Christian Aid Campaign Organisers are ordinary people stepping out in faith and working with others in their church and community to build the kind of power we need to challenge the status quo. Drawing from the community organising method, they build relationships with those around them to create powerful action.
Here's some of what we hope a Yorkshire Campaign Organiser will get up to:
- Provide campaign resources and materials to a network of campaigners
- Build and develop relationships with people in your church / community
- Work with local people to run campaign events and activities
- Keep in regular contact and update on your progress with the Campaigns Team
- Build a local team able to raise the profile of Christian Aid’s campaigns
Please do apply here if you’re interested in the voluntary role.
Peter Wright is a Christian Aid volunteer in Yorkshire who has previously organised campaign events. Peter shares his thoughts on an example of what he got up to in support of Christian Aid’s campaigns:
'In 2017 in conjunction with Christian Aid and the local environment group (which grew out of Christian Aid’s climate change campaigning) I helped organise a Wildlife in Danger day, which coincided with Christian Aid’s campaigning moment of the year.
The event was intended to challenge young and old alike to identify animals we are in danger of losing because of human activities. In conjunction with local groups involved in the care and rescue of animals, plus the local bird watching group, stalls were set up, and activities run, on a village green in Nidderdale.
Our local MP, Julian Smith was approached by myself, and agreed to come along for a while to meet and talk with the various charities / organisations. The local newspaper also sent along a reporter, and several members of the local council were invited to join in – some did, some didn’t.
People came and went over the day which was from 11.00 until 4.00. I guess there were over 100 by the end of the day who had joined at some point.
The important thing to bear in mind is that MPs and councillors like to generate publicity for themselves, so if they see several groups of potential supporters, along with media attendance, they are more likely to respond positively, than if it’s just a single organisation.
Media like to have news of local dignitaries being active in the area, so the two in fact feed off one another to generate good publicity for an event. We were lucky to have good contacts and knowledge of the local charities and organisations who would be willing to partner with us on the day, this I would say is critical for success.'