In this article, we\u2019ll look at what it means to be a Community Champion, what the key roles and responsibilities are and how to become a Community Champion if you\u2019re keen to take up a new challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n
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What is a Community Champion?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Community Champion is someone who volunteers within their own local community to promote and enhance people\u2019s wellbeing. They\u2019re sometimes known as a \u2018health champion\u2019. It might mean championing healthy living, improving mental wellbeing or attaining better living conditions for their peers. These communities are usually disadvantaged for some reason, perhaps due to poverty, a lack of native English speakers or high levels of unemployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community Champions are generally people with life experience<\/strong> in the community that they represent – perhaps they\u2019ve grown up there or have lived or worked there for many years. They\u2019re likely to have good social networks in the area and can tap into these connections in order to improve services and address barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important that the Community Champion for an area has real insight<\/strong> into that community\u2019s specific needs. They\u2019ll need local knowledge of an area, including a good understanding of the thoughts, feelings and concerns of local people, as well as their cultures, faiths and backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main aim of a Community Champion is to address inequalities<\/strong> in disadvantaged communities and be the agent of change, acting on their behalf. They are particularly effective in areas where trust in the authorities is low and often act as a bridge between the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is particularly important in areas where there is a high population with low educational attainment, as this is a known link to health inequality<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n A key role of a Community Champion is being the interlocutor between service providers and service users. Essentially, a Community Champion is there to open up and maintain the dialogue<\/strong> between the people in the community and the services provided to them. For example, communicating with the local council in order to improve recreational facilities, passing on important health messages from the local government or speaking with charities to open a new food or clothing bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some Community Champions already hold a similar role in other areas of their life. For example, healthcare champions<\/a> work to identify gaps in healthcare organisations so that services can be improved. Other people may be \u2018champions of change\u2019 in their workplaces and actively work to improve employee wellbeing and gender equality or they could be members of their local Neighbourhood Watch Network<\/a>. These people are often a natural fit for the role of Community Champion.<\/p>\n\n\n Take a look at our range of online Safeguarding Courses<\/a> if you\u2019re planning to volunteer with children, or adults with care and support needs, in your community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Other important roles and responsibilities of a Community Champion are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To become a volunteer Community Champion for your local area, you\u2019ll first need to get in touch with your local council to see what opportunities are available. Try your council\u2019s website to see if they\u2019re actively recruiting Community Champions and for details on how to apply. Some local charities also advertise for volunteer Community Champions to help promote their cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To volunteer as a Community Champion, you need to be at least 18 years old and live or work in the area you want to represent. No previous job experience or volunteering experience is required, as any required training will be provided on the job. If your application is successful, you\u2019ll be invited to attend a discussion with your local council or charity and will likely have to undergo a DBS check<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst no previous experience is required, it\u2019s a good idea to build up your CV with examples of transferable skills<\/a> that you can bring to the role. You could also look at getting a related qualification, such as the RSPH Level 1 or 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement<\/a> or High Speed Training\u2019s Communication Skills<\/a> course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no minimum number of hours you\u2019re expected to commit to the role of Community Champion, as the position is entirely voluntary. Some councils may specify a preferred number of working hours per week, such as 2-3 hours, or ask you to sign up for a set time period, such as 6 months. This is to ensure both you and the council get the most benefit from the role.<\/p>\n\n\n In this article, you\u2019ve learnt more about the Community Champions scheme, including the role of a Community Champion, the responsibilities involved and how to apply for the programme. We hope you\u2019ve found the information useful.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking to make a difference in your community? By becoming a Community Champion, you can improve services and conditions locally. Learn how here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":68828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,18],"tags":[74],"class_list":["post-68808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-safeguarding","tag-career-development"],"acf":{"schema_disabled":false,"schema_properties_FAQPage_question_answer":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_tools":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_supplies":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_steps":null,"schema_properties_WebPage_cssSelector":null,"schema_sameAs_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_override":false},"yoast_head":"\n![\"Community](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/4-1.png\")
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\n\n\n\nRoles and Responsibilities of a Community Champion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/div>\nLooking to Learn More?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\n\n\nHow to Become a Community Champion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFurther Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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