Meraki Clinical EMS Grants 2023 – apply now! 12 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.

So to celebrate Meraki’s first birthday we are delighted to launch our first year of clinical extra-mural studies (C-EMS) grants.

Aligned with our B Corporation ambitions, we want to use business as a force for good to positively impact the profession. As part of this commitment 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 created a profile until 2023. It is why we are also continuing this pledge for every UK workplace creating a Nevis workplace profile from now until 2024.

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

Grants available

We have thirteen £35 C-EMS grants to award for 2023. 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, wine or a round of drinks 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, self-leadership and people skills that nurtures and forges the relationships, which 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 see you having fun building personable relationships 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 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 portrays your relationships and 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 between 3^rd January 2023 and 30^th September 2023
• Placements must be for a minimum of 5 days
• 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, seven grants 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 assessments

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

The more fun and creative your picture, the more favourably your submission will be judged.

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

We will update the title of this page as the 13 grants are allocated to show how many 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 – who is using the grant to contibute to transport to Scotland for an aquatic placement next summer.

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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