NAT - the National AIDS Trust - is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV.
So what's your background?
I did a philosophy degree at The University of Sheffield before joining Lansons Communications, where I kick started my communications career by working across several large brand clients. I was there for three years before I joined NAT to become their communications manager. I’d always wanted to work for a charity but going into the private sector first gave me the opportunity to learn a lot in a relatively short space of time, as well as develop a range of skills.
How did you get this job?
It was a bit of a twist of fate – I saw it advertised in the Guardian by chance and realised that this was the opportunity I’d been waiting for: a chance to work for a cause I was genuinely interested in, as well as branch out and challenge myself. HIV is a really interesting issue but one that is often only thought about on an international level. Working for a charity that solely focuses on HIV in the UK has given me an insight into the issues we face on a domestic level.
How long have you worked at your current organisation for?
Around eight months.
What was your first charity job? And your first communications role?
This is my first charity job, but I’ve now been in communications and PR for just under four years. At Lansons Communications I was lucky to work across brands with big PR budgets and as a result we were able to execute some incredible campaigns. My job now is completely different and we have to do a lot more with very few resources – but I’m confident that it’s the job for me and the cause itself really drives me in my day to day role.
What do you actually do on a daily basis?
My day is incredibly varied but it always involves monitoring the news for stories about HIV, as well as any coverage of NAT. All too often there will be an inaccurate or stigmatising piece of coverage on HIV which we’ll respond to in order to clarify the facts and ask for a correction or apology. I will also engage NAT’s Press Gang, a virtual network of HIV positive people who also respond to inaccurate coverage by writing online comments or letters to the editor. I work alongside the policy and campaigns team and engage with their projects so I can publicise the work we’re doing to the media. I also manage a lot of the NAT website, ensuring it’s always up to date and refreshed, and NAT’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook.
What's been your biggest achievement in this role so far?
I joined NAT not long before World AIDS Day which is a huge focus for the organisation and we managed to secure some fantastic coverage. Working with a media company to produce a 16 page special report on HIV in the UK for The Times was also an incredible challenge and achievement. I also launched an IPSOS Mori survey into public knowledge and attitudes to HIV which gained a lot of coverage. We’ll be using this research to inform our public education and awareness work.
What are the most challenging parts of your role?
Being faced with inaccurate and stigmatising coverage of HIV despite all the work we do to educate journalists can be really frustrating and disheartening, and on a deeper level trying to change the media perception of HIV is a big challenge. Also working in such a small organisation with such limited budget means I have to work extra hard to be proactive and drive communications activity. 
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy learning more and more about HIV in the UK and being a part of the successes we achieve as an organisation. I also enjoy the diverse range of people I get to meet and talk to through my job.
Anything you don't enjoy?
Being limited in what we can do proactively due to budget constraints can be frustrating – but that is just par for the course in a small charity!
What kind of personality is best suited to working in a job like yours?
You need to be self motivated, a team player and respectful of time and resource. Being sociable and conversational also helps, as it’s crucial to be able to talk about what you do or your latest campaign in a manner that engages with people. Being creative with good writing skills helps a lot as well.
Any top tips for people wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Think about how you can get the experience you need – internships and work experience are a great way to get a taster for the role as well as gaining vital skills. If you do end up taking an indirect route, always ensure you’re building skills that will be relevant to what you eventually want to do.
Charli is an individual member of CharityComms.