Community Speakers for the UK’s Leading Dementia Research Charity

Alzheimer’s Research UK is seeking Community Speakers to help engage their local community with the work we do by finding local groups to approach, then delivering talks and information sessions about dementia and the power of research to find a cure.

Your talks will also encourage others to take action, for example by donating, volunteering or taking part in research.

If nothing changes, one in two of us will be directly affected by dementia either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both.  

You will help us meet our strict strategic priorities of:

1. raising awareness of dementia

2. developing partnerships to support the public to take action

3. funding innovation innovative dementia research to prevent diagnose and treat the diseases that cause dementia.

What Will You Be Doing

- Research groups and societies in your area who might be open to you coming to talk to them, eg U3A, WI, scouts/guides, Rotary, etc

- Approach those groups to arrange a presentation

- Deliver talks, mainly face-to-face but could be online

- You may be presented with a donation for the charity at the end of your talk, which you will pay in (with instructions)

- Update your local Regional Fundraising Officer regularly

- Occasionally, you may be asked to attend a cheque presentation or attend a local event to thank donors for their support.

- The role is home-based, and you can travel as far as you are comfortable

The Benefits For You

- Full one-to-one training and a ready-made presentation will be provided

- You will be fully supported by your local Regional Fundraising Officer

- We can reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel to a venue, when agreed in advance

- Use existing skills or develop new ones, like communication, fundraising and organisation

- You will help tackle the misunderstandings and stigma that surround dementia

- Your support will bring us closer to finding a cure for dementia

- We will ask you what you think, listen to what you have to say, and value your feedback

- To keep you up to date with what's happening in our volunteering community, we’ll send you regular e-newsletters

- You'll join other community speakers in the region on regular catchup calls to share ideas, information and queries

What skills do I need?

Skills & Attributes Required

- Proactive approach

- Able to carry out your own research into groups

- Confidence to speak in front of others

- Good communications skills

- Able to interact politely with members of the public, other volunteers and charity staff

- Reliable

Skills & Attributes Desired

- IT literate with an ability to use a laptop or tablet and work a PowerPoint presentation would be helpful, but not essential

Other Requirements/Wants

A car would be helpful but not essential

When do I need to be available?

Details

Time Commitment - You'll need to spend some time researching groups you would like to approach. This can be done at any time to fit your schedule. - You will need to call or e-mail the groups to arrange talks. Again, this can be done around your other commitments. - The days and times you deliver talks will depend on where your local groups meet and when you are available. - You will be in control of who you approach. So, how far you travel to deliver a talk is up to you. - We would like community speakers to deliver several talks a year.