WaterAid Speaker Volunteer

WaterAid Speakers are trained volunteers that deliver inspiring talks and workshops, to raise awareness about the importance of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, to transform peoples' lives for good.

Our Speaker volunteers engage audiences about the important work of WaterAid; inspiring them to take action, as they speak with schools, universities, businesses, youth groups, religious places of worship, service organisations, and many more.
 

Expectation for WaterAid Speakers:

• Deliver a minimum of four talks or workshops per year, either online and/or face to face.
• Contact new audiences to organise and deliver talk and workshop opportunities.
• Complete online Speaker Network training and adhere to volunteer guidance and best practise.
• Make use of our public speaking resources included in our Speaker e-newsletter, emails, and online resource library.
• Keep up to date with our key messages, appeals, campaigns, fundraising and volunteering.
• Regularly liaise with the Speaker Network team about talks and workshops.
• Provide feedback on talks or workshops by completing the online evaluations.
• Provide support to new Speakers around their public speaking development.
• Demonstrate the WaterAid values including being considerate when representing WaterAid and always leaving others with a positive view of our organisation and the work that we do.

What makes a good WaterAid Speaker?

• A commitment to raise awareness about the importance of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene and to engage people in the work of WaterAid, inspiring them to take action in support of our work.
• An interest in the work of WaterAid, including our key messages, appeals, campaigns, fundraising and volunteering.
• Passion and enthusiasm for public speaking and confidence to speak publicly to a diverse range of community groups.
• Good availability to volunteer 4 times a year, potentially for morning school assembly talks, midday educational workshops, evening and weekend talks.
• Competence in PowerPoint and email.
• Access to travel locally (face to face visits only).

What is in it for you?

• Development of public speaking skills and confidence through public speaking training, presentation resources and presenting opportunities.
• An opportunity to learn from sector specialists, about global issues of water, sanitation and hygiene.
• A personal Speaker Mentor for ongoing development as a Speaker.
• Regular support from the small and friendly WaterAid Speaker Network team, including support via email, webinars, phone and face to face.
• Access to the Speaker Network Facebook group to virtually engage other Speaker volunteers.
• Invitations to supporter “thank you” events.
• Reasonable expenses for travel to training, talks and workshops.
• Joining an established and influential UK-wide volunteering network.
• Personal achievement from volunteering for a well-respected international charity, tackling extreme poverty and working towards transformational change around the world.

We want to do everything we can to make being a Speaker volunteer accessible for everyone. WaterAid is an equal opportunities, disability-confident organisation committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality. WaterAid is committed to providing accessible, inclusive, and barrier-free volunteering. We’ll make adjustments or changes for any disabled Speakers or Speakers with long-term conditions that apply to join us and provide resources, training and processes in alternative formats when required.

Venues are selected in response to local requests for talks, or by the volunteer if they arrange the talk. Talks and workshops are delivered either face to face or virtually using online tools such as Zoom or Microsoft teams. This means that there are opportunities all over Manchester and the surrounding areas.