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 • Educate local students on the merits of global health and voluntary work

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

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

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

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

8. Benefits of working together • Networking • making friends and contacts • Movement of members between activities • Problem solving • two heads are better than one • Don’t duplicate efforts • 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 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 • Money • Too many meetings!

11. Ways to work together • Medsin Explained evenings • Mini-Activities Board meetings • Training – sharing skills! • Planning yearly schedules together • 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 • 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 • Allocate roles to improve communication • 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!