As part of the 2012 Convention the Society launched our Coeliac Ambassador Programme, giving members the chance to make a big difference in a small way, within their local communities.

Anyone can be a Coeliac Ambassador – all you have to do is one or two small things in your local community that might create awareness or make things easier for the next Coeliac to come along there.

So What Can You Do?

A lot, but in little ways can make a big difference for all of us!

• The next time you go to a Restaurant you haven't been to before, give them an English Eating Out card or ask them if they have seen the Society’s Catering List and information for caterers on this website.
• If you're at a function where they are offering the old familiar gluten-free option of melon for starters or soup with no bread; plain main dish with no sauces; and fruit salad for dessert, ask if they can make a gluten-free Caesar salad (with no croutons and check the dressing), or Beetroot & Goats cheese salad (check the dressing) instead for a starter, and creme brulée or pavlova/eton mess (check if it's homemade, as meringue can be cross-contaminated) for dessert.
• If you meet someone with familiar symptoms, tell them how they can get diagnosed.
• If you see someone in a supermarket, staring blankly at the gluten-free section - chat to them. Perhaps they have just been diagnosed and could use a gluten-free friend to help them adjust.

Help Us Find Coeliac TDs

We are keen to promote the formation of a Joint Oireachtas Committee for Coeliac Disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis, with the purpose of improving awareness of these conditions at political level.

Ideally we need to identify TDs and Senators with a personal or family experience of coeliac disease or DH, who are willing to be involved. Do you know one or are you a friend or relative of any public representatives with Coeliac Disease? If so, can you ask them if they are available to be contacted by the Society about this?

As part of our Coeliac Ambassador programme, we are asking you to do your bit and talk to the people you know locally – if they agree to help, please pass on their details at emma@coeliac.ie. This is another small step to make a big difference in your community. Let’s make changes now, with the help of people with the power to make change happen.

Other Simple Suggestions

Many people wish they could volunteer but feel that they don’t have the time, maybe they aren’t in the right location, or they have families and job commitments. But perhaps there’s something else you could do in your own time, without joining a committee or going to an office?

• Talk to local groups about Coeliac disease; e.g. your local ICA group or Parent & Toddler Groups.
• Ask our own workplace if you can arrange a talk on Coeliac Disease with help from the Society. Or organise a gluten-free coffee morning in aid of the Society.
• Talk to the chef in your work canteen and see if they can provide gluten-free options, or if they can improve the choice of the ones they already offer.
• Ask if you can host a talk to your child’s class or at a parent/teacher night.
• Ask your local delicatessen/butchers if they would bring in artisan foods that are in the Food List

Be a Coeliac Society Representative
Represent the Society at a Pharmacy Information Day, or at a Mini Marathon where sponsorship is being raised for us, or hold a one-off event in your area to gather coeliacs and celebrate being gluten-free together!

Be a New Product Supermarket Ambassador
How often do you see a new product advertised in the Coeliac Ireland newsletter and wonder why it’s not on your supermarket shelves – well next time you see it, resolve to go ask the manager of the store to bring it in.

People power works and the manufacturers will testify to that as they struggle sometimes to get products listed because there isn’t demand – but is that the case? All you might have to do is have a conversation or send an email!

Volunteer to work on Projects

Are you good at writing or proofing or at putting together ideas? We need the skills of a Copywriter to help with projects or funding applications.

Restaurant Awareness Sticker Project
Do you know a restaurant that makes a special effort to cater for Coeliacs? What about a reward system, such as a Sticker that indicates the venue is a Society member, keeps up to date with the Catering List and works with Anne Manning on their ingredients to make sure they are gluten-free. While the Society is not in a position to vet restaurants, we can help and encourage them to consider their coeliac customers – could you help to develop this?

Database or Salesforce Development
There is a lot of work required to bring the Food List online or into an app. Are you someone with this kind experience?

Do you use Salesforce or are you a Salesforce administrator? Have you used Vertical Response? These are the packages that Head Office uses as database and email distribution. Are you someone with an IT background that can take our systems to the next level?

Graphic Design
Are you someone who could work on design of new literature, or graphics for a smartphone App? We have fabulous branding but we still need help with some design projects from time to time.

Policy and Governance
Are you someone with a HR or Corporate background that could advise the Management Committee from time to time on policies in development or HR or Governance issues? It might be double-dutch to a volunteer Board member with a different background, but it could be easy-peasy to the right person and we would value your imput.

Remember...

Anyone who has volunteered in some way, be it for the Society or for another organisation, will agree it’s not just about what the Society gets from Volunteers. You have the opportunity to meet new people, gain new skills, have an influence on the work the Society does...All of which benefits you as a Coeliac.

For anyone out of the workforce at present, you can keep up certain skills, learn about how a charity runs and what challenges we face.

Email info@coeliac.ie with your ideas or post on our forum to tell fellow members what you’ve done or contact us to discuss what else you can do!