“I’ve gone from standing in the picket lines trying to shout over a sea of other voices to being able to walk in the front door and have a face to face, valued conversation and they are actually listening.”
Jan Cunliffe, JENGbA, Spokesperson Network member
Why the need?
Communities with direct experience of social or systemic injustices have the ideas and solutions for change, but are often misrepresented, or left out of conversations in the media and with policymakers and other decision makers. As a result, communities with experiences and expertise that have the potential to positively influence perceptions, practice and policies go unheard.
Our vision is a world where the voices of those with lived experience are at the forefront of public conversation, policy and practice, driving social change.
Sounddelivery Media’s unique seven month leadership programme aims to diversify the voices we hear in the media and make it more representative of the society we live in. We developed our Spokesperson Leadership Programme collaboratively with leaders with lived experience. They told us that they felt excluded from the conversations that directly affect them in the media and other spaces. This programme tackles the barriers that prevent leaders with lived experience from engaging with the people and platforms that have the power to influence national conversations.
Through our programmes, leaders thrive: they gain the skills and confidence to speak publicly to advocate for change on behalf of their communities. They have achieved campaign successes, spoken in the media and on national platforms, been involved in key policy-making decisions and influencing practice, contributing to systemic change. Take a look at some of the highlights here.
We will equip a new cohort of 14 leaders with the skills, confidence and networks to share their experience, have their expertise heard more widely and ultimately drive change for their communities.
The programme is free and travel expenses to any in-person workshops will be covered by Sounddelivery Media.
Who we are looking for
Successful participants will be united in using their lived experience to create positive change in and for their communities. All applicants would need to meet all of these criteria:
- You are running a user-led organisation/charity/CIC, or are part of a collective of lived experience leaders (or similar), or you work in an organisation that advocates for the issue where you have experience
- You are using your lived experience to raise awareness of the challenges your community faces and have been advocating for others. You would like to build your skills and confidence to reach bigger audiences
- You are supporting the communities you represent and are in a position to share the skills you learn with them
- You want to find solutions to challenges your community faces
- You want to speak more publicly and be more visible, particularly in the media and in rooms with policy-makers
- You haven’t had regular media and public speaking opportunities and are ready to take on new opportunities that come with the programme
- You have been doing this work for a minimum of 2 years
Applicants must
- Be based in England and carry out work in the UK
- Be over 18
- Have the time to commit to attend the whole programme, complete all of the tasks and put the training into action.
What do we mean by ‘lived experience’?
Someone who uses their firsthand experience of a social inequality or injustice to create positive change for communities and people who share those experiences (and works with them to do that).
What do we mean by community?
It doesn’t need to be a community in the traditional sense, you may have a leading role in a collective, a network, a movement, a group of people with a shared experience or purpose.
We will prioritise people and communities whose voices and experiences are underrepresented in the media and public debate, particularly those facing systemic barriers to participation. We are committed to making this opportunity accessible to all and have ring-fenced funding to ensure that accessibility needs – whether they are financial, technological, or support-based – are not a barrier to participation.
Where
England-Wide
The seven-month programme consists of:
- A 3-day (2 nights) residential in Leamington Spa
- Training where we will cover everything from building your online presence using social media, blogging, vlogging, interview preparation and media training, and presentation skills
- Site visits to media outlets
- Monthly (online) peer check-ins and support
- Media Matches – each participant will be matched with a journalist or media professional if they wish, to have informal conversations, act as a sounding board for ideas and to share expertise and ideas for media appearances
- Media opportunities – participants will be promoted to regional and national media outlets
- Potential other speaking (inc paid) opportunities at events, conferences, festivals
- An end of programme showcase event and graduation
The programme is free and travel expenses to any in-person workshops will be covered by Sounddelivery Media.
Key dates
- Application process opens: Monday 16th February 2026
- Webinar: Meet the Sounddelivery Media team and people who’ve been through the programme to find out more – Wednesday 25th February 2026 1:30pm – 2:15pm*
- Application process closes: 12pm Friday 20th March 2026
- Interviews: Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th April 2026
- Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 24th April 2026
- Group welcome: Wednesday 13th May 2026 on Zoom
Commitment
This is a practical, intensive (and fun!) programme with a significant time commitment. Before you apply please consider carefully whether you are in a position at this time to commit to the entire programme and to put the skills you gain into practice.
Over the seven months, the total training is approximately 11 days plus travel to the in-person training days and online 1-to-1 support. During the programme, we also ask participants to produce a blog, a vlog and give a public presentation at our end of programme showcase event. There will be media opportunities that come from being part of the programme too.
Programme dates
The programme is a mix of in-person and online and is subject to change. Training will take place on the following dates:
Launch and Introduction – Wednesday 13th May (3 hours, online)
Social Media Workshop – Wednesday 20th / Thursday 21st May (half day each day, online)
Residential – Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd July (3 days, in person)
From July, there will be monthly online check-ins.
Media Site Visit – Thursday 16th July (Optional, 1 day)
Presentation Skills – Wednesday 9th September (1 day, in person or online tbc subject to funding)
Media Training – Wednesday 7th / Thursday 8th October (2 days, in person)
Festival of Learning (additional skills day) – date tbc
Graduation and Evaluation – Thursday 3rd December
How to apply
There is a written application form for everyone to fill in. If you’d feel more confident sharing by video we’re also happy for you to send us a short video / vlog (max 2 minutes) alongside your application to tell us about why you should be part of the network. You can upload the video into Vimeo as private and share the link with us or send it to us via WhatsApp.
*The webinar on Wednesday 25th February 1:30pm – 2:15pm is an opportunity to learn more about the programme and hear from people who’ve been through the programme. The webinar will be recorded for those that can’t make it, so get in touch if you’d like to watch it back.
Registration details to follow shortly.
Please spread the word to your networks. We know that there are many people who don’t necessarily see themselves as leaders but are working tirelessly to ensure a fair and just world.
If you have any questions please do get in touch. hello@sounddelivery.org.uk
This programme asks for commitments of both time and your engagement to work with us to amplify your voice publicly across social and traditional media as well as other speaking opportunities during the programme. If there is anything that may impact your ability to fulfil these commitments in the 7 months e.g. participating in additional programmes, courses or training, or ongoing legal proceedings, please consider before applying. Please be aware it may affect your continued place on the programme if something later comes to light which impacts your engagement with the programme. Get in touch if you have any questions.
Applications will be shortlisted by a panel of four people:
Monica Tyler, CEO, Sounddelivery Media
Anu Farinto, Executive Assistant, Sounddelivery Media
Elspeth Massey, Media and communications consultant on behalf of Sounddelivery Media
A member of our Spokesperson Network, TBC
