Recruiting: Communications Support for DEC Cymru

The DEC brings 13 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis. We launch appeals to raise money to help those impacted by disaster, making sure that funds reach those that need them most. By working together we can raise more money to save lives and rebuild shattered communities.

In Wales, as part of DEC Cymru six of the member agencies are active during an appeal – Oxfam, Christian Aid, Save the Children, CAFOD, The British Red Cross and Tearfund.

DEC Cymru is currently recruiting for external Communications Support to work with us during the next appeal.

For full details see below:

The Disasters Emergency Committee Cymru

Communications support – call for expression of interest

 

Terms of reference

 Objectives:

1. Agree ways of working and communications processes in the event of a DEC  appeal.

2. Prepare templates, resources and train spokespeople in advance of the next appeal.

3.Increase media coverage during the next DEC appeal by securing broadcast and print interviews and placement of press releases.

Reporting to

  • Media and Communications Officer, Oxfam Cymru
  • Director of Communications, DEC

 

Duration

  • One week preparatory work in  October 2016
  • Two weeks press office support during the next appeal.

 

Background

The Disasters Emergency Committee brings 13 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis – all collectively raising money to reach those in need quickly.

In Wales, six of the member agencies are active during an appeal – Oxfam, Christian Aid, Save the Children, CAFOD, The British Red Cross and Tearfund.

We respond to disasters in the world’s poorest countries, using a set of criteria to help us decide when we launch an appeal and how we can be most effective:

 

  • The disaster must be on such a scale and of such urgency as to call for swift international humanitarian assistance
  • The DEC member agencies, or some of them, must be in a position to provide effective and swift humanitarian assistance at a scale to justify a national appeal.
  • There must be reasonable grounds for concluding that a public appeal would be successful, either because of evidence of existing public sympathy for the humanitarian situation or because there is a compelling case indicating the likelihood of significant public support should an appeal be launched.

 

More information on DEC appeals here.

Once the appeal has been launched, DEC members in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland work with the DEC press office based in London, staffed by the DEC and its member agencies, to maximise media coverage. It is responsible for… 

  • Working with broadcast partners to produce the appeal films
  • Generating regular press releases to generate coverage
  • Reporting back to the public on appeal totals and people reached with aid.
  • Coordinating media requests to ensure a balance of interviews across the members.
  • Managing reputation risk and ensuring a shared message.

During the two weeks of joint action, member agencies must generate media on behalf of the DEC. The rules of the Period of Joint Action will be made available if the expression of interest is successful.  


Support required

In Wales, Oxfam and Save the Children are the only two members with full-time media posts, while the British Red Cross and Christian Aid have part time posts covering media.

DEC Cymru has agreed processes and protocols for coordination and has social media and fundraising leads managing the outreach during an appeal.

The team adapts and translates some DEC resources, such as press releases, for the Welsh press, whilst also identifying and promoting stories with a Welsh angle.

The team identifies Welsh speakers for media interviews and pitches interviews with Welsh aid workers responding on the ground in the disaster zone.

We are looking for a bilingual freelance media advisor or agency to support DEC Cymru members to increase their media activity during the two weeks of the next appeal.

This will require some preparation in advance and the ability to respond within 24 hours after a disaster or the decision to appeal is made.


Deliverables will include…

 

  1. Working with the media lead and six member agencies to identify and train spokespeople in advance.
  2. Adapting DEC press releases for the Welsh market during an appeal.
  3. Finding and developing angles for the Welsh market during an appeal.
  4. Briefing and pitching spokespeople, coordinating interviews and securing opportunities.
  5. Working with the social media team to adapt and write digital content for DEC Cymru channels.

Please send a one-page expression of interest, outlining what experience and expertise you offer, a draft brief work plan and a proposed payment structure by Friday 7th October to Anna Ridout at aridout@dec.org.uk and Kirsty Davies-Warner at KDavies-Warner1@oxfam.org.uk.