Join the Diabetes UK speaker scheme

Speaker scheme volunteers are given training and promotional materials to enable them to talk on behalf of Diabetes UK to groups in their local communities.

It is a very effective way of raising awareness about diabetes and the work of Diabetes UK.

The training includes advice and guidance on giving presentations and the scheme will give you the opportunity to develop your presentation skills to a wide range of audiences.

Don’t worry if you have not had any experience of public speaking or you don’t know a lot about diabetes, we will give you all the training and support you need.

Who will I be speaking to?

Our speakers give talks to a wide range of people from community groups to local companies to council committees.

Occasionally Diabetes UK will contact you to tell you about someone in your area who is interested in having a speaker, but more usually you will be giving talks to groups in your local area who you have approached yourself.

The training session will give you ideas on who to approach and how to contact them.
The presentation material is not designed to be used for children.

When will these talks take place?

When a talk takes place will vary, you could be speaking at lunchtime to employees of a local company; giving an evening talk to the Women’s Institute; or a presentation on a Saturday morning to parent’s at a kids club.

You fit the talks into your existing commitments, you decide when you are available and who you are going to be speaking to, which makes it a very flexible way to volunteer for Diabetes UK.

What training will I be given?

All speaker scheme volunteers need to attend a training day to learn more about diabetes and Diabetes UK.
The training will:

• help you develop your presentation skills
• give you ideas of who to approach in your local area
• provide you with all the materials you need to give talks.

The training days happen regularly through out the year. They are informative and fun, with plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions, practise what you have learnt and share experiences with other volunteers.

There is no medical training and you will not be qualified to give medical advice about diabetes.

Want to know more?

Details of our volunteer training days may be found here.
For further information contact the Volunteering team on 020 7424 1000 or email volunteering@diabetes.org.uk.