Volunteering for the Media Trust

I have just embarked on a volunteering experience with the UK media charity, the Media Trust.

It’s self-explanatory: people with experience in media give up time to work with organisations which don’t have the skills or money to pay for advice and training.

The ultimate aim is usually to help the organisation focus its message and deliver it to key audiences.

I signed up as a media adviser, but found there were no opportunities in Scotland. So, about a week later I got a response from one of the Media Trust workers offering me a choice from three organisations in London to work with.

It’s very interesting to look at the websites of the organisations they are putting forward. Common problems consist of:

• Lack of focus in the message on the website
• Poor design of website
• Out of date content
• Poor website function
• Poor engagement opportunties
• No calls to action

So, I have selected the organisation I wish to work with – it represents an African ethnic community – and now the process of relationship-building starts. That is always running in the background, but in the foreground is an audit of the site, a discussion about what resources the organisation has and the level of support it requires. The work takes place over the telephone, of course. It would be nice to find an organisation in Scotland, or even one in Aberdeen with which I could work.