British Veterinary Chronic Illness Support

02/04/2025

Wow! we had a HUGE response to our Save Your Spoons bursary applications!

We had only 10 bursaries to award and we had 184 applications for them and reading through all of the responses really showed how little things can make a big difference! We awarded the bursaries at random because we knew it would be impossible to choose on merit alone.

We've now given out the money, which will go towards everything from heated gloves to more suitable bedding to dyslexia-friendly glasses, loops earbuds, posture and mobility aids.

For those that weren't successful or missed the application window, I really hope that you can still justify even in small part a little treat for yourself - it might not have to be financial but will help you with your spirits and spoons.

The overwhelming response demonstrates how valuable this was to our community so we are seeking funding for similar future initiatives .... if you are able to help please get in touch🥰

13/12/2024

Penultimate call to register your interest for the BVCIS coaching!
https://forms.office.com/r/FiKh8pE6sK
Really hoping all of your questions have now been answered in this post and the last FAQ post. If you have any more please do comment below and we'll do our best to get them answered for you.

Q: How long will the sessions be?
A: 1 hour. There may be 5-10 minutes for questions at the end depending on how many spoons the coach has left.

Q: Will there be any breaks?
A: Yes! Aim is for a 5 minute screen break around the middle of the session.

Q: When will the sessions be?
A: Weekday evenings at 7:30pm (we know this won't work for everyone, if funding allows and there is enough interest we may be able to run a 2nd cohort at a different time).

Q: What if I miss a session?
A: There will be recordings available but we do ask anyone who signs up (dates of sessions will be given before final sign up) to only do so if they can commit to most, if not all, of the sessions. One of the benefits of group coaching is the shared knowledge and community, it doesn't work as well if you miss most of the sessions.

Q: Do I need to have my camera on?
A: In the main room when the coach is speaking no (although it is lovely if you do feel comfortable to do so). However we will be asking you to have cameras on in breakout rooms for psychological safety (i.e. to demonstrate that you're not listening in a prep room with all of your colleagues). Pyjamas and dressing gowns welcome, no need to look at the camera if you don't feel comfortable. We're just trying to create a space where everyone feels that they can share if they'd like to.

Q: How many sessions are there?
A: There will be 10 sessions in total, running on a fortnightly basis. Change takes time and we wanted to make sure it is broken down into spoon friendly pieces to make sure it has maximum impact. We’re really looking forward to supporting you on the journey!

Q: Where will sessions be held?
A: They will be held on zoom. There will also be a closed facebook group which is where the recordings will be uploaded to for anyone who missed them or who would like to rewatch a section. This will have the added benefit or being a space to support each other and ask questions.

Phew... if you got this far, thanks for reading! If you're interested then please do register here:
https://forms.office.com/r/FiKh8pE6sK

07/11/2024

Why should you take part in a coaching course as a spoonie?

1. Setting aside time for just you is a powerful act of self-care.
Often we put everyone else first, we know we need to look after ourselves but it’s difficult and we don’t always know where to start. Weekly coaching sessions will help you dedicate some time to focus on you and can help you to start to build in other elements that will help boost your wellbeing.

2. Tools and strategies to help you navigate life as a spoonholder.
All of us have different needs and preferences, coaching is about supporting you to find what works for YOU. You’ll learn different tools to help yourself with this and develop your own strategies that fit in with YOUR life.

3. A community who will understand when things don’t go to plan and celebrate with you when they do.
It can be lonely being a spoonie sometimes, you might have people around you who love you and want to support you but they just don’t get it. Spending time with others who understand the challenges you’re facing can make such a difference. People who understand what it’s like to celebrate making it out of the house some days.

4. Motivation to help keep you on track.
Keeping ourselves going can be so hard when we’re on our own. Having a regular session to remind you of how well you’re doing and have others to cheer you on can make a huge impact in helping us get to where we want to be.

5. Regain a sense of control over your life.
When you have a chronic health condition or disability a lot of life can feel outside of our control. This in itself can be pretty debilitating. Coaching helps you recognise what is within your control and gives you back a sense of agency over your own life.

Sound good? Register your interest here:
https://forms.office.com/r/FiKh8pE6sK

30/10/2024

What’s one small thing that would make your Spoonie life soooo much easier but you can’t justify spending money on?

We are pleased to announce that applications for our small grants are now open. We have 10 x £50 grants available. Make your daily routine a little easier, whether it’s fancy noise-reducing ear buds, a cosy heated blanket for those tough days, a mindfulness app that helps manage stress, or trying out a meal delivery service that saves time and energy, or ergonomic office supplies, the possibilities are endless. It's a short application window so get yours in because we close for applications after 7th November.

Fill in the google form to apply and we will contact successful applicants after the closing date! https://forms.gle/9DbFdfbzX4aM8FNG6

21/10/2024

Dearest Spoonies,

Ever looked at some of these coaching courses that are out there and wanted to join but not had the spoons or money to do so?

What if I told you that there’s a coaching course coming designed specifically for Veterinary Spoonholders?

Where you can get support from a fellow vet and spoonie all whilst being in a wonderful community of other spoonies too!

Sound like something that you’re interested in? Sign up to receive further information here - https://forms.office.com/r/FiKh8pE6sK

14/10/2024

Dearest Spoonie community we have exciting news!

We are launching a coaching course specifically for the Veterinary Spoonholder community starting in January 2025.

To make it super spoonie friendly we are able to:

- Make it a “pay what you can” course. We get that a lot of spoonies don’t often have the financial resources to pay for coaching so we’re delighted to be able to offer this to everyone. For those of you who would like to join and are able to contribute any money received will go directly to further initiatives to support this community.

- Keep it short. Sessions will only be 1 hour long with each session being a valuable space for you to explore what you want and how to get there, to make sure there are minimal extra spoons required.

- Have a fellow spoonie coaching you. No need to explain or worry about judgement, you’ll have someone who really gets many of the challenges you’re facing because she’s been there herself.

What we need from you:

- Register your interest – here https://forms.gle/JDVXxSQVPF88NLEx5 . The group is going to be 15 people maximum to make sure there’s time and space for everyone in the sessions. However there is a possibility that we might run 2 cohorts alongside each other if enough people are interested.

- Let us know what time suits you best – are evenings ok (pyjamas and dressing gowns welcome)? Or would people prefer a daytime or weekend session?

- Ask us questions – what do you want to know to make you feel as comfortable as possible before you sign up?

05/06/2024

So proud to have been involved in this…. short targeted learning to help us better navigate the world avoiding some pitfalls thru better understanding

Unlock Inclusive Communication Skills With Our New Course!

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our transformative new course, “Introduction to Inclusive Terminology" at a special launch price of only £19.99! Enroