – £45,565 pro-rata
Are you a strategic leader with exceptional communication skills who can drive an organisation forward?
Do you have a proven commitment to supporting unpaid carers?
We are currently recruiting for a Chief Executive Officer who will provide strategic, organisational and team leadership ensuring that the organisation:
* provides a high quality support that makes a real and positive difference in carers’ lives;
* operates in an efficient and effective manner and complies with all relevant legal requirements;
* has the resources necessary to continue to prosper;
* is aware of and manages risks; and
* is an effective advocate for carers in both local and national planning and policy decision making.
Apply by 28th April. Interviews w/c 12th May.
Follow the link to find out more and for details of how to apply for this role:
https://goodmoves.org/…/a4sP100…/chief-executive-officer
Administrative Assistant (24 hours per week)
£22,325 – £23,873 pro-rata
Key responsibilities of the role:
• Act as the first point of contact for carers and professionals, handling enquiries and referrals with sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Maintain accurate client records, manage referrals, and arrange clinic appointments (e.g. Legal Advice, Power of Attorney).
• Provide admin support for carer events and workshops, process small grants, and update financial records.
• Support reception area upkeep, office supplies, and general admin tasks including mailings, info packs, and Board support.
• Assist the wider team and volunteers while ensuring compliance with data protection and health & safety policies.
What We’re Looking For:
• Experience in reception or office admin
• Great communication and interpersonal skills
• Good IT skills and attention to detail
• A team player with a commitment to supporting unpaid carers
Apply by 2nd May at midday. We expect interviews to be held w/c 19th May.
Follow the link to find out more and for details of how to apply for this role:
https://goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP1000000rcYbIAI/administrative-assistant