ShelterBox Ambassador

We are ShelterBox.

ShelterBox is made up of people who believe in shelter as a human right – that shelter from the chaos of disaster and conflict is vital. No ifs. No buts. We work to change this by providing emergency shelter and essential items after disaster.

We don’t believe that one size fits all. We work hard to understand the impact of each emergency and the need this creates within individual communities.

ShelterBox was founded by volunteers over 20 years ago and volunteers still play a vital role in the work we do. Last year our volunteer ShelterBox Ambassadors in the UK engaged with over 30,000 people, raising awareness and funds to support us in this vital work.

Become a ShelterBox Ambassador and join a network of humanitarians across the globe who want to see that no one is without shelter.

ShelterBox is committed to working towards a future where no one goes without shelter, but we have our work cut out for us. In 2022, over 113 million people were displaced by conflict and disaster. Some projections suggest that this figure will grow to 200 million within 10 years.

In this Ambassador role, you will be amplifying the voices of the people affected by disaster and conflict, by sharing their stories. You will also be raising awareness and understanding of the disaster relief work we do. The ripple effect of your talks will lead to individuals fundraising and increase communities’ engagement with ShelterBox. Without people like you, we would not have the capacity to reach new audiences or to spread these important stories.

Who are you?

• Passionate, caring, motivated, wanting to make a difference.

What could you do?

• Give talks, attend events, organise activities, support with our campaigns.

What impact will you have?

• Raise funds, raise awareness, recruit other ambassadors.

What will you get in return?

• Meet like-minded people, receive training and support, gain experience and satisfaction, a flexible role to suit you.

Want to know more?

• You will need to be self-sufficient, as this is primarily a lone working role. However, there will be opportunities to connect with other volunteers and ShelterBox throughout the year.
• We’ll never pressure you into taking on a talk or activity. All we ask is that volunteers take part in 8 activities throughout the year.
• You may need to be able to drive or use public transport but it is not essential. You could give talks online instead on platforms such as Teams and/or Zoom.
• You can make the role your own, by adapting talks and creating your own opportunities. We can support you if you have an idea how to use your network of contacts or local knowledge to create your own local fundraising event.
• We are committed to creating a culture in which equity, diversity and inclusion are championed and valued across our international organisation and in all our work, and the personal responsibilities we are all expected to uphold as part of our roles here.

What to expect from us.

• Online training (both onboarding and ongoing opportunities).
• A t-shirt, name-badge, and other materials.
• Access to our Volunteer Resource page where you’ll find digital guides, case studies of people we have helped, resources for your chosen activity (including pre-prepared PowerPoint presentations and notes for Speakers).
• Access to and training in using our online portal to manage your diary and sign up for talks and events in your community.
• Buddying and shadowing opportunities with other volunteers.
• Support and guidance from a dedicated and passionate team who believe in the importance of volunteers.
• Fortnightly newsletters with the most up-to-date information.

Next steps.

We ask everyone to complete an application form, which is followed up with an informal interview (by phone/Zoom/Teams). If you and I both feel it’s a suitable role for you, we will take up references and then organise an induction for you.

Thank you for your interest in joining the ShelterBox family.

Your named contact.

Jenn Sandiford, Community Volunteer Engagement Officer

jennifersandiford@shelterbox.org