We have an ever-growing Community Network of vegans just like you, who have a passion to volunteer and promote veganism where they live.
Every month, our Network choose from a range of outreach tasks. These could include town centre stalls, writing to a councillor or MP, sharing our campaigns on social media or contacting local businesses. You're in control of how much or how little you do.
As an Advocate, you will have a network of other Advocates and an Organiser in your area. Your Organiser will be your main point of contact. They will send you tasks every month and ask you to feed back on what you've completed and any positive outcomes. The exception to this is Advocates who don't have an Organiser in their area yet. In these cases, tasks will come directly from the Volunteering Coordinator.
Sanita, an Advocate around Birmingham, finds the role rewarding:
"When I became vegan in 2016, I decided that I wanted to meet other people that cared about the things that I did. I also wanted to help more people on the journey. Volunteering with The Vegan Society has enabled me to do those things. Whether I'm fronting a stand or distributing leaflets, the public are often curious about veganism and what The Vegan Society does. I think everyone knows deep down that going vegan and removing animal products is the only solution to eradicating all animal suffering, caring for our planet and ourselves too."
What training and support is available?
You will be provided with a big welcome and full induction from your local Organiser. They will introduce you to the group and any actions that are ongoing. Any training and development will be provided via your Organiser, and you can also ask for specific training on any areas that you need some development in.
What skills would be useful in doing this role?
- The ability to stay motivated in order to achieve the best possible outcomes
- Good email etiquette, responding in a timely manner
- Committed to veganism and the mission of The Vegan Society
- Ability to stay calm if confronted with differing opinions or challenges
- A good communicator, with the ability to be persuasive
- Confident in communicating with people from a range of backgrounds
- Experience of campaigning
- Any experience in talking with members of the public through customer/public service would be helpful
- Awareness of current affairs, especially those that relate to veganism
- Regular availability and a willingness to stay committed to actions
- Good team player
How much time do I need to invest?
For Advocates, we ask for people to engage in a minimum of four to six actions per year. An example of an action could be writing to an MP or holding a stall. But the more you can do, the better! On occasion, there may also be online meetings to plan for actions or provide training.