Business Networking Volunteers - Volunteer

We support people across the South Coast living with endometriosis. Can you represent us at local business networking events in the Isle of Wight, Southampton or Portsmouth and help us build new connections? What difference will you make? Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 people assigned female at birth, yet awareness remains low and support is often hard to find — which is exactly why ESC exists. As a small, volunteer-led charity, our ability to reach more people, fund research and sustain our services depends heavily on the connections and support we can build within our local community. Right now, the local business community across the Isle of Wight, Southampton and Portsmouth is a largely untapped source of support for ESC — whether that's sponsorship for events, in-kind donations, pro bono expertise, or simply a wider network of people spreading the word about what we do. By representing ESC at business networking events, you'll be opening doors that our small team of volunteers doesn't currently have the capacity to open. Every new contact you make is a potential source of funding, resource or reach that helps us support more people navigating an endometriosis diagnosis, fund the research that could improve diagnosis and treatment, and run the community meetings that mean nobody has to face this condition alone. This is a role where the impact is very tangible and directly attributable to you the relationships you build translate into real opportunities for ESC to grow its reach and its resources in your local area. What are we looking for? Essential

• Passion for ESC's mission and a genuine commitment to making a positive impact for people with endometriosis.
• Confident, personable communicator, comfortable introducing yourself and a charity's work to new people at networking events.
• Willingness to attend business networking events (e.g. Chamber of Commerce, BNI, or similar groups) regularly in your local area.
• Reliable and organised, able to commit to attending events consistently and reporting back afterwards.
• Based in, or able to regularly travel to, the Isle of Wight, Southampton or Portsmouth.
• Commitment to upholding equality, diversity and inclusion. Desirable
• Existing membership of, or contacts within, local business networking groups.
• Experience in sales, business development, PR, communications or community engagement.
• Knowledge of the South Coast community or lived experience of endometriosis. What will you be doing? We're looking for confident, personable volunteers to represent Endometriosis South Coast (ESC) at local business networking events in the Isle of Wight, Southampton or Portsmouth — wherever you're based. You'll attend meetings run by groups such as Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, BNI or similar local business networks, introducing ESC's work to business owners, professionals and community leaders who may never have heard of us. You'll bring along ESC literature and materials, share our website and social channels, and be ready to talk confidently about our mission and services. Beyond simply attending, we'd love you to build genuine relationships with the businesses you meet — spotting opportunities for sponsorship, in-kind support or corporate partnerships, and following up on introductions in a timely way. You'll keep a simple log of who you've met and any leads generated, and report back regularly to ESC's founder, who will support you in preparing for events and following up on opportunities. We expect this to involve one to two local networking events a month, plus a short write-up afterwards. No fundraising or public-speaking background is required — just enthusiasm for the cause, reliability, and a willingness to strike up conversations with new people. Success in this role looks like ESC becoming a known, trusted name within the local business community in your area, with a growing network of contacts who are willing to support our work. We're recruiting for all three areas — the Isle of Wight, Southampton and Portsmouth — so please let us know in your application which area you'd cover.