Our network of committed local vegans across the country is growing! The Vegan Society organises various outreach activities to influence change in every level of society. There are a range of activities going on all the time, from general educational stalls at events to meeting with local policy influencers.
Advocates are a crucial voice in their own community. They ensure that our campaign messages are spread far and wide. They provide a strong vegan presence in local communities.
What does the Advocate role involve?
Being an Advocate for veganism with The Vegan Society will mean communicating with people in your local community. You'll share the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. You will form part of a local group, headed up by a local Organiser. The Organiser will feed back your collective efforts to staff. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group, for vegan socialising and ideas sharing.
You’ll stay in touch with the Organiser and bring your passion to tasks. Activities can range from staffing a stall to giving a talk at an employee event. It could also mean writing to a local newspaper or lobbying an MP.
Messaging can differ every month. Part of our mission statement is to ensure people can remain vegan, so you might focus on getting more vegan options available in local businesses. Or within our Live Vegan for Less campaign, you may share cheap vegan recipes to help people with the cost of living.
When acting as an Advocate, you will use The Vegan Society’s branding and messaging guidelines. Your local Organiser will guide you in doing this, as they hold physical resources and handbooks. You can report any issues and feedback you have to your Organiser. You can also contact staff if your Organiser isn't available or you have any problems.
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.
Benefits to self
Here are some quotes from our wonderful volunteers here at The Vegan Society:
“Everyone is very friendly and appreciative of what I do. It's a great cause to volunteer for.”
“I love sharing ideas with other activists.”
“I enjoy meeting like-minded people and feeling less isolated in my beliefs
Benefits to others
Our volunteer Community Network is packed with people who care about The Vegan Society mission – to make it easier for more people to go vegan and stay vegan. We believe that it’s crucial for vegans to be well supported by the right legislation, the right options and the right agricultural systems.
Training 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.