SUPPORT, INFORM, EMPOWER

Three key words that sum up the Salvesen Mindroom Centre.

For nearly twenty years, Salvesen Mindroom Centre has been making a huge difference to the lives of children, young people and their families living with learning difficulties. Over that time, it has built strong foundations and gained a trusted reputation for its knowledge and expertise. But being founded by a Swede married to a Scot the charity likes to think it does things a little bit differently. A mix of Nordic cool and Scottish practicality!

Its goal is to become a world-leading centre bringing practical help, research and education together to address the impact of learning difficulties. Thanks to a generous donation from Alastair and Elizabeth Salvesen, its journey has been an incredible period of transformation.

Every year, the charity’s highly skilled advice and outreach team work with hundreds of families across Scotland and numbers are increasing annually. Its helpline is open five days a week, with expert advisers available to help those whose lives have been impacted by learning difficulties, providing the emotional support and the right information. For those who require more direct support, its highly experienced outreach team work throughout Scotland, engaging with both the families and the professionals in schools, social work, justice and health to ensure that we really are getting it right for every child.

The charity aims to empower families to take back control of their own situation and move forward. In the last twelve months it has introduced two excellent new services that work directly with young people – helping their voices to be heard above a very complex and challenging landscape.
By working across Education, Health, Social Work, Justice and private organisations, the charity also empowers professionals by giving them the information and the tools they need so that they feel confident in supporting young people with learning difficulties. Just as an example, the General Teaching Council for Scotland commends its guidance to tens of thousands of registered teachers.

Research has always been central to its vision for a world-leading centre of excellence. Learning difficulties know no boundaries and the charity’s work is complemented by the Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre (SMRC) based at the University of Edinburgh. The SMRC team is taking forward research that offers the prospect of improving the lives of those living with learning difficulties worldwide. This unique partnership brings outreach expertise and research together, making the experience of families central to this work and, in return, empowering them through knowledge of best practice.

Salvesen Mindroom Centre’s journey has been extraordinary. And this is only the start.

The charity is now looking to diversify its fundraising and create a strategy that works for them. Nearly three-quarters of its funding comes from an individual source, and its objective is to reduce that below 50%. While there is time to make these changes, the charity needs someone well-respected in the fundraising sector with the right creativity and experience to lead it on this journey.

It is specifically looking for a strategic thinker who has extremely well-developed skills across the board but particularly in major donor and corporate fundraising. This role will work directly with the Chief Executive as part of the small management team and with a close relationship to the Board. The Director of Fundraising must be an individual who will command respect from both internal and external stakeholders, giving strategic leadership and taking responsibility for delivering results.

This is the role for someone whose energy, drive and capacity for engagement will develop and sustain new relationships with major supporters and inspire the charity’s small, but very capable fundraising team.

If you believe that everyone has the right to achieve their potential, and if you have the skills, experience and passion to take Salvesen Mindroom Centre on the next stage of its exciting journey, then we would like to hear from you.

How To Apply

Please contact BTA to request an information pack, full job description and person specification.

Please note, Bruce Tait, BTA Chief Executive is leading the recruitment for this role and would be delighted to host initial conversations regarding suitability after candidates have reviewed the candidate information. Please get in touch well in advance of the closing date to give us time to consider your application and pre-interview the strongest applicants.

Closing Date: Midday, Tuesday 16th March

Interview Date: Friday 26th March

This search is being conducted exclusively for Salvesen Mindroom Centre by BTA (Bruce Tait Associates). Our leadership team have all worked in the voluntary sector and we use this experience to match organisations and individuals to create great appointments.