School speaker services

Looking for more ways to bring the global dimension alive in your school? Why not invite in a school speaker?

Speaker at a schoolMany organisations and charities offer speakers, who can come to a lesson or assembly and talk about their work, or about particular development themes. Sessions can be tailored to suit your school and pupils, and some organisations offer this service for free. We have listed below a number of organisations offering speakers, and given an indication of the cost and themes covered.

Your local Development Education Centre may be able to help with talks and lessons. You can find details about these centres on the local support page.

Is there anyone else in your local area that you could invite in to talk about global issues? What about inviting people from minority ethnic community organisations, refugee groups or places of worship?

You could also browse through the list of members on the DEA website - DEA is a network of organisations supporting global learning.

Organisations offering speakers

Action Aid

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Localities, emergencies, women and development, globalisation, water, home, family, aid, poverty, food, HIV/AIDs etc  
Cost: £65 for one session or £95 for two
tel: 01460 238000
email: schools@actionaid.org.uk 
web: www.actionaid.org.uk 

Amnesty International UK

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Human rights  
Cost: Contribution for travel expenses
tel: 020 7033 1596
email: student@amnesty.org.uk 
web: www.amnesty.org.uk/education

British Red Cross

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Humanitarian issues around conflict and its consequences, disasters and emergencies, health, diversity and equality
Cost: Donation
tel: schools and community education, 020 7877 7246 / 020 7877 7000
email: reducation@redcross.org.uk 

web: www.redcross.org.uk/education

CAFOD

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Trade, aid, debt, poverty, trade justice  
Cost: Free
Contact: your local CAFOD office, details at: www.cafod.org.uk/uk/cafod-office

Christian Aid

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Poverty, justice, climate change, trade, HIV, global citizenship  
Cost: Free
tel: 020 7523 2237, email: schools@christian-aid.org (England)
tel: 028 9038 1204, email:  schoolsireland@christian-aid.org (Northern Ireland)
tel: 0141 241 6130, e mail: schoolsscotland@christian-aid.org (Scotland)
tel: 029 2084 4646, e mail: schoolscymru@christian-aid.org (Wales) 
web: http://learn.christianaid.org.uk

Compassion in World Farming Trust

Age groups: Primary   Themes: Farming, environment, diet, health, ethics   Cost: Free
tel: 01483 521965
email: education@ciwf.co.uk 
web: www.ciwf.co.uk

Council for Arab-British Understanding

Age groups: Secondary, post-16  
Themes: Citizenship, Arab world, "Islamophobia"  
Cost: Travel expenses
tel: 020 7832 1320
email: antounn@caabu.org 
web: www.caabu.org

Harvest Help

Age groups: Primary  
Themes: Africa, distant localities, farming, global citizenship, fundraising  
Cost: Travel expenses for volunteer speakers
tel: 01952 260699
email: info@harvesthelp.org 
web: www.harvesthelp.org

Jubilee Scotland (Scotland only)

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Debt, development  
Cost: Free
tel: 0131 225 4321
email: education@jubileescotland.org.uk 
web: www.jubileescotland.org.uk

Oxfam

Age groups: Upper primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Poverty, health, education, and the work of Oxfam  
Cost: £20
tel: 0870 333 2700
web: www.oxfam.org.uk/education/

People and Planet

Age groups: Post-16  
Themes: Trade justice, fair trade, environment  
Cost: £85 for initial visits, capacity building visits to groups free
tel: 01865 245678
email: action@peopleandplanet.org 
web: http://peopleandplanet.org/sixthform/teachers

Save the Children

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Emergencies, child rights, hunger, education, health and HIV/AIDS, refugees  
Cost: Free
tel: 020 7012 6400 
email: supporter.care@savethechildren.org.uk 
web: www.savethechildren.org.uk 

SOS Children's Villages

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Child Soldiers, street children, orphans, AIDS, emergencies, home, family, aid, poverty, food, and the work of Children’s Villages  
Cost: Free
tel: 01223 365589
email: helen@soschildren.org 
web: www.soschildren.org

Tools for Solidarity (NI only)

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Aid for a sustainable future, tools sending programme  
Cost: Free
tel: 028 9074 7473
email: tools.belfast@virgin.net 
web: www.toolsforsolidarity.org.uk

Traidcraft

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Fair trade / the work of Traidcraft  
Cost: Travel expenses
email: speakers@traidcraft.co.uk 
web: www.traidcraft.co.uk/speakers

VETAID

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Food security, agriculture, rural communities, trade, aid, debt  
Cost: Contribution for travel
tel: 0131 445 6244 
email:
 sarah@vetaid.org 
web: www.vetaid.org

VSO Global Educators Register

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: School linking and partnerships  
Cost: Contribution for travel expenses
tel: 020 8780 7691
email: ger.admin@vso.org.uk 
web: www.vso.org.uk/resources/

WaterAid

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16  
Themes: Water, sanitation  
Cost: Free
tel: 020 7793 4500
email: community@wateraid.org 
web: www.wateraid.org/speakers

SCIAF (Scotland only)

Age groups: Primary, secondary, post-16
Themes: Debt, development issues, trade, fair trade, poverty, trade justice, the work of an NGO/Aid Agency
Cost: Free
email: jsharp@sciaf.org.uk
web: www.sciafyouth.org.uk/schoolspeakers

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