Are you passionate about helping people learn about diabetes? Do you have strong links with your local community? Become a Volunteer Community Champion to help improve the health and wellbeing of people in your area!
Community Champions raise awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK. You’ll do this by building links with your local community, and by attending and organizing events. These could be stalls, talks, and presentations. You could join local healthy living days, community centres, health fairs, festivals and faith centres.
You’ll make a difference for people who aren’t getting the support they need. You’ll work with people in your community who have diabetes, or are at risk of diabetes. You’ll help people spot the signs, understand diabetes, and understand what help is available.
Why we want you
Diabetes is a serious and complicated condition that affects over 5 million people across the UK. Diabetes is more likely to affect people from South Asian, Black African, Black Caribbean and Chinese communities, as well as those living in deprivation and isolation. We need you to help us to connect with people to:
Help people in your local community understand what diabetes is, who might get it, and the problems it can cause.
Help people learn how to live better with diabetes and prevent type 2 diabetes
Tell people where they can get help, and how Diabetes UK can help them
Organise or attend events where people can think about what help they need with diabetes
What you will be doing
- Find out what you would like to focus on in your area
- Build relationships with the community in your area
- Attend or organise events to tell people about diabetes and help people who have diabetes live better. For example, by giving talks, or handing out leaflets.
- Help Diabetes UK understand what help people living with diabetes need, or help to avoid diabetes
- Answer general questions about diabetes and tell people where to get advice. You can tell people to contact Diabetes UK if you can’t answer their questions.
The skills you need
- Enjoy speaking and listening to people, and can keep conversations private if you need to
- Know people in your local community
- Can help make diabetes guidance relevant to people. For example helping people think about how healthy eating relates to their community cuisine
- Know about diabetes. For example: you have diabetes yourself, or a family member has it, or you work in Healthcare
- Can attend the induction and training sessions you need for your role
- Can access a computer and the internet confidently. For example: sending emails and using Zoom
- Can support the work of Diabetes UK and talk about us in a positive way
- Can follow our guidelines on health & safety, data protection, safeguarding and equality
- Can share information on local services in your area to people with and at risk of diabetes
- Respect other people's cultures and understand their cultural values
What's in it for you
- Do something meaningful for people affected by diabetes in your community
- Training and support to help you in your role
- Choose from training opportunities for your own learning with the Engaging Communities Officer
- Be part of the Diabetes UK volunteer community
- Gain skills and experience, and a reference
- We will pay you back any money you need to spend while volunteering for us. For example, travel, lunch
- Regular catch-ups with your Diabetes UK team to support you in your role
Disclaimer
We want to make sure that our volunteer recruitment is fair, safe and the same for everyone. For some roles, we might need to know more about you. For example, if your role means that you work with children, you need to give us more information about you, such as something that shows where you live and a passport or birth certificate. The Volunteering team will explain more about this. Please note that for this role we need two references.