Ambassador Profile – Christopher Hall
1. How did you first hear about Shared Interest?
When I was a delegate from the Co-Op Group North Wales Committee in 2001, I saw Shared Interest exhibiting at a stall.
2. When did you join as an ambassador?
I joined after seeing Shared Interest at a few other events, as I then felt that I understood enough and was happy to join.
3. What motivated you to become an ambassador?
I’m a trade unionist and a co-operator in the Labour and Co-operative parties. All four have strong international strands which I share. I’m active, not passive, hence having become a member of Shared Interest. I was motivated to try and do more, so the Ambassador scheme was suitable for me.
4. What does it mean to you to be an ambassador?
I’m proud of the cause. I’m also happy and confident to be an advocate of Shared Interest.
5. What do you enjoy most about being an ambassador?
I can undertake this role in the course of other similar/sympathetic activities.
6. What ambassador activities have you undertaken in the last three months?
I did a PowerPoint presentation about Shared Interest to the Hoole United Reform Church in Chester. During Fairtrade Fortnight I promoted Shared Interest as a key strand of fair trade work, by being involved in discussions and handing out leaflets at gatherings and events.
7. Which activities have you found to be most successful overall?
It is hard to say – I found doing a full presentation followed by Q&A’s was most challenging, but personally most rewarding. I believe it went very well, but I can’t calculate how many have or will join Shared Interest as a result. I believe I am contributing to the bigger picture overall, which is more favourable to Shared Interest.
8. What do you find most difficult or frustrating about the ambassador scheme?
My personal time limitations such as my full time job etc.
I couldn’t amend/improve the PowerPoint provided by Shared Interest, which has some weak slides.
As volunteers our mileage going to events/training should be paid.
We should be brought together to create regional networks.
9. Do you have any suggestions on how the scheme could be improved?
Currently we are all independent, working more or less efficiently in isolation. It would be nice and perhaps strategically more effective if we could be placed in regional teams, networks, with an emphasis on a mix of skills and an appropriate level of support, advice and training from the Shared Interest Head Office in Newcastle.
10. Finally do you have any words of wisdom for other ambassadors?
We should ‘piggyback’ other events set up by larger and wealthier sponsors and corporate organisations which seek/claim to be ethical and want to be able to prove it.
Thank you for your replies Chris. I think it is a particularly good idea to have contact with other Ambassadors and hopefully the group discussion and networking sessions at the upcoming Ambassador training events will allow all of you to share your experiences and ideas for future opportunities in which you can work together with other Ambassadors.
The resource USB stick which will be handed out at these sessions and posted to those of you who are unable to attend will contain all information relevant to your role as an Ambassador – specifically our expenses policy, which does cover travel expenses and also a new PowerPoint presentation which you can use at all future talks. Furthermore, the event and presentation policy which is outlined in this resource pack should also enable you to have additional feedback following events, which will allow both staff and ambassadors to share in one another’s successes.
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