Community Organiser

Why are Community Organiser volunteers important? 

More people are embracing a vegan lifestyle, which we welcome! Many people need support, including new businesses, families, and even councillors. This could be with a range of things: going vegan, finding correct information, providing vegan options in their business, or MPs listening to vegan constituents.   

Vegan volunteers from local areas are vital! Research tells us that people are far more likely to trust information from a peer compared to an organisation, so you can increase the impact of our campaigns by sharing them nearby. 

What does the Community Organiser role involve? 

Every time we launch or refocus on a campaign, you will be sent a collection of tasks to choose from. This could include everything from holding a stall, writing to an MP, or finding locations for our leaflets. You'll be able to choose what you'd like to take action on from the task list. 

You will also be the main contact for volunteer Advocates in your area, encouraging them to do the tasks, getting involved and reporting back. You'll be in charge of coordinating activities, such as looking for stalls at local events and then encouraging other local volunteers to come along and help out. 

You will welcome new Advocates in your area. We let Organisers know when somebody new applies, and they give them a friendly welcome and help them to get involved with any activities. Don't worry if you've never co-ordinated others before, there will be guidance on this, as well as ongoing support. All you need is a friendly demeanour and a willingness to get stuck in. 

An Organiser also holds the local group's resources. We will provide you with physical materials (such as leaflets, a tablecloth, and a t-shirt) through the post. These materials ensure that when representing us in public, you are in line with our branding and messaging guidelines. 

You will also be invited to our volunteer Facebook group and Organiser WhatsApp chat to socialise and share ideas with peers (optional). 

Here are some words from our wonderful Wyre Forest Organiser, Ronnie:  

"I think it's important not just to identify as a vegan, but as a vegan activist. Volunteering for The Vegan Society is a way I'm able to do this because I'm provided with useful information and materials. We need to educate as many people as possible to become vegan."

What training and support is available?  

There will be a full induction to the role, which is done flexibly in your own time. 

To start with, we will provide handbooks and training videos for you to look through while we wait for your references to return. Once these are back, we will provide a full pack of physical resources through the post so you can get going with outreach and introduce you to local Advocates. There is a gradual introduction of new tasks and tailored support can be provided as you go along. 

We will have regular conversations and check-ins, where we can discuss other requirements, as we know everybody has different skills and abilities. Staff are always available for any questions, via phone or email. We're always open to hearing about people's accessibility requirements and preferences – we are a very diverse group. 

We never expect volunteers to be out of pocket. We reimburse expenses related to the role, such as travel and payments for stalls at events. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role?  

This would suit an outgoing, friendly person who is passionate about spreading veganism in their local area and loves connecting with others. Our Organisers are great at responding to emails and getting stuck in with tasks. Many Organisers find a huge sense of satisfaction and enjoy the social side of volunteering in this role.   

Organisers also have:

• Great organisational skills, with regular availability and capacity to reply to emails at least twice a week.
• Willingness to coordinate and motivate other people - with a big smile and encouraging attitude!
• Ability to work independently in their local area on tasks.
• Ability to stick to branding and The Vegan Society messages when at events.
• Ability to read emails in a timely manner and translate tasks into actions quickly.
• Ability to report back on activities to the Volunteering Coordinator.

It would be beneficial to have access to a vehicle if you're in an isolated area, as some actions will involve carrying resources to events. However, this is not mandatory if you have good public transport links, as the campaign resources can be carried in a backpack.  

How much time do I need to invest?

You should be able to commit at least two days a month to carry out actions, and this is usually spread out across the month. This might include attending an event, writing to an MP, communicating with local Advocates, and responding to emails from the Volunteering Coordinator.  

Most Organisers have a stall at an event around every two months. 

We also expect timely responses to emails. When a new Advocate applies to work with you, we would like them to be contacted within five days with a big warm welcome to the group.  

Who can I contact to find out more?

Have additional questions? Please contact Katy Malkin (Volunteering Coordinator) at communitynetwork[at]vegansociety[dot]com and she will be happy to help.

How do I apply?

Interested? Simply fill in our application form. This takes around 5–10 minutes. Our Volunteering Coordinator will receive this and be in touch within a week to arrange an informal chat.

If any stage of our application process is inaccessible for you, please do let us know. We have alternative ways that you can apply and we can provide tailored inductions.

Problems filling out this form? Email Katy, Volunteering Coordinator at communitynetwork[at]vegansociety[dot]com for assistance