You'll receive press releases from Christian Aid and write your own, send them to local newspapers, radio stations and TV stations and follow them up with phone calls so people in your area know what's going on. 

You might take photos at a campaigning event and send them to local papers, or arrange for a visiting overseas partner to be interviewed on a radio station. Maybe you've already got contacts with student media that you could use to make sure everybody knows about what's going on in the world and what people in your area are doing to make a difference.

You need to have a good grasp of written English and be a good communicator as well as being organised and have a basic knowledge of the local or student media in your area. You'll do a lot of independent work with supervision from your area office and input from central office. You could work from home or come into the area office.

Lucy Waldron volunteers for three hours each week at Christian Aid's Exmouth Office, producing the local newsletter for Devon and Dorset and helping to publicise local events. She spends the rest of her time studying Geography at Exeter University. Lucy said:

'I've been thinking for a while about trying to get into this field of work after I graduate. I felt I needed experience to know if that is what I actually wanted to do, and a good way to get that experience is to volunteer. Also I know I'm doing something useful; what we do in area offices raises awareness of issues and then ends up helping the people who need it. 

'I originally looked for summer placements, but then was told about the regional office and that seemed a perfect way of getting involved. I e-mailed Martin, the area coordinator for Dorset and Devon, and he arranged for me to go and visit. By volunteering I get invaluable charity experience and even if I don't go into that field of work I have done work that may help me to get other jobs.'