Community Champions
What is a Community Champion and what will they be required to do?
A Community Champion is a voluntary role that will act as a link between Swindon Borough Council and local communities. Volunteers will share information around a variety of public health messages with their family, friends and local networks. Initially, the information will focus on the COVID-19 pandemic as this is a priority for us all, however over time this will shift to broader subjects that support positive health and wellbeing for everyone in Swindon.
There will be a variety of ways that Information will be shared with Community Champions including newsletters and webinars. Volunteers will also have access to exclusive question and answer sessions with our Director of Public Health, to give them the opportunity ask any questions that their local community have requested.
Community Champion’s will:
- be positive and enthusiastic about the health and wellbeing of people in Swindon
- commit to sharing reliable and up to date information from trustworthy sources
- feel passionate about representing their community
- have the time to read information they are sent and attend online webinars or meetings
- aim to support all members of their community, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds
- be non-judgemental, open minded and fair
- have good listening skills and be respectful of people’s health choices
- be sensitive and caring towards members of the community
- be trustworthy and reliable
- help to tackle myths related to health and wellbeing
- feel confident having positive conversations with members of the community
- encourage others to become Community Champions, including people from family, friends, local neighbourhood, places of worship and community organisations
Why are Community Champions so important?
The COVID-19 virus has impacted everyone across Swindon and has highlighted the importance of keeping Swindon residents up to date with the latest guidance and information to protect themselves and the wellbeing of others.
Our Public Health Team want to ensure that all communities have easy access to reliable and trustworthy information to help them make informed health choices. They want information to be easy to understand, locally relevant and translatable across communities. Community Champions, who have existing relationships with local people, are best placed to share information with local communities and will be vital in helping to reach and support all residents in Swindon.
This role will help us to understand whether health and wellbeing initiatives are working well for communities or whether improvements need to be made. The Community Champions will have a unique opportunity to influence change and be a part of essential public health work in Swindon.
Watch the short video below, from the Director of Public Health, to find out more about the Community Champions programme.
Apply to be a Community Champion?
To apply, you must live in Swindon, be over 18 years of age and have online access to emails and meetings.
If you are interested in becoming a Community Champion, you can apply using the online form below:
Once your registration has been accepted, you will receive an email with a welcome pack to read and a badge will be sent to you, so people know you are a Community Champion in Swindon. If people see the badge and ask what the role involves, this will provide you with an opportunity to promote the role, disseminate key messages and recruit other volunteers.
Once registered, you will start to receive information to share with your friends, family, networks and the wider community. How you share this information with residents is up to you and we welcome your creativity when doing this. Ensure you stick to the message as these are specifically crafted to provide sound and reliable information.
As part of this unique role, you will have access to exclusive webinars and question and answer sessions, which will give you the opportunity to gain information and ask any questions you or your communities have. You can use each opportunity to let us know what is or isn’t working for residents that you are representing in Swindon.
We thank you for your interest in the Community Champion role. Together we can work towards a healthier Swindon for all, ensuring all voices are heard and all needs are being met.