Trustees Full Time

Application Deadline: 8 May 2026

Department: Trustees

Location: Balerno, Edinburgh

Description

Harmeny Education Trust is a charitable organisation providing therapeutic care and education to children who have experienced early years trauma through abuse, neglect and family disruption, referred from all over Scotland. We currently work with children and young people aged 5-18, both on a day and all-year-round residential basis.

Our core service comprises:

• An education service, which includes an outdoor learning team.
• A care service, with five residential cottages.
• Support services, made up of Finance, Estates, Catering and Domestic, Fundraising, IT, HR, Learning and Development, and Admin teams.

Children who come to Harmeny often have severe attachment disorders, have suffered some form of early years trauma leading to high levels of anxiety and difficulty in managing their behaviour, as well as a range of complex needs. Through highly therapeutic care and education programmes, we help children to gain the skills and resilience to lead healthy and happy adult lives.

We are registered with the Scottish Social Services Council, General Teaching Council for Scotland, Care Inspectorate, Education Scotland, and The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

Harmeny is situated in a beautiful 35-acre woodland estate, which includes a community garden, orchard, wildlife habitats, children’s play areas and a mountain bike track. Harmeny is located in Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh, at the foot of the Pentland Hills; we are easily accessible by bus and there is ample parking.

We are seeking new Trustees to join the organisation and oversee its governance, and we are particularly keen to find candidates with knowledge and experience in any of the following:

• Education
• Local authorities/Social work
• Therapeutic practices
• Digital
• Corporate
• Finance and Treasury
• PR/Marketing/ Media
• Fundraising
• Health (ideally mental health/ neurodiversity)

Trustees are expected to prepare for and attend four Board meetings per year. Meetings are ideally in-person, albeit we can accommodate remote attendance as required. Additional meetings may be held for urgent matters that do not fit with the set calendar of meetings.

Trustees are also expected to be involved in other matters, for example to join a sub-committee relevant to their skill set or working group, take part in a recruitment panel, attend Harmeny events, attend meetings with the Senior Leadership Team to audit progress against objectives, or support Harmeny’s work externally. Sub-committees meet in advance of the main meetings for a shorter duration, and are generally conducted virtually.

Harmeny is committed to equality of opportunity and the promotion of diversity, including in relation to its Board. We welcome applications from all parts of society, and we encourage applications from individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds and those who are care-experienced.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of Trustees in a friendly organisation making a difference to the lives of some of Scotland’s most remarkable children. Support and mentoring can be provided to the successful candidate, particularly those who may be early in their career and/or lacking experience in acting as a board member. An induction programme will be provided.

A fuller job description and person specification can be found using the link below. Harmeny is a values-led organisation and a good fit with our ethos is as important to us as having relevant experience.

There is no remuneration attached to the role but out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

If you would like to find out more about this rewarding opportunity, please contact Gavin Calder, Chief Executive on 0131 449 3938.

To apply, please complete an application via our recruitment site at http://www.harmeny.org.uk/jobs. Alternatively, you can request an application pack by email at recruitment@harmeny.org.uk or by telephone on 0131 449 3938.

Successful applicants will be interviewed, and anyone offered a post will be subject to criminal record and other background checks.

Closing date: 8 May 2026

Key Responsibilities

Purpose of the role

• Ensure that Harmeny Education Trust Limited has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction.
• Be accountable, alongside other Trustees, for the performance of Harmeny and its corporate governance.
• Ensure that Harmeny complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Act as guardian for Harmeny’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
• Ensure that Harmeny meets its charitable and business objectives.
• Ensure through due diligence the safety and wellbeing of staff, children and young people.

Specific Example Duties

• Act reasonably, prudently and collectively in all matters relating to Harmeny and always in its interests, ensuring that any risks are regularly reviewed and mitigated as far as possible.
• Ensure that robust systems are in place in relation to the safe care and protection of children with complex additional support needs who receive Harmeny services.
• Ensure that policies, procedures and practices are in place for the protection of staff, including in relation to their health, wellbeing and professional development.
• Abide by the Code of Conduct for Trustees and comply with any other relevant legal responsibilities.
• Appoint the Chief Executive, monitor and provide feedback on their performance, and make decisions on their terms and conditions of employment such as remuneration.
• Work in partnership with the other Trustees, Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in relation to the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring that plans support the achievement of the organisation’s charitable and business objectives.
• Agree and implement methods to evaluate the organisation’s progress against its objectives, including auditing the work of the SLT and attending meetings to review progress in their areas of responsibility.
• Prepare for and attend Board and sub-committee meetings as scheduled, ensuring that delegated authority is recorded in writing.
• Ensure that Harmeny’s income and property are applied for the purposes set out in the governing document and for no other purpose, and with complete fairness between persons who are properly qualified to benefit.
• Maintain knowledge of all legal, regulatory and statutory requirements applicable to Harmeny, ensuring that such requirements are met.
• Maintain familiarity with and regularly review the Articles and Objects that govern Harmeny, and its Governance Handbook, to ensure that it complies with its governing instruments.
• Review policies and procedures where appropriate, including as part of any relevant sub-committee.
• Oversee Harmeny’s fundraising activities, in line with regulations and guidelines set out by the charities regulator (OSCR) and the Institute of Fundraising.
• Ensure that Harmeny has satisfactory control systems and procedures in relation to its financial affairs, that monies are invested to the maximum benefit of the organisation and that such systems and procedures are evaluated to limit the potential for abuse.
• Ensure that the permanent endowment is preserved and invested in such a way as to produce an appropriate income while at the same time safeguarding the real value of the capital.
• Ensure that that intangible assets such as organisational knowledge and expertise, intellectual property, goodwill and reputation etc. are properly valued, used and safeguarded.
• Provide advice and guidance to the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
• Attend Harmeny-related events where appropriate and practicable, such as the Christmas show, Burns Lunch, Sports Day etc.
• Participate in an informal annual review with the Chair of the Board.

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

Essential

• Experience in a relevant field, as outlined in the advert.
• Experience of critical thinking and demonstrating sound and independent judgement.
• The ability to think creatively.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• An understanding of the needs of children with complex additional support needs (desirable, as this can be gained if appointed).
• The ability to act independently but also make decisions as part of a collective body.

Personal Characteristics

• A commitment to promoting the interests of children and young people with complex additional support needs.
• A willingness to devote time and effort, including preparation for and attendance at meetings.
• Emotional intelligence and a commitment to reflective practice.
• A commitment to equality of opportunity.

Board Background Paper

You will not be eligible to act as a Trustee if you:

• have an unspent conviction for dishonesty, an offence under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, or an offence related to bribery, the proceeds of crime, or perverting the course of justice;
• are an undischarged bankrupt or have a Protected Trust Deed;
• have been removed under either Scottish or English Law or the courts from being a charity trustee;
• have been have been disqualified from being a company director;
• have been convicted of terrorism;
• are on the sexual offenders’ register.

If you would like to find out more about this rewarding opportunity, please contact Gavin Calder, Chief Executive, on 0131 449 3938 or by email at: gavin.calder@harmeny.org.uk