BEFS Bulletin 379: POWF Newsletter, Housing Emergency and Summer Routine

Glasgow City Heritage Trust – Energy Solutions for Community Buildings
Date & Time: Thursday 17 July 2025; 1-2pm
Location: GCHT Offices, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LQ
In this session, HeatHack founder Jean Carletta will share the challenges faced by churches and community organisations in managing energy use. You’ll gain insights into the client perspective and practical ideas for your own work, as well as influence what HeatHack does next in trying to bridge the gap between clients and professionals. HeatHack supports community groups in keeping their buildings well-used and energy-efficient. By exploring occupancy patterns, building preservation, retrofitting and low-carbon heating options, HeatHack helps churches, halls, and community centres understand how they can improve thermal comfort while using less energy. This event is free, but booking is essential.

Glasgow City Heritage Trust – Greek Thomson and Beyond: A Glasgow City Centre Walking Tour
Date & Time: Thursday 17 July 2025; 6-7:30pm
Location: Meet at the GCHT Offices, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LQ
Join conservation architect Scott Abercrombie, Associate Director at John Gilbert Architects and former Chair of the Alexander Thomson Society, for a walking tour exploring the legacy of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson and his circle. Starting from GCHT’s office at 54 Bell Street, the 90-minute walk will take in key surviving buildings by Thomson and along the way, Scott will look to highlight the work of Thomson’s contemporaries, collaborators, and successors. The route finishes at the Centre for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street, where participants are welcome to stay for further discussion in the Third Eye Bar. Please note: the walk will proceed at a gentle pace but involves a steady uphill route. As always in Glasgow, please dress for all weather conditions!

NESTA – A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland 
Date & Time: Thursday 24 July 2025; 12-1pm
Location: Online
With the 2045 net zero targets inching closer, the Heat in Buildings Bill due to pass through Scottish Parliament next year, a new Climate Change Plan required, and Holyrood elections coming up, there’s never been a more important time to act – and there’s no shortage of opportunities for change. NESTA would like to convene experts to deep-dive into Nesta’s new report A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland, exploring how Scotland can unlock policy action and provide clear direction for the clean heat transition. This event is for Scottish policymakers, clean heat installers, net zero campaigners, and all those interested in a compelling, workable solution to the clean energy transition across Scotland.

Glasgow City Heritage Trust – Lens on Legacy: A Tour of Glasgow’s Buildings At Risk
Date & Time: Thursday 21 August 2025; 6-7:30pm
Location: Meet at the GCHT Offices, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LQ
Join GCHT’s Director Niall Murphy for a walk around Glasgow City Centre, looking at some of the city’s most iconic, but at-risk, buildings. During the walk Niall will explore several buildings at-risk, discussing their history and the challenges they face, whilst also considering practical steps and creative solutions to support their repair and reuse, and how to make the city centre a welcoming, sustainable environment for the people of Glasgow. Please dress for all weather conditions!

CaCHE – Reflections and Developments in Housing Research: What’s Next?
Date & Time: Monday 8 September 2025; 9am-3:30pm
Location: James McCune Smith Learning Hub, University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QW
The International Journal of Housing Policy is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and together with the UK Centre for Collaborative Housing Evidence (CaCHE) is hosting a symposium on Reflections and Developments in Housing Research: What’s Next? The seminar will situate its retrospective insights with an eye of the future direction of research. The occasion aims to be a celebration of the significant contributions of the housing research community and highlight the importance of continued research in shaping housing futures.

EDAS and Historic Environment Scotland – Unlocking the Potential of Scotland’s Heritage: The Economic Value of Heritage
Date & Time: Tuesday 9 September 2025; 10-11:30am
Location: To be confirmed
Save the Date: Join EDAS and Historic Environment Scotland for a special event. Full details coming soon.

Heritage Network – Coastal Heritage of the North East
Date & Time: Friday 19 September 2025; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: The Salmon Bothy, Portsoy
This is a hugely exciting time for Portsoy and the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT) as the Trust works to develop its significant long-term pipeline of regeneration projects in and around Portsoy’s A-listed Old Harbour. Come along to hear directly from the NESPT and a variety of wonderful neighbouring projects as they showcase the diverse efforts being made to preserve and revive coastal heritage across north east Scotland. In addition to presentations, the day will include networking opportunities, a tour of Portsoy’s historic harbour buildings, and time to explore the Salmon Bothy’s community museum space. Members and non-members are welcome.

Heritage Network – Conference 2025
Date & Time: Sunday 28 – Tuesday 30 September 2025
Location: Bradford
Bradford City of Culture is the venue for the heritage networking event of the year; an exhilarating three days of tours, visits, presentations, discussions, socialising and networking.

  Vacancies

Edinburgh World Heritage – Public Realm Projects Manager
Salary: £35,020 per annum
Status: Full time, 35 hrs per week; fixed term contract to 31 March 2026 (permanent contract afterwards subject to funding being secured)
Location: 146 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DD; hybrid working?(min 2 days p/w office-based)
Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) distributes around £600,000 in grants each year, funding projects across the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site which conserve, celebrate and widen access to Edinburgh’s unique historic buildings and public spaces. Grants are funded by Historic Environment Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage’s own repayable grants fund.
The Public Realm projects programme helps to retain the authenticity and integrity of the historic streets and public spaces within the World Heritage Site. It promotes the better understanding, appreciation and care of the city’s historic environment through partnering with the Council and other stakeholders to repair, conserve, reinstate or interpret historic elements such as monuments and memorials, lanterns, ironwork, gardens and stairways.
Reporting into the Head of Conservation (Public Realm), the Public Realm Projects Manager will manage and progress grant-aided partnership projects. They will work with partners to initiate, seek funding for, develop, manage and deliver new projects to benefit the World Heritage Site using best practice methodologies for building conservation and community engagement. The Public Realm Projects Manager will be the first point of contact for the community small grants programme responding to queries and administering the grant funds. Projects work in close collaboration with artists and craftsmen, local communities and organisations, the City of Edinburgh Council and other key stakeholders.
Click here for the full job description and to apply.
If you have any questions, please contact Fiona Rankin: fionarankin@ewht.org.uk
Closing date: 12pm on Friday 25 July 2025

