About the role:
Our marketing and communications team run our digital channels, generate press and media coverage, produce publications like our supporter magazine, create campaigns, translate complex information about our life-changing research and also write health information.
We are looking for a group of patients and carers to support us in this work to ensure we are putting out information that is relevant, easy to understand and accessible for our intended audiences.
Most opportunities will be carried out via written email, but when there would be a benefit for a more in depth 121 or group discussion, phone calls or focus groups will be run, most usually over Teams, but where practical these could be run in person.
What the role includes:
Offer insight from lived experience: Share your experience of issues affecting people living with, affected by or at risk of kidney disease, to help inform activity.
Review newly created or reviewed health information: Test and review health information that will be available to patients to ensure it is easily understood and accessible.
Co-design of our health information: Help plan and design health information created by Kidney Research UK for our patient audience.
Provide feedback to campaign messaging and direction: Give feedback to any relevant campaign messaging created by the marketing and communications team to ensure the voices of those with lived experience of kidney disease are incorporated.
Provide feedback to our supporter magazine and other publications: Update is our supporter magazine, published twice a year. Here volunteers would share feedback about the magazine, and any other publications, to help improve content for our audiences.
User testing: When launching new digital projects, platforms or surveys it is often helpful for them to be tested by those who will use it to make sure they work correctly and are easy to take part in.
Advise on communications approaches: The group will meet virtually every 4 months to look at progress of the panel and discuss any upcoming projects that the marketing and communications team are working on. There will be ad hoc meetings or involvement in between these set meetings in response to marketing and communications activity.
We are looking for an individual who has:
- Has experience of kidney disease – either as a patient or parent/ carer
- Has basic knowledge of or an interest in marketing or communications or a desire to learn
- Good written communication skills
- Is available and willing to accept opportunities when they arise
- Confident to share your story with others
- Availability and flexibility to join the quarterly meetings and accept opportunities in between
How will you benefit from this role?
- Develop your communication and leadership skills
- Develop team building skills
- See the impact and benefit of co-produced materials and campaigns
- Develop your knowledge of marketing and communications
- Gain insight in to how Kidney Research UK’s marketing and communications team works
- Volunteer experience to put on your CV
We will support you by:
- Providing an induction to the charity, its aims, and the role of the marketing and communications panel
- Ongoing support from your key contact at the charity
- Relevant training to support you in your role when needed
- Agreed out-of-pocket expenses for attending meetings or carrying out any duties such as travel will be reimbursed, in line with your role on the group
How to apply:
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email your expression of interest to patients@kidneyresearchuk.org by Wednesday 19 November 2025.
In your expression of interest, please include detailed information on your connection to kidney disease, any relevant experience of sitting on groups or committees and why you are interested in joining out marketing and communications insights panel.
Online interviews to be held either w/c 17 November or 24 November 2025 with a member of our patient involvement team and a member of our marketing and communications team.