Become a Mentor on our Patient Group Mentoring Programme
Applications open Monday 18th March – Monday 15th April
If you believe you have something to offer a rare disease patient group, we want to hear from you!
We welcome individuals with expertise in business management, running charities, communications, consultancy, leadership, coaching, life sciences and much more to apply to be mentors.
Mentors from previous schemes have often told us they felt unsure of what they could offer at the beginning of the scheme, but quickly realised something as simple as being a sounding-board was invaluable to their mentees.
Mentors get a lot of satisfaction from helping patient groups in these ways, as well as having the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.
Why should you apply to be a mentor?
Free exclusive leadership and coaching training
Have a positive impact on the community
Exposure to fresh perspectives and ideas
Support the development of others
For career development and peer recognition
Develop your personal leadership skills
Gain access and explore new networks
What skills could a Mentor offer?
It is not a requirement that mentors have specific experience or background in rare diseases, so long as you have other applicable skills!
Desirable skills
- Trial design
- Accounting
- Event planning
- Reimbursement
- Human resources
- Social media
- Leadership
- Advocacy
- Data handling
- Fundraising
- Research
- Copywriting
- Web design
- Strategy
And more! If you’d like to apply but not sure you have the right skills, please get in touch at projects@rarebeacon.org
Still unsure?
If you think you have the skills to be a mentor but have never been one before or aren’t sure you know how to do it – don’t let this stop you!
As part of the Mentoring Programme Beacon offers exclusive training with a Leadership Coach to give mentors the skills they need to approach their partnership with confidence.
What’s expected of Mentors?
A mentor is someone who has more experience and who acts as a trusted confidante to their mentee.
Their role is to encourage and guide their mentee to identify the support they need, fully consider all their options, and get new information. A good mentor is therefore critical to ensuring the success of the mentoring partnership.
Those interested in becoming mentors may be supported by their company, but their participation in the programme is as an individual and considered separate from any other affiliations.
A constructive mentoring relationship is a mutually beneficial learning experience. To make the most out of the programme mentors must meet the below expectations and requirements.
Mentors must…
- Maintain active contact with mentees, following up on progress on a minimum monthly basis
- Support mentees in accessing needs and setting clear SMART objectives
- Listen confidentially to the mentee, be a sounding board for ideas, give honest and constructive feedback, and provide guidance and advice relating to mentee’s objectives
- Provide contacts and networks to further the mentee’s achievement of their objectives
- Participate in 3 check-in calls with Beacon and their mentee occurring throughout the programme
If you want the opportunity to make a huge different to the rare community, have the right skills and can commit to these requirements apply here to be a mentor!
Check out what last years mentors thought of the programme…
100%
of mentors enjoyed participating in the programme
100%
of mentors would recommend the programme to future mentors and mentees
100%
of mentors feel they formed a meaningful/long-lasting relationship with their mentee
Apply to be a mentor!
Before applying please ensure you have read the terms and conditions:
Apply to be a mentor here:
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.