Volunteer Branch Publicity Coordinator

This role covers the Okehampton and surrounding areas.

Could you raise SSAFA’s profile in your local area? You just need patience and the ability to get on with a wide range of people and age groups, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English. If you think this could be he role for you, we’d love to hear from you.

**What is a Publicity Coordinator?**

Publicity Coordinators work with other branch volunteers to develop a Publicity Plan to raise awareness of SSAFA that reaches potential beneficiaries, volunteers, and funders.

**Why do we need you?**

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our beneficiaries come from all walks of life and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. We’d love the general public to understand what we do and how they can help us. We need to recruit volunteers that reflect our local communities and raise money to fund our work. Could you spare a few hours a week to help us raise awareness?

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

**When would you be needed and where would you be based?**

This role is about building awareness so beneficiaries know who we are and how they can benefit from and access support, promoting volunteer opportunities and encourage people to raise finds and celebrate success. This means that on occasions, you might need to be present at events. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but you can conduct the administration part of this role form home.

**What would you be doing?**
- Working with other branch volunteers to develop a publicity plan.
- Publicising SSAFA events.
- Work with Marketing/PR staff at central office to develop case studies of clients and volunteers and ensure that SSAFA branding and messaging are consistent.
- Develop and maintain networks with local press, TV and radio outlets through providing press releases, interviews, case studies etc.
- Working with the Digital Team at Central Office to develop and maintain a local on-line presence for the branch via a website and social media channels.
- Keeping a stock of SSAFA publicity materials and distributing them
- Liaising with PR staff at central office or on-call in the event of a PR/press situation.
- Supporting local and national campaigns to recruit new volunteers.
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA including all sections of the community in awareness raising
- Adhering to SSAFAs policies and procedures at all times, including safeguarding, volunteering policy, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality.

SSAFA is embarking on a programme of review and change to ensure that the beneficiary is at the heart of all that we do and that volunteers are fully supported in their roles. The remit of this role is likely to change over the next 12-18 months, away from supporting caseworkers to focus on fundraising and ambassadorial activities. This will help us to raise the profile of SSAFA and of the services we offer to the Armed Forces family. By joining us now, you will be part of that transition and can help shape the future of SSAFA.

**What can you gain from this volunteering role?**
- Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health - studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression

**What training and support would you receive?**
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - communication and marketing workshops.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
- Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact**.**:

- Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team as well as Marketing and Communication Teams based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

**What are we looking for?**
- Friendly and approachable people with good communication skills
- Good written and spoken English.
- Reliable attitude
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely in line with SSADA policies.
- Access to public tran