Become a Mentor on our Patient Group Mentoring Programme
Applications close on the 19th of December
If you believe you have something to offer a rare disease patient group, we want to hear from you!
We’re looking for mentors with experience in research, charity leadership, fundraising, communications, consultancy, coaching, life sciences, and many other fields. Your skills and experience can make a real difference to patient groups across the rare disease community.
Many of our past mentors have shared that, at first, they weren’t sure what they could offer. They quickly realised that simply listening, sharing advice, or acting as a sounding board could have a huge impact on their mentees’ confidence and progress.
Mentoring is a rewarding opportunity to give back, support meaningful work, and make a tangible difference. At the same time, it’s a chance to develop your own leadership, coaching, and communication skills while building connections across a passionate and inspiring community.
Why apply to be a mentor?
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Make a real difference to patient groups and their work
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Share your expertise and experience
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Develop your own leadership and coaching skills
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Access free leadership and coaching training
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Gain fresh perspectives and build meaningful connections
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Experience the satisfaction of helping others succeed
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
- Project management
And more! If you’d like to apply but not sure you have the right skills, please get in touch at projects@rarebeacon.org
What’s expected of Mentors?
A mentor is someone with experience who acts as a trusted guide and sounding board for their mentee. Mentors encourage their mentee to explore options, identify the support they need, and access new information.
While some mentors may be supported by their company, participation in the programme is as an individual.
A constructive mentoring relationship is a two-way learning experience, and to get the most from the programme, mentors are expected to meet the following requirements:
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Maintain active contact with your mentee, checking in on progress at least once a month
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Support your mentee in assessing their needs and setting clear SMART objectives
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Listen confidentially, act as a sounding board for ideas, give honest and constructive feedback, and provide guidance relating to their objectives
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Share relevant contacts and networks to help your mentee achieve their goals
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Participate in three check-in calls with Beacon and your mentee throughout the programme
- Take responsibility for guiding and supporting your mentee as they work towards their objectives. Your role is to advise, challenge, and encourage them, not to take on their projects or do the work for them.
Apply to be a mentor here!
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.