Lived Experience Speaker

We're keen to hear from you if you'd like to share your experiences as a blind and partially sighted person and help build a world which understands the impact of living with sight loss.

In this role, you will be:

• Delivering talks to groups of sighted people about your lived experience of sight loss to challenge their perceptions and behaviours. Audiences will vary but may include local businesses, community, faith and voluntary groups.

• Making links with your own existing groups and networks in your local community that may want to be involved in reducing barriers to blind and partially sighted people. • Building relationships with people or local businesses you know. • Taking part in and sharing information about specific campaigns and initiatives to help remove barriers to blind and partially sighted people. • Delivering talks on behalf of RNIB’s Social Action Team.

What you'll gain from the role: • A chance to make a difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people with a sense of achievement. • A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people. • To make an impact by speaking to groups of people. • An opportunity to develop your role into delivering talks independently as your confidence and skills grow. • An opportunity to improve public understanding, helping change perceptions and behaviours, building a world which understands sight loss. • An opportunity to explore different volunteer roles within our organisation and have access to internal employment opportunities.

In return for donating your time we will provide: • Induction to the role and organisation. • Training in public speaking and telling your story. • A supportive volunteer manager. • Regular catch-ups. • Expenses. • An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.

Skills

Lived experience of issues affecting blind and partially sighted people. • Be comfortable speaking to different audiences to share your story, or a willingness to try with our support. • Effective communication skills. • An outgoing friendly approach to meeting new people. • Confidence in using a smart phone and email and engaging in meetings via video calls.