Advertised from 8 May 2026

Role

About Space

Do you want to work for an organisation that truly cares about its staff?

Would you like to use your skills to make a difference in people’s lives?

If the answer is ‘yes’, Space is the place for you!

Space is a community anchor organisation supporting people and their families in South West Edinburgh, with some of our services stretching city wide.

WE BELIEVE THAT CONNECTIONS BUILD COMMUNITIES

Space delivers 22 projects, with around 110 staff and volunteers. We deliver diverse services supporting young people, families, older people and carers amongst others.

As a dynamic organisation no two days are the same, with a wealth of learning and development opportunities for our staff and volunteers.

We are an accredited Living Wage employer and proud to share our Carer Positive accreditation, as part of our commitment to the growing number of people in the workforce who need flexibility due to their caring role.

Space is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. 

For more information about Space and all our projects can be found on our website – www.spacescot.org

Space and all our projects can be found on our website – www.spacescot.org

The Role

Space is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Project Worker to join our expanding Youth Befriending Team.

Our befriending service is proud to hold an excellence award from Befriending Networks UK and was awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024.

The Project Worker will join our existing team of three staff and a manager who coordinate our volunteer based befriending service.

We match volunteer Befrienders with young people aged 5-16 years, living across Edinburgh, who have been affected by current or historical parental substance use or harms caused through gambling. The relationship between a  befriender and the young person last for a minimum of 12 months.

Befrienders meet with their matched young person on a weekly basis, spending 2-3hrs doing a range of activities that may take place at The Broomhouse Hub or at community/social venues across Edinburgh. Activities are typically arranged for after school up to 8.30pm in the evening, or on Saturday’s up to 3pm.

Key tasks in this role include:

·        Managing a caseload of volunteer befriender and befriendee matches.

·        Recruiting, training and supervising volunteer befrienders.

·        Carrying out Initial family assessment of need and conducting regular case reviews with other relevant stakeholders.

·        Identifying interests and personal attributes in befrienders and befriendees to create appropriate and fulfilling matches.

·        Supporting befrienders to plan and risk assess activities the child/young person would benefit from to help them engage in additional opportunities and connect to suitable networks in their local area.

·        Plan and attend group activities for children/young people and volunteers.

·        Record appropriate information gained through assessment, monitoring and review in order to provide quantitative and qualitative data about the service.

·        Provide On Call telephone support and supervision for befrienders/befriendees.

The successful person for this role will:

·        have a minimum of two years’ experience working directly with vulnerable children, young people or families.

·        have a sound understanding of the needs and challenges, faced by families affected by substance use or the harms caused through Gambling.

·        be educated to HNC level in Youth Work, Community Education, Child Care or another topic relevant and beneficial to this role.

We welcome applicants from people who have historical experience of substance use and or the harms caused through Gambling, however this is not an essential criteria for the role.

You can download the full job description and person specification below.

Hours of Work*

This is a part time role of 18hrs per week which can be split over 3 days. The team meet on Tuesdays at The Broomhouse Hub so some hours must reserved for that.

Whilst the majority of working hours will take place between 9-5pm, the role requires a degree of flexibility to provide occasional on call telephone support to volunteers while activities are taking place.

What it’s like to work at Space:

·        We care deeply about what we do and how we work. We work hard and get stuck in because we truly care about our community and each other.

·        We live our values – they’re not just words printed on letterheads.

·        We’re a team and work collaboratively, we support each other to succeed, we value relationships as much as results – egos are best left at the door.

·        We’re not a finished article, we’re still evolving, still learning and not everything is perfectly optimised (yet).

·        We find a way – we focus on solutions; challenges are puzzles to be worked out not excuses to give up.

·        We’re curious and innovative, we challenge the norm and aren’t scared to voice ideas if we think we have a better way.

·        The sector is demanding and unpredictable at times, priorities shift but if difficult decisions have to be made and we do it with integrity and maintain a people first ethos.

·        We have a pretty flexible approach to work - we know that everyone’s body clocks,

responsibilities and preferred working environments differ. At the same time, we really value staying connected and collaborating with each other. From experience, our work is at its strongest when we come together, so we encourage a healthy balance with a regular presence in the office.

What to expect at the Interview

Interviews will be conducted in person at The Broomhouse Hub.

Please expect to be with us for 80-90 minutes during which you will complete a task relating to befriending matches and interview questions to explore your experience.

Application notes

If you would like to have a chat before applying please email Gordon.thomson@spacescot.org. 

Download an application pack below.

We embrace AI and know the positive efficiencies it can bring, however if we feel that an application has been solely generated by AI and we can’t get a real feel for who you are, your application may be bypassed. 

Applications should be emailed to careers@spacescot.org by Monday 25th May 2026. 

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted no later than Thursday 28th May to be invited to interview. 

Initial interviews will be held in person at The Broomhouse Hub on Tuesday 2nd June 2026. 

Advanced interviews will be held on Tuesday 9th June 2026.

Space @ The Broomhouse Hub is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity

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