Meraki Clinical EMS Grants 2024 – apply now! 23 remain...

Here at Meraki, we understand how integral C-EMS is to increase new graduate confidence and to minimise what can be a stressful transition from student to professional. We also understand the financial pressures of completing C-EMS and how cost can be a barrier for some to access the placements they desire to get the most out of their undergraduate training.

Aligned with our ambitions to use business as a force for good we want to do all that we can to support the challenges facing our vets of tomorrow. That’s why, when we launched in January 2022 we pledged to award one C-EMS grant for every UK workplace that creates a new profile.

Image: C-EMS is invaluable for building relationships and gaining experience working as part of a team.

Grants available

We have twenty-three £35 C-EMS grants remaining to award. See below for further information and how to apply.

What can the money be used for?

Anything you like! But we would prefer you put the money towards something that facilitates the completion of your next placement – clothing, equipment, accommodation, travel costs or even buying cake, or a round of drinks in the pub for your placement team to say ‘thank you!’.

To apply, send us your pictures!

We are passionate about building great workplace cultures and teams where people love to work. While clinical or technical skills are necessary to do the job, it is your non-clinical, personal leadership and people skills that ultimately have a far greater impact on the cultures where you work and your career success.

Word cloud of what matters most to people in veterinary teams. Source: Veterinary Human Factors Conference, February 2023

So we want to reward your efforts to build personable relationships while seeing you having fun and being made to feel part of the team.

This could be you celebrating with a nurse after placing your first IV catheter, enjoying lunch with the team, gate crashing a team building day out or a coffee break selfie on the road discussing a case with your supervisor. You decide!

To apply you need to have already completed at least one C-EMS placement so that you can send us:

1. One picture of you that best encapsulates your experience on placement.
2. A brief 50-100 word caption to describe the context of the image. For example, you could say what events preceded the picture, use it as an opportunity to share feedback, say what you liked best about the placement or how the people in the image helped you enjoy a great learning experience. Include the names and job roles of others in your picture and ensure you have permissions from others in the picture before sending to us (see Terms and Conditions).

Grant eligibility criteria

• Grant applications are open to the UK and Ireland Vet Schools
• Applicants must be registered with Meraki. It’s FREE to join and takes 2 minutes – register here
• Applicants must be a UK or Irish citizen
• Grants, while available, are awarded for the completion of clinical EMS placements in the UK or Ireland
• Placements must be for a minimum of 5 days
• There is no deadline. Grants are awarded on a first come first served basis
• Multiple applications accepted, but each application must be from a different C-EMS placement

Strength in diversity

Wanting to champion a diverse workforce, and recognise workplaces providing an inclusive culture, we are keen to ensure the experiences of all types of people are represented.

Aligned with our wider commitment to support accessibility, diversity, equality and inclusion within the veterinary professions, half of the grants available will be awarded to people:

• From Black, Asian and Minority (BAME) backgrounds,
• Identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or who has another minority sexual orientation or gender identity, or who are intersex, or
• Who have a chronic health condition

Apply now!

Send your pictures, caption and the following information to olly@merakiinitiative.com:

1. Applicant details:

• Full name
• University
• Academic year
• Email

2. State if any of the following applies to you:

• I am from a Black, Asian or Minority (BAME) background
• I identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or another minority sexual orientation or gender identity, or am intersex
• I have a chronic health condition

3. Details of your C-EMS placement

• Workplace name and address
• Date and length of the placement
• Placement type, for example small animal, equine etc

4. State what you intend to use your Meraki C-EMS Grant for.

Grant assessment

Pictures must include you with the team. The more fun and creative your picture, the more favourably your submission will be judged.

Pictures and captions will be evaluated by Oliver King, Founder of The Meraki Initiative.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until all have been awarded.

We will update the title of this page to reflect how many grants remain.

For any questions regarding Meraki EMS Grants please contact olly@merakiinitiative.com

Recipients so far:

Emma Yi Kwan Lau, 3rd year at Bristol Vet School – “I am using the Meraki grant to contibute to transport to Scotland for an aquatic placement next summer.”

Lydia Allinson, 4th year at Liverpool Vet School – “The Meraki grant will help with the upkeep of my car. Without my car, student life would be much more difficult!”

Meraki EMS Grant – Terms and Conditions

1. Applicants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
2. Applicants must complete the application process above and in applying, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and to the best of your knowledge.
3. In applying for this grant, your personal information and contact details will only be used in relation to this application. Our companies Privacy Policy can be viewed here.
4. Grant recipients agree to take part in our promotional activity to publicise Meraki EMS Grants by supplying: a picture of you and the team and a 50-100 word caption of your experience, for use on social media and content on our website.
5. All applicants give copyright permissions for Your Vet Network Ltd (The Meraki Initiative) to use the images supplied for our grant and other branding and marketing purposes associated with The Meraki Initiative.
6. In sending in images showing other people, you take responsibility for having sought permission from those in the picture that they too have consented for their images to be used for our grant and other branding and marketing purposes associated with The Meraki Initiative.

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