Grants and Prizes

Patient Support Group Grants for Telephone Helpline Training

The Society for Endocrinology is Britain's national charity promoting education of the public in all aspects of endocrinology. As well as educating scientists and doctors, we take an active interest in the welfare of patients with endocrine conditions, and ensuring that those who support them have access to good training and information. 

The Society has made funding available to provide ten places on telephone helpline training courses to small charities and patient support groups who work with endocrine-related conditions. Funding will cover: the cost of the course (with lunch provided) and the cost of travel to/from the course up to a value of £100 (refunded afterwards on the provision of receipts).

The course will cover:

  • How to overcome the obstacles of communicating by telephone
  • How to listen and respond to callers effectively
  • What type of questions to ask callers – and when
  • Top tips for giving information and signposting
  • When and how to end a call
  • The benefits of knowing and working within service boundaries

The course (Level One: Foundation Skills), run by the Telephone Helplines Association, takes place in London monthly and less frequently in Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester.  Full details of potential dates and locations of the course will be provided if you successfully obtain the funding. More information on the course can be found here.

Eligibility:

To be considered for funding, the organisation must fulfil the following conditions:

  • A clear endocrine remit; must be actively catering for patients with endocrine conditions
  • Must be providing patient support and information
  • Must have less than 8 full time staff (or equivalent)
  • Must be UK based

Each patient support group may apply for one funded place only. There will be ten grants available and these will be awarded on a first come first served basis.

Opening date for applications: 18 February 2008
Closing date for applications: 5pm, 14 March 2008

Conditions relating to the grant:

  • Incomplete applications will not be considered
  • The decision is final and not subject to appeals
  • A short report is required confirming who attended the course, their position within the organisation and attendance at the course
  • Awards cannot be granted retrospectively

To apply for these awards, please submit the attached application form to grants@endocrinology.org. A signed hard copy should be sent to Jennie Evans, Society for Endocrinology, 22 Apex Court, Woodlands, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 4JT.