Cohousing Scotland is a charity supporting innovative housing solutions. We act as a support forum for local Cohousing groups, fostering best practice, promoting opportunities and providing guidance to stakeholders. We are looking for a trustee with experience of governance to help the charity achieve its full potential.

The Friends of Arbroath promote the importance of the Arbroath Abbey within the history of Scotland for the betterment of the community and town of Arbroath. We are looking for a secretary to provide administration support to the committee and to be the lead contact point for correspondence, take minutes at meetings and distribute information to the wider community and stakeholders. This is a flexible volunteering opportunity, evenings, weekends or to suit the volunteer. Attendance at regular meetings will be required.

The OpenSpace Trust is a charity (SC036920) and registered not-for-profit company (SC292077). It owns the former East Kirk of St Nicholas, including the under croft (known as St Mary’s Chapel) parts of which date back to at least the 11th century. The purpose is to convert the interior to create spaces which will enhance that part of the city centre and make a ‘must visit’ venue for residents and visitors alike. To date we have undertaken a major archaeological dig, carried out extensive external fabric work and will shortly be completing the restoration of St Mary’s Chapel, the latter including creation of disabled access. The Trust is governed by a Board elected by members, which meets at least quarterly in Aberdeen and operates through a series of sub-committees, mostly using on-line facilities. All those involved are volunteers. The next stage of our work will involve creating a 4-storey building within the shell of the former East Kirk. It will have a total area of more than 1600m2 with a focus on heritage of the building and of the city. In addition, there will be a cafe and a large, flexible meeting space with the possibility of some smaller meeting rooms. To achieve all this, we need to develop a very clear description of what it will be used for and to raise the necessary funding (estimated at £7+ million). The current OST board has a variety of skills and experience however, the Board is of the opinion that additional expertise in fundraising, feasibility studies, networking and project management would be advantageous. There is no particular requirement for these skills to be in one person, we are looking for the skills no matter how many people. It is also possible that a greater level of involvement in the work of Trust would be possible. Do you have any of these skills to help achieve this and which you would be willing to volunteer, or perhaps you are person approaching retirement and looking for an opportunity to give back to society. For more information please contact Arthur Winfield, Project Leader and Trustee at email: arthurjwinfield@yahoo.com or telephone: 01224 314286. More information about the OpenSpace Trust is also available at: http://www.openspacetrust.org.uk/

The Board of Trustees are urgently looking for more volunteers to join them. If you are 18 or over and this is something you would like to be involved with, but not sure what is expected of you, then please come along to one of the open days to see what happens in the Centre and learn more about the Board of Trustees. Scalloway Youth & Community Centre is a charity (SCO47950) and was built in 1996. Last year the Centre had triple glazed windows installed and insulation this year and plan to look at alternate heating systems to help become more energy efficient in the future. There is a main hall and sports cupboard. There are three table tennis tables, boccia, exercise mats and equipment as well as a variety of sports equipment. Though not quite a full sized badminton court, the hall has been lined to play a variety of sports. The kitchen is fully equipped for cooking and serving hot food as well as having a good stock of crockery and cutlery. The café area has a servery, TV and games console and a well stocked arts and crafts cupboard. Upstairs has a games room with pool table, full sized snooker table and dart board as well as a TV and games console. The Music room has a drum kit and guitars, amps and keyboard for jamming sessions as well as a large TV suitable for a variety of purposes and a computer with recording software. It is a great space for bands to practice and also used as a meeting room. We are accessible to all and have a chair lift up to the second floor.