Volunteer Speaker Programme

Background information

The Faith & Belief Forum have been working in schools for nearly fifteen years. We are the UK’s leading provider of interfaith workshops, in which we work with young people to explore and understand faith and belief, both religious and non-religious, as they are actually lived today.

Our most popular workshop, ‘Encountering Faiths and Beliefs’, helps to raise awareness of what it means to have a faith or belief  and improves young people’s skills of empathy through opportunities for encounter with volunteers from a wide range of different backgrounds. This workshop is offered to primary and secondary students between the ages of 8 to 18.

Share your story in our interfaith workshops

We are looking for confident and enthusiastic volunteers from different backgrounds to take part in these workshops. Volunteers will share their beliefs and experiences in the form of a short story, answer questions from students, and also participate in a  Q&A panel. The one-hour sessions takes place within a ‘shared space’ set by an experienced F&BF facilitator who leads the activities.

F&BF workshops take place in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and occasionally further afield. This opportunity is ideal for people interested in education, youth work and/or interfaith dialogue, as well as those interested in developing skills in public speaking. The commitment is a minimum of three (one hour) workshops per year which can fit around your schedule. Workshops are delivered both face-to-face in schools and online in schools via Zoom.

What do we offer?

This opportunity offers:

• Full training including: interfaith tools and working with young people
• Mentoring to construct an engaging and informative personal story
• Support and feedback to develop your skills
• Experience working with young people (ages 8-18)
• Opportunity to develop public speaking skills
• Access to the F&BF network of events
• Reimbursement of travel expenses for face-to-face workshops
• The flexibility to participate in workshops both face-to-face or online via Zoom

What are we looking for?

This opportunity requires:

• Passion for promoting understanding and dialogue
• Interest in meeting people from different backgrounds
• Availability to travel to and speak in schools (between 9am & 3:15pm) at least once per school term
• Identification with a faith or set of non-religious beliefs
• Ability to reflect on personal experience of faith and belief in a positive and informative way
• Experience working with young people desirable but not essential
• Access to a computer/internet connection if you intend to participate in online workshops
• Alignment with F&BF’s organisational values of creating good relations between people of different faiths, beliefs and cultures, recognising the value of diversity and rejecting intolerance

Since this role involves regular work in schools, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Prospective volunteers must therefore disclose all spent and unspent convictions, and the role is subject to an enhanced DBS check (paid by F&BF).

How do you apply?

You can apply to become a volunteer here

Or email workshops@faithbeliefforum.org if you have any further questions

If selected, you will be contacted for an informal online interview.

Please note that this opportunity is only open to people who reside in the UK.