Become a Mentee on our Patient Group Mentoring Programme
We welcome any and all rare disease patient groups to participate in the programme as mentees. The ideal mentee must be motivated and have a clear idea of what they want to achieve on the programme.
Applications close on Monday the 20th February!
Why should you apply to be a Mentee?
To access free exclusive training (view topics here)
To gain advice on developing personal strengths and overcoming weaknesses
For the chance to interact with fellow patient group leaders and experts in various fields
To improve self-confidence to take on challenges
To access new areas of expertise
For the chance to connect with new networks through the mentoring cohort
For impartial advice and encouragement in developing projects
To gain exposure to new ideas and ways of thinking
What could you achieve?
Patient groups join our programme for all sorts of reasons, here are just some of the things previous mentees have achieved while on the programme:
- Registered as a charity
- Started a natural history study
- Created a patient registry
- Launched fundraising and communications campaigns
- Started a patient helpline
- Established a medical advisory board
Don’t just take our word for it, hear the experiences of previous mentee Carol Brill!
If you are a motivated patient group leader who is looking to take your organisation to the next level or is trying to make progress on a project that currently seems out of reach – the mentoring programme could be the answer.
Our mentors have a wide range of skills from charity management, to life sciences, communications and more (see extensive list here.) Whatever vision you have for your patient group, we will endeavour to find you the right mentor who can help you to achieve your goals.
Check out what last years mentees thought of the programme…
100%
Said their mentor had ‘A substantial or significant impact on their overall progress and professional development’
100%
Would recommend the mentoring programme
100%
Enjoyed participating in the programme
90%
Said they had made a meaningful and long-lasting relationship with their mentor
What’s expected of Mentees…
A constructive mentoring relationship is a mutually beneficial learning experience.
A mentee is someone seeking advice and guidance from a mentor, in order to achieve key objectives within their patient organisation.
The success of the mentoring partnership will depend significantly on the attitude and commitment of the individual being mentored. It is their responsibility to make things happen and put any agreed plans into action.
To make the most out of the programme mentees must meet the following expectations and requirements.
Mentees must:
- Maintain active contact with their mentors, dedicating a minimum of an hour a month to updating them on progress
- Have a clear understanding of the mission and vision of their group and of what they want to achieve on the programme
- Actively listen to their mentor, question to clarify and to explore additional options and consequences
- Follow up and action relevant and reasonable suggestions
- Where applicable, update fellow team members and/or their board of trustees on mentoring progress and any related actions
- Participate in 3 check in calls with Beacon and their mentor, spread throughout the programme
- Attend the training events at the beginning of the programme, or commit to catching up on them
- Attend the opening and closing events
It is the mentee’s responsibility to approach the mentor when they need support and to achieve the objectives set. It is not the mentor’s responsibility to take on projects on behalf of the mentee as a volunteer, or to take responsibility for making the mentee’s work successful. The role of the mentor is to offer guidance.
If you can commit to these requirements fill out your application form here and apply to be a mentee!
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While we endeavour to include every mentee and mentor who applies, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to find everyone a suitable partner.
If we are unable to match up a mentee and/or mentor at the launch of the programme, we will keep your information on file for up to six months in case a suitable partner can be found.