We’re seeking Public Speakers to join our team and represent Candlelighters at events across Yorkshire. By expanding our presence throughout the region, you’ll help raise awareness and inspire others to support our cause.

Volunteer Speakers deliver talks in their own community, at schools, corporate events and community groups. This role is flexible and is a great opportunity to develop public speaking skills whilst raising awareness about our cause.

Whether you’re an experienced public speaker or looking to develop your skills, if you’re passionate about raising awareness for an important cause or have a personal story about the support you’ve received from Candlelighters that you’re comfortable sharing, we’d love for you to join our team!

Location

This is a community based role so you can decide how far you are willing to travel. We welcome applications from volunteers across Yorkshire.

Time commitment

Approximately one event a month.

When delivering talks to schools, these are delivered in school hours, which will generally be between 9:00am and 3:00pm, therefore talks can be delivered during these times.

Key Activities 

• Representing Candlelighters at events and functions
• Delivering compelling and well-prepared presentations to various audiences about our work
• Interacting with audience members before, during, and after presentations, answering questions and encouraging participation
• Acting as a positive ambassador for Candlelighters, embodying our values in all interactions
• Promoting ways people can get involved, either as supporters or volunteers
• Researching opportunities in your local area, such as approaching schools and youth groups to arrange talks

We are looking for volunteers who: 

• Are confident and comfortable in presenting to a wide range of audiences
• Are willing to get involved when opportunities arise in your local area
  • A willingness/ability to travel to events outside your area is desirable, but not essential
• Are passionate and enthusiastic about our work
• Can talk and answer questions about Candlelighters with confidence and sensitivity
• Are organised, reliable and trustworthy
• Are polite, friendly, approachable and personable
• Can maintain professionalism while representing our values
• Will adhere to Candlelighters’ policies and procedures
• Prior experience in public speaking or presenting is desirable

This role is subject to a criminal record check, which is processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please note that a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from this role. We assess each application on a case-by-case basis.

Support and Benefits 

It’s vital that our volunteers feel rewarded for their amazing efforts so we want to match your goals, aspirations, availability and everything else with the right opportunity for you. Here are a few examples of what you will receive as a volunteer:

• Thorough induction & training to give you the confidence to perform your role well and to the best of your ability 
• Opportunity to develop new and existing skills to help you beyond your involvement with Candlelighters 
• Ongoing support from the Fundraising and HR teams 
• Certain expenses to be reimbursed as agreed with your Volunteer Supervisor, in accordance with our Expenses policy 
• Regular reviews with your Volunteer Supervisor to help you develop in your role 
• Satisfaction in knowing you are making a valuable contribution to supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer 
• We can be a reference once you’ve volunteered for three months 
• Access to the mental health hotline 
• Charity Worker Discount card 
• Access to The Company Shop 

We are recognised by Great Place To Work® on multiple Best Workplaces Lists and 97% of our employees say Candlelighters is a great place to work!

How to Apply

Please find the full recruitment pack here.

If you would like to apply, please email your CV to [email protected] and we will then send you an application form to complete. Alternatively, please complete the online application form found here.

Interview

Candlelighters will conduct an in-person informal interview with shortlisted candidates on a date to be arranged.

We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all candidates. If you have any specific requirements or need any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know in advance. We are happy to explore how we can best accommodate your needs to ensure a fair and comfortable experience for everyone.

At Candlelighters, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and transparent recruitment process to ensure that you can make an informed decisions about volunteering with us. With this in mind, we acknowledge certain physical and logistical limitations within our office environment:

• Our building has steep stairs and no lift access. We recognise that this may present challenges for individuals with mobility needs.

We encourage prospective applicants to carefully consider these factors to determine if our work environment aligns with their needs and preferences before applying.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call the HR and Volunteering Manager, Corinne, on 0113 887 8333.