Diabetes Voices Role Profile

Why we need you?

Your experience of living with diabetes is vital to Diabetes UK’s work to improve the quality of diabetes care. By joining Diabetes Voices and using your time and experience to help influence politicians, policymakers and the NHS, you can make a real difference to the quality of diabetes care.

Diabetes Voices work with us to campaign and influence for improvements in diabetes services and care across the UK. By getting involved and raising your voice you can change lives and futures.

What will I be doing?

As a Diabetes Voice you will use your passion to make a difference. It’s up to you to decide how you want to get involved. You can:

  • Take part in our national campaigns
  • Start your own local campaign to improve diabetes services in your area
  • Attend patient involvement meetings making sure the NHS diabetes services are the best they can be
  • Help us keep in touch with what’s happening in your area
  • Help raise awareness of the care people with living diabetes should expect
  • Talk to health care professionals about your experience
  • Reply to surveys about local and national services
  • Put diabetes priorities on the Government agenda.

How much time do I need to commit?

Whether you’ve got a few minutes to give, an hour to spare, or a few days to fill, you can make a difference. We’ll keep updated with the latest opportunities to take action. It’s up to you to decide how you want to get involved.

What support will I be given?

We will:

  • Help you become an effective voice for diabetes
  • Help you find opportunities to get involved in the NHS in your area
  • Keep you up-to-date with policy development in diabetes
  • Tell you about our campaigns
  • Give you the chance to attend training and meet others who are shaping local services.

What benefits can I expect?

  • You’ll be able to share your passion for improving diabetes services and care with the people who have the power to make a difference
  • Free training and advice on how to campaign in your area
  • Out of pocket expenses are available for some roles
  • Meet new people and share your experiences.

Being a Diabetes Voice:

As a Diabetes Voice it’s important that you:

  • Work within the terms set out in the Diabetes Voices Charter
  • Check with a member of the Diabetes Voices team or your local office before starting your own local campaign – we may be able to provide information or advice about what’s happening locally
  • Take action as a Diabetes Voices member, not as a representative of Diabetes UK. Local decision makers have a duty to listen to the people they represent so your voice will often be far more influential that our own
  • Update us on your activities so we know how you’re getting on and any ways in which we can help.

Conclusion:

Thank you for joining Diabetes Voices. By giving up your time you’re helping shape the future of diabetes services and care. Wherever you are and however you help, we couldn’t do it without your support.