SCIAF Diocesan Ambassador

SCIAF is the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland and it is the largest Scottish international aid agency. Established in 1965 by the Bishops of Scotland, SCIAF today works in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

SCIAF supports long term aid and development projects helping people affected by conflict, hunger, HIV and AIDS, lack of healthcare and disability. We also respond to humanitarian disasters, providing immediate emergency relief as well as long-term support and rehabilitation.

In Scotland, SCIAF works to challenge the underlying causes of global poverty and injustice by campaigning on issues such as unfair trade, debt and climate change, and by stimulating the Scottish public to support our campaigns. SCIAF also believes that education has a vital role to play in ending global poverty. Our programme of school visits is one of the largest in Scotland – we speak to over 30,000 children each year.

Working on these fronts, SCIAF provides both short and long term practical help, and tackles the root causes of poverty and injustice to maximize our impact and to bring about profound and long lasting change.

ROLE PURPOSE

SCIAF is aiming to create closer links with parishes, groups and individuals in Scotland, by having a stronger SCIAF presence in each diocese. The diocesan ambassadors will all be members of a local parish, and will be a key part of this diocesan presence, supporting parishes, groups and individuals in their fundraising and/or campaigning work for SCIAF.

As part of their training, the diocesan ambassadors will visit SCIAF projects in Africa, Asia or Latin America, for a period of up to two weeks, so that they see first hand how the funds raised in Scotland support some of the world’s poorest people. The ambassadors will fundraise within their diocese in order to pay for the trip.

Upon return, the ambassadors will respond to requests from parishes and groups and seek opportunities to promote SCIAF’s work throughout their diocese. They will communicate global justice issues, inform parishes how their donations are being used overseas, and motivate people to fundraise and campaign.

The SCIAF Diocesan Ambassador Programme started in 2006. We are currently seeking an ambassador for the Dioceses of Aberdeen.

The position is voluntary, although expenses, such as travelling to parishes within Scotland to give talks, will be covered.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Please email your completed application form to LHastie@sciaf.org.uk

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this role before applying, please contact Laura Hastie at LHastie@sciaf.org.uk or on 0141 354 5508.