Network Ambassador Role

Position: In Kind Direct Network Ambassador

Role duration: 12 months

About In Kind Direct

We are a UK charity focused on distributing consumer products, donated by companies. We reach over 500,000 people each week through our network of over 6,500 charitable organisations. We believe everyone deserves access to life’s essentials and that no usable product should go to waste.

It can’t be right that in our society, some of us still can’t access the essentials we need to support our health, happiness, and hygiene. We challenge this type of inequality wherever we find it. It can be easy to take for granted the products we use to help us stay clean, safe, and well. These essentials boost our confidence and self-esteem and help us feel we truly belong. As well as meeting immediate need in communities, we use our research and partnerships to tackle the root causes of too many people going without.

Role Purpose

In Kind Direct’s Network Ambassadors will play an important role in contributing to our strategic objectives to distribute the products every person, home and local organisation needs, and tackle the root causes of too many people going without. We want you to help us enable more communities to thrive. As a Network Ambassador, you will help to forge partnerships, promote the impact we achieve together, and provide valuable insights to drive change.

Minimum commitment

During your time as a Network Ambassador, there will be opportunities to engage with In Kind Direct and our partners and supporters in a variety of ways (please see below).  As a minimum commitment, we ask that you:

• Join monthly Network Ambassadors calls
• Join an annual in-person gathering
• Host at least one visit at your organisation for one of our partners or supporters
• Appoint a named point of contact to represent your organisation
• Bring need and impact to life by:
  • speaking at a minimum of two events and online meetings
  • participating in at least two photo, video or media opportunities
  • enabling one or two people your organisation has supported to share their lived experience (we understand that due to sensitivities around life circumstances, people may not want to have their photo taken or be identified by name, so we would work with you to find creative ways to share their stories/experiences).

What we ask from you

Some of the main ways we may ask you/your organisation to get involved include:

Forging partnerships

• Hosting visits, group volunteering activities, joining calls and events with supporters, prospects and Corporate Partners
• Collaborating within your network on product giving and sharing to support more people and reduce carbon footprint.

Promoting the impact we achieve together

• Creating content to bring impact to life – created by you, with us, and/or with Corporate Partners and supporters
• Sharing impact stories that highlight the difference products make to people supported through your services
• Re-sharing social posts and key content with your social networks
• Championing us to your networks, encouraging organisations to take up our support. This may include attending local events
• Working with us on regional grant applications.

Sharing valuable insights to drive change

• Sharing insights that will help drive our own operational planning and inform our 2030 strategy
• Supporting us with policy and advocacy work
• Amplifying the voices of people with lived experience.

What you can expect from us

• We’ll keep you up to date and informed about In Kind Direct and our activities – you’ll receive a full induction, a digital pack and printed flyers to ensure you have all the information you need about who we are, what we do, how we work and what we offer. You will also receive regular updates from a dedicated point of contact after starting the role.
• Monthly group calls – a space for topical and organic group discussion between In Kind Direct and Network Ambassadors, peer to peer support, advice and learning. .
• Ad Hoc engagement opportunities – whether to host a visit, hold a corporate volunteering activity, speak at an online meeting with corporate partners, we will offer these opportunities to our Network Ambassadors first, to raise your profile and support the development of meaningful relationships.
• Resources and upskilling – e.g social media, public affairs, fundraising, sustainability with tips, training and expertise from In Kind Direct teams, partners and our trustees.
• Inform what we do, and how we do it better – your insights will help us change and innovate to get more of the right products at the right time to those that need them.
• Strengthen network relationships – help grow your network and open doors for collaboration and new opportunities.
• Account credits – to help you access more products for your organisation and those you support  (£1 In Kind Direct account credit equates to approximately £9 RRP value in product)
  • For the minimum commitment: £120 per quarter
  • As a thank you for additional support:
    • Hosting a volunteering day: £100
    • Ad hoc requests: £20.

What we’re looking for in a Network Ambassador organisation

• A history of active engagement with In Kind Direct beyond accessing products from us – for example, sharing impact stories, acting as a spokesperson, completing our surveys etc.
• Ideally, you’re already acting as a local ‘hub’/network organisation, or you’re interested in developing that role – by collaborating with other local/regional organisations to distribute products and tackle inequality.
• You offer a variety of community outreach services, helping to reflect the diversity of needs and support across our wider network.
• Your organisation has a registered address in a public building (rather than a personal residence).
• You’re willing to get involved in advocacy and policy work, helping us amplify the voice of the people you support and the sector.

How to apply

Please get in touch with our Charity Network Coordinator for more information on how to apply.