1. Working together Branches, projects and campaigns

2. What is Medsin?  Act locally think globally  ‘a network of healthcare students… across the UK that aims to educate about and act upon health inequalities in our local and global communities’  UK branch of IFMSA

3. What is a medsin branch?  Local University representation  Provide communication and support structures for projects, campaigns and other activities  The structure is up to the individual branch  Should have their own purpose and activities too ie. Smaller campaigns and facilitating the starting of new projects ie. Smaller campaigns and facilitating the starting of new projects  Educate local students on the merits of global health and voluntary work

4. What is a project?  Local activity – carrying out practical work Sexpression Sexpression Homed Homed Marrow Marrow SKIP SKIP Crossing borders Crossing borders Medaid Medaid CPRis CPRis Teddy Bear Hospital Teddy Bear Hospital GHAP GHAP BookAid BookAid Exchanges Exchanges Save a baby’s life Save a baby’s life Heart Start Heart Start

5. What is a campaign?  Local advocacy – raising awareness and lobbying Trade Justice Trade Justice Water aid Water aid Malaria and neglected diseases Malaria and neglected diseases STOP AIDs STOP AIDs Pharmaware Pharmaware Fair trade Fair trade Healthy Planet Healthy Planet

6. Activities  Branches Recruitment and Information evenings Recruitment and Information evenings Generic Skills Training Generic Skills Training Links to National medsin activities and conferences Links to National medsin activities and conferences Links all the projects and campaigns together Links all the projects and campaigns together Global health education Global health education Medsinema Medsinema Forum for debate and development Forum for debate and development Funding, resources and external links support Funding, resources and external links support Social events Social events

7. Activities  Projects/Campaigns Raise awareness Raise awareness Raise funds Raise funds Specific Training Specific Training National Project/campaigns Links National Project/campaigns Links Specific External Links Specific External Links Practical activities Practical activities Peer educationPeer education Working in schoolsWorking in schools Working in the communityWorking in the community Recruiting for marrow registersRecruiting for marrow registers Research and developmentResearch and development Sending volunteers overseasSending volunteers overseas

8. Benefits of working together  Networking making friends and contacts making friends and contacts Movement of members between activities Movement of members between activities  Problem solving two heads are better than one two heads are better than one  Don’t duplicate efforts ie recruitment, admin, resources ie recruitment, admin, resources  Strength in numbers to tackle bigger issues  Training!

9. Benefits of working together  Recognition as a large well respected organisation  Weight of previous success and support of any one project shared with all.  Advice and support for new projects/campaigns  Boosts esteem and confidence in your work when you know you have so many people alongside you!

10. Challenges of working together  Lack of understanding and communication What is a medsin branch? What is a medsin branch? What is happening in each project/campaign? What is happening in each project/campaign?  High turnover of personnel  Branches/projects outgrowing each other  Egos, territory, ownership and autonomy  Previous bad experiences  Spreading resources too thinly Members Members Money Money Too many meetings! Too many meetings!

11. Ways to work together  Medsin Explained evenings  Mini-Activities Board meetings Training – sharing skills! Training – sharing skills! Planning yearly schedules together Planning yearly schedules together Flexibility, clear roles and understanding Flexibility, clear roles and understanding  Big end of year social and awards ceremony

12. Overcoming challenges  Managing activities so we don’t spread too thin!  Local Vice President of Projects and Campaigns to link all the projects together and with the medsin branch to link all the projects together and with the medsin branch  Projects to have Medsin reps  Record challenges and successes and pass them on each year  Encourage branch to have their own purpose

13. Examples of what works well  Medsin Explained nights and Medsin Re- explained nights throughout the year  Discussion boards on local website to share ideas  Medsinema with discussions  One project being trained by another, hence sharing skills and knowledge  Large generic skills training days where all are invited

14. What works well in your branch? Discuss!

15. Key messages  All here for the same cause, working towards the same aims  Communicate regular updates regular updates  Allocate roles to improve communication Vp’s and reps Vp’s and reps  Plan together, play together!  Support each other and share resources, ideas and people  Separate personal issues from working relationships

16. When in doubt? Perseverance, patience and professionalism!

17. Remember why we are all here… To make a difference!