Stirling City Heritage Trust – Board Trustees
Stirling City Heritage Trust are looking to recruit new volunteer Trustees to join their Board of Trustees in 2025. There are 3 vacancies for Trustees to support the Trust staff, raising the profile of the organisation and helping with strategic decision-making.
To complement their existing Board members, they are particularly seeking individuals who have skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Financial Management and Accountancy
• Legal
• Governance
• Building Conservation

Applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience, and with the ability to make an effective contribution to the organisation are welcomed. They are also keen to attract young people to join so if you are aged 18-30 please consider applying; or if know someone in that age group who is interested in Stirling’s heritage please encourage them to consider joining. Above all, applicants should have an interest in Stirling’s traditional architecture and recognise the importance of the maintenance of traditional buildings.
Founded in 2004, the Trust is a Scottish charity and company limited by guarantee funded by Historic Environment Scotland and Stirling Council. The Trust operates the Traditional Buildings Health Check, offers grants for traditional repairs and supports local education projects which promote an understanding of Stirling’s heritage. They also offer energy efficiency advice through their Retrofit Service. For more information go here. For further information or to discuss the position contact SCHT Manager, Lindsay Lennie on 01786 498462 or manager@scht.org.uk
Please note the position is not salaried.
Closing date: Monday 28 July 2025

The Cockburn Association – Director
Salary: £50,000 per annum, negotiable according to skills and experience
Status: Three-year fixed term contract. 35 hours Monday-Friday with options negotiable for flexible working and reduced or compressed hours
Location: Central Edinburgh; hybrid working options are negotiable but normally three days per week are required to be based in the office
The Cockburn Association is seeking a new Director. The Director holds full executive responsibility for developing, implementing and monitoring the Cockburn Council’s strategies, objectives, policies and decisions, enabling the Association to fulfil its charitable purposes.
The job priorities are focused on ensuring financial sustainability, membership growth, and enhanced organisation profile, working closely with the Chair, Trustees, and President. While a keen interest in Edinburgh and the quality of its environment, and commitment to the principle of citizen participation are expected, specialist skills or experience in planning, architecture, conservation or design are not a requirement. At this stage of the Association’s history, a Director is being sought with management and business skills who will implement a change programme for long-term sustainability. The job is focused on leading and managing the first phase of the Cockburn Council’s longer term change programme. The job also includes a number of other ongoing operational duties which will be expected to form part of the Director’s everyday workload. It is essential that the successful candidate is qualified to degree level in a subject relevant to the job description. A Masters level qualification or other professional qualifications or certifications relevant to the job are desirable but not essential. The Cockburn Association is committed to a culture which values diversity and inclusive work practices, welcoming applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.
Please see the full job description for more information about The Cockburn Association and the role, and details on how to apply. For general background information about the Cockburn Association, please contact Brigid Golden in the first instance on 0131 557 8686 or admin@cockburnassociation.org.uk. For a confidential informal discussion about the role, please contact the Chair, Dr Lesley Martin on 07969 178483.
Closing date: Friday 8 August 2025

War Memorials Trust – Conservation Officer
Salary: £28-30,000 pro-rata; depending on experience
Status: part-time; 3-4 days a week on a 12-18 month contract which may be extended
Location: potential to be based in the London office, a hybrid option or home worker
War Memorials Trust is seeking a new part-time Conservation Officer to help deliver services and fulfil the Trust’s charitable objectives.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Conservation Officer with initiative, enthusiasm and experience. The successful candidate will become part of the Conservation Team managing a varied and busy workload of casework, grants and digital engagement. The role may suit a recent conservation graduate embarking on a career in the sector or could be of interest to someone more experienced looking for a different challenge. As a member of the Conservation Team, you will acquire responsibility for particular areas of work. These may be designated geographically or by type of work depending on location, skills and experience. Technical Advice is focussed on encouraging best conservation practice, delivering grants that support repair and conservation as well as initiating efforts to improve the condition of war memorial heritage. This aspect of the role can include providing advice based on photographs, working with other organisations to encourage protection or attending site visits. Close cooperation with colleagues is essential to ensure consistency and a shared understanding of approaches. Through Public Engagement the charity seeks to provide a response to the wider variety of public enquiries about war memorials from basic maintenance to adding names or background history to how long wreaths should remain in situ. It also seeks to engage the public with their war memorial heritage through talks, workshops and online educational materials for different age groups.
The successful candidate will have knowledge of the conservation of the historic environment, relevant legislation and the technical issues involved in the care and repair of war memorials. You should be able to provide advice and guidance to custodians and members of the public on all aspects of war memorials and their care as well as having the ability to act as an advocate for the protection and appreciation of unique war memorial heritage.

• Job Description
• Person Specification
• Conditions of service
• Equal Opportunities form

War Memorials Trust is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Closing date: 9am on Friday 8 August 2025