Volunteer Content Creator / Social Media Marketer

Who we are

Create The Future is a UK-based and youth-led creative climate non-for-profit project that seeks to create a vision of a better future to empower action and inspire optimism through storytelling, education and imagination activities. Our work is based on the research of leading environmental communications agencies such as Climate Outreach and the Common Cause Foundation.

We run free activities and workshops for children, young people and adults, ranging from creative writing workshops, poetry prompts and school activities. Our flagship 'postcards from the future' activity, an imaginative art and writing exercise for children aged 5-12, helps to combat eco anxiety by helping young people to imagine the future they want to see and send a postcard back to parents, teachers and community members.

We have also published a 100+ page anthology featuring short stories, poetry, artwork and interviews, with wide-ranging contributors including Octopus Energy, Rewilding Britain, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Lammas Ecovillage and more.

Find out more about the project online: www.createthefuture.earth

About the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative individual with social media, design and content creation skills to join our Comms & Engagement team.

Our Engagement Team is essential to ensuring our work and message reaches the right people at the right time. You will work closely with volunteers from the Creative Content team and the Projects team, attending close-knit meetings with your team-mates as well as getting to know colleagues from other teams. You will be responsible for creating weekly social media graphics, illustrations for our blog, and/or posters to help advertise our free creative climate events, workshops and opportunities.

As part of a team of volunteers, you will also (optionally) have the opportunity to feed into our new Engagement and Social Media Strategy, giving you experience of strategy development and working within a voluntary organisation governance structure.

More information about the role can be provided by contacting us or over an informal video call after completing the short application form.

Core responsibilities

1. Visual content creation (essential): Create visually captivating graphics, images, and videos that align with our mission and style guide to complement written content and enhance our online presence, leveraging social media and digital platforms, newsletters, blog posts and web updates to reach and inspire diverse audiences.
2. Video and visual content creation (desirable): Create short video and Instagram reel content to boost engagement and participation in events, activities and campaigns, and communicate the climate crisis in a creative way.
3. Storytelling (essential): Craft narratives that capture the essence of our work, highlighting the impact of our activities and initiatives on empowering individuals to envision and create a sustainable future.
4. Collaboration (essential): Collaborate with team members to brainstorm ideas, develop content strategies, and coordinate content calendars, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.

The ideal volunteer candidate

• You are based anywhere in the world and happy to work as part of a fully remote team, communicating via messages and emails

• You will be willing to volunteer between approx. 3 hours per week contributing to our ongoing projects

• You will be willing to attend 1-hour team meetings (weekday evenings or weekend afternoons, UK time) at least once or twice a month

• You will have some experience of working as part of a team and/or working remotely

• You will have some experience with creating social media graphics and/or illustrations, using graphic design software (for example, Canva Pro), and adhering to a style guide to ensure consistency across our platform

• You will have some experience with creating short video content and reels using video editing software and/or Instagram reels, or you are willing to learn and give this a go

We are very happy to provide as much or as little guidance as you feel you need to carry out your chosen volunteer role, and will support you to develop your existing skills. We can also provide references for paid work applications.

You will recieve:

• Induction training on how to communicate about the climate crisis in a positive, values-focused way
• Further training/guidance as and when needed for your role, tailored to suit your work and skills gaps
• Access to our team Discord and chats, allowing you to get to know your team mates and build a community with like-minded individuals
• New skills and experiences in your area, as well as opportunities to get involved with the work of other teams, including in areas you are interested in exploring - we will support you to try new things wherever possible
• Access to creative writing workshops, education activities and team-building exercises

The role is fully remote and the volunteer post is suitable for all adults 18+. All you need is a computer/laptop, an internet connection, and availability to attend team meetings and respond to messages - no fixed hours, no commuting, no expenses, no specialist software.

To join our friendly team, you will need to provide the following:

• Your name, location (time zone), and pronouns (e.g she/her, he/him, they/them)
• Your CV
• A short paragraph outlining why you are interested in volunteering for Create The Future, and why you would be a good fit for the team

Application Instructions

If you have examples of your graphic design or illustration or video creation work, please provide a link to your portfolio or another method of sharing your work with us.