Work With Us

All Aboard: Chair & Trustees 

Push the Boat Out (PTBO) is an award-winning poetry-led arts charity, and a unique and vital part of Edinburgh and Scotland’s cultural ecology. Founded in 2021 and established as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in 2023, we are home to Edinburgh’s first and only poetry festival, and one of just two in Scotland.

Our vision is of a world where poetry in all its forms can grow, evolve and expand its boundaries as a vibrant and meaningful part of people’s everyday lives. Through our annual festival and year-round programme, we bring artists, audiences and participants together to access, create and celebrate contemporary poetry and cross-artform collaborations.

This is a very exciting time to join us: having secured multi-year funding from Creative Scotland, we are consolidating our success, growing our year-round programme, and developing our community engagement work. We are now seeking to grow our Board through the following appointments: 

• Chair of the Board to provide leadership, support the Director, and ensure strong governance and strategic direction.

• 2–3 new Trustees to bring skills, experience and enthusiasm to support our growth and help shape PTBO’s next chapter.

What we’re looking for

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds who share our passion for poetry, creativity, and inclusive cultural participation. Skills and experience in any of the following would be particularly valuable:

• Fundraising and philanthropy

• Financial management

• Legal and/or HR

• Literature and/or poetry

• Equality, diversity and inclusion

Time commitment

• Trustees: around 1 day per month (including 4 board meetings per year, an annual strategy session, and committee or project involvement).

• Chair: around 1.5 days per month, including twice-monthly meetings with the Director.

• Board members are also expected to be available during the annual festival (21–23 November 2025).

Practical details

• Voluntary, unpaid roles (reasonable expenses reimbursed)

• Location: Edinburgh/hybrid/online

• Term: 3 years, renewable for another 3 years

How to apply

More information on the roles can bee found in our recruitment pack. We particularly encourage applications from people currently under-represented on charity boards, who will bring fresh perspectives and diversity to our approach. Please send a letter of interest (max. 2 pages), stating which position you’d like to be considered for and highlighting your relevant skills and experience, together with a CV, to recruitment@pushtheboatout.org.

• Deadline: 9am, Monday 20 October 2025

• Interviews: W/c 27 October (online)

For an informal chat before applying, please email recruitment@pushtheboatout.org and our Director or current Chair will be in touch.

Our festival volunteers are absolutely vital to making the festival happen. From greeting artists and audience members when they arrive to helping keep everyone informed backstage, there’s a role to suit everyone who is interested in the poetry world or even just how events and festivals are put together. If you’d like to find out more information or how to apply, check out the role description here.