If you are a healthcare professional or in training, these events offer an invaluable, all expenses paid opportunity to gain experience of diabetes outside a clinical setting.
Greater insight into understanding of diabetes
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you can meet key requirements in your professional development and gain greater insight into the issues facing children, young people and families with diabetes in their day-to-day lives.
At every event I learn something new. I think that this would be the case for all healthcare professionals, however experienced in the field of diabetes. Working in a clinical setting is a different kettle of fish to a Diabetes UK Care Event and volunteering can really open your eyes to some unexpected issues.
- Diabetes Specialist Dietitian
One of the most unique aspects of volunteering on a Care Event is managing a child’s diabetes on a day-to-day basis. You will see first hand how exercise affects blood glucose levels or how difficult it can be to treat night-time hypoglycaemia.
Many of our volunteers tell us that this insight helps them relate to the problems faced by patients and their parents and greatly improves their understanding of diabetes management in a way which complements their clinical skills.
Learning and gaining every time
Healthcare professional volunteers, of all levels of experience, find that they learn something and gain every time they volunteer. The Care Events are a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in the following areas:
- Insulin Dose Adjustment in Multiple Daily Injection (MDI) regimes
- Carbohydrate counting
- Insulin Pump Therapy
- Diabetes management in a 'real life' setting
- Effects of physical activity on blood glucose levels
If you already have experience in these areas, then you can further develop your skills by sharing your expertise with other healthcare professionals and children attending the events.
We are happy to provide you with references, certificates or letters of recommendation outlining the skills and experience gained from volunteering on the events.
Extremely rewarding
Our events cannot run without doctors, nurses and dietitians. Diabetes UK Care Events are far more than a respite holiday, they are an informal learning opportunity for children with diabetes. This is why we ensure we have a team of knowledgeable and experienced healthcare professionals supported by volunteers who are keen to develop their understanding of diabetes.
As well as the benefits volunteering can give to your professional development, seeing the children and families gain confidence in their ability to self-manage diabetes is extremely rewarding.
About a month after the event I spoke to a PDSN at a local diabetes network day. She fed back to me that two of her young patients had attended a week-long children’s event and had a fantastic time. They came back carbohydrate counting, which they previously had never managed. That’s what I call success! - Paediatric Diabetes Registrar
We provide clear guidelines and you will be supported by the Diabetes UK Care Events team. We can also offer you support in any application for study leave to attend our events.
You will be given appropriate training for you role, which will be led by senior volunteers who have many years of experience running the events.
A volunteer's experience
Hear why Sean has been volunteering on our Care Events since 1987, both as a nurse and then an event organiser. We asked him why he keeps volunteering and what volunteering on the events means to him.
To apply to volunteer, simply download the volunteer application form, complete and return to: Care Events Team, Diabetes UK, 10 Parkway, London NW1 7AA or email careevents@diabetes.org.uk.
For more information, go to Help with applying.