Ambassadors

Here are some of the typical activities that Ambassadors get involved with, depending on your interests and skills: 

• Sharing your lived experience and expertise, to foster greater understanding and knowledge of meningitis.
• Talking about how Meningitis Research Foundation supported you, the work we do, why you are an Ambassador, and what your role involves.
• Speaking at local and regional events (e.g. festivals, fairs, colleges and universities), to raise awareness within at-risk groups and increase public understanding of the disease. 
• Sharing key messages and resources across a range of channels such as social media, so that we reach audiences far and wide with life-saving information. 
• Participating in local, regional and national media interviews (radio, TV and online).
• Supporting and featuring in campaigns such as the world’s leading meningitis awareness event - World Meningitis Day, or One Life. One Shot, sharing from a place of lived experience to move and inspire millions of people. 
• Research into community groups, schools and businesses in your area so that you can contact them to offer awareness raising talks and activities to increase understanding of the disease in your local area. 
• Attending cheque presentation events on behalf of the charity, officially thanking donors for their support and sharing information about Meningitis Research Foundation.  

• Being an Ambassador is a life-changing opportunity; by sharing your experiences you will help educate and inform people about what it’s truly like to be directly impacted by meningitis, so more people will be aware of signs and symptoms, and more people will seek help when they need to.  
• You’ll join a supportive Ambassador Network, where you’ll meet other remarkable Ambassadors who have faced the unimaginable (as you have) and who share your passion for defeating meningitis.  
• Be a central part of our events program, from local activities where you can make a difference in your community to Ambassador meet-ups and national events, such as London Marathon and the Great North Run. 
• Access training and resources to support you in the role, and develop life-long skills such as public speaking, working with the media, and community outreach. 
• Get support every step of the way with a dedicated point of contact as you develop in your Ambassador role.  
• Gain experience working with a professional organisation; a great addition to your CV and reference for future employers.  

The following are some of the skills and qualities we look for in our Ambassadors:  

• Willing to share your experiences, using your journey to help others understand meningitis, its impact on people's lives and what can be done to defeat it. 
• Personable, enthusiastic and approachable, helping maintain a positive atmosphere. 
• Reliable and trustworthy, representing the charity in a professional manner at all times.  
• Strong public speaking and communication skills, including ability to present and deliver talks to a range of different audiences.  
• Social media skills with ability to create engaging content across different social media channels.  
• Time to dedicate to the role and its training.

There are different types of Ambassador roles and opportunities to be involved with, and we will work with you to explore the different ways you can share your story.  

Being an Ambassador is a rewarding but challenging role, and it is important that you are self-aware, in the right place in your life to be able to share your experiences with others, and know when you need to step away from the role. There are many meaningful ways for you to be involved if being an Ambassador isn’t right for you, we’re grateful for everyone’s contribution and interest.