VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - LEARNING BY EXPERIENCE – Opportunity to support the work of Leeds University by sharing your experience

[Alida_Bennett]

Dr Lucy Ziegler, Lead for Student Education at the University of Leeds School of Medicine, is again looking for volunteers to be a part of their Long Term Health Condition Project which offers first year medical students an opportunity to learn by experience about what it is like to have, or to care for someone who has, a long term health condition.

As a volunteer you will be matched with two or three first-year medical students who you will meet via Zoom (or an alternative online platform, depending on your preference). Meetings will take place on one occasion in late February or early March 2023 and will last for around an hour. The students will be interested in listening to you talking about your own experiences - topics may include:

• How you manage your health condition (or that of someone you care for);

• Your thoughts about this health condition;

• How things might have changed over time, or since the diagnosis;

• The impact the health condition has had on your life and the lives of those close to you;

• Your experiences of medical and other support services.

All of this information will be treated in confidence and if there is anything you would rather not discuss, you should not feel under any pressure to do so.

If you would like to become a volunteer, please contact me at [e-mail] no later than Friday 10th February 2023 with the following information:

• Name

• Phone number

• Email address

• Brief details of the condition you, or the person you care for, experiences

• Confirmation of your permission for your details to be passed to the relevant researcher

I will then be in touch with the relevant volunteer information sheet and will pass your details on to the University.

Many thanks.

[Barnclown]

I’ve emailed the requested details to Alida because have joined up to participate for 2 years already & very much enjoyed the chance to meet young student doctors. They’ve all been lovely, asked good questions & been very respectful + interested. This is a very well organised scheme. I can’t wait to meet my next 2 students. These young people are giving me hope that future generations of doctors will be in a better position to help us zebras more.

Hope you’ll participate too 💞💞💞💞 Coco

[Alida_Bennett Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Barnclown]

Thank you Coco.