Director of Income and Engagement for Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home holds a very special place in the heart of the communities it serves, being there for dogs, cats and their owners in their times of most need. The Home as we affectionately call it, was established in 1883, by a group of passionate locals who decided to step forward and act as a voice for animals. This stands true to this day with the Home made up of a staff team, volunteers and trustees all united by their love and passion for what we do.

We’ve been through great change these past few years. COVID brought challenge to our doors, but we stepped forward offering even more support to the community. During this time, we revolutionised how we worked, moving onto rehoming online and for the first-time hearing bird song in the kennels with no visitors passing through. Instead of sitting back and hunkering down we reached out beyond our walls and looked for new and innovative ways to support owners to keep their dogs and cats with them, primarily through our foodbank network now expanded across East and Central Scotland. There are big plans for the Home in the years to come and the refreshed vision with a more holistic and preventative focus is putting our local charity on the map.

It’s a privilege to lead this organisation and to stand alongside the leadership team who steer the organisation through these changing times. As the community needs us more it is the time for the Home to continue to be a beacon of support, hope and second chances-whether that be for a pet to stay in their loving home or to find a pet a new family who are looking to make their home whole. This is because we recognise the reality that when there is a pet in crisis, there is often a person in crisis.

However, the Home is now being tested again with the impact of the Cost-of-Living crisis. We’ve put an incredible amount of work into diversifying our income streams these past two years-moving to generate income from services such as dog first aid combined with new and fresh pipelines of work in digital and crypto engagement. We have a refreshed look, new website and clarity of purpose with an ambitious strategy. We’re a team who like to look for the bold new way to do things and we’re able to chart the path because we’re nimble to be able to do so. We now have a global community of supporters, along with those locally who love us fiercely. Despite all this the costs of running the Home is increasing and the ability to generate funds is being pressured. I’m acutely aware of the challenges however I also know that the working atmosphere, team culture and most importantly the mission of the Home is unparalleled in the feel-good factor. We may work hard but I also believe in the person coming to work needs to be a whole person and that is why work lifebalance along with wellbeing matters deeply to us.

If you think you want to join a high energy team who celebrate the wins and stand by each other during the tough stuff, then this is the role for you. Apply now and be part of something special here at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine
CEO