What do I do if I want to volunteer with MdM UK in the UK?
- Attend one of our monthly evening meetings that will tell you more about Project: London. See the Recruitment Fairs & Information Talks page to find out when our next meeting is.
- Send/bring your CV with a letter explaining why you’d like to work with Médecins du Monde UK to the Recruitment Department or email recruitment@medecinsdumonde.org.uk
Why is Médecins du Monde UK now operating in the UK?
Because we’re following MdM France’s example: they run over 110 projects (called Mission France) in France helping vulnerable people get access to healthcare. MdM UK launched its first UK healthcare project on 16 January 2006 called Project: London. It provides healthcare to excluded groups of people, and helps them access mainstream health services. The project is scheduled to last for two years, with an Annual Report of findings to be published after the first year.
Why Tower Hamlets?
Our UK offices are based in Tower Hamlets, which is also one of the poorest boroughs in the UK. It’s an area that, historically, homeless people and new migrants are found. Anna Coote, director of public health at the King’s Fund, notes that: "if you travel by tube from Westminster out to the end of the Jubilee Line in east London, for each tube station you pass, you lose a year of life expectancy."
Who benefits from the work of Project: London?
Our volunteers provide healthcare to three groups of vulnerable people:
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Vulnerable migrants
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Vulnerable homeless
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Street sex workers
The UK has the NHS. Why is there a need for your project?
There are people who have difficulty accessing NHS care. Some people are not entitled to NHS care. This group is likely to grow. Others may not know how to access NHS care or have difficulty because they are socially excluded. We intend to provide basic healthcare, and then link people up with available mainstream NHS services. Not just to find a GP, but also to find other appropriate facilities.
How can you operate in a locality where you have no infrastructure set up?
We are working in partnership with three local organisations, one of which (Praxis) is operational now. The other two (Providence Row) will be operational later in 2006. We provide medical care on the premises for their clients, with the aim of finding these people long-term access to healthcare. These three local organisations currently provide advice, shelter, food and drink and sometimes clothing for the three vulnerable groups (above), with whom they have also built up significant trust.
Why would UK medical professionals want to volunteer their time?
Not everyone wants to, or can, do voluntary work overseas. Project: London provides an excellent opportunity for volunteers to make a difference in the UK. The extensive talks we’ve had with medical/non-medical professionals show that many would like to use their experience to help these groups, with whom they don’t normally come into contact.
What type of volunteers do you need for Project: London?
Medical: doctors and nurses.
Experience: GPs must be GMC registered. All other medical volunteers need to be fully qualified.
Non-medical: support workers to provide advice; administrators to run the project’s infrastructures.
Experience: either having worked with, or have an interest in working with, the three target groups.
How much time is required for volunteering? Will my costs be covered? And training?
Four hours every fortnight for a minimum commitment of three months (currently Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons between 1pm and 5pm)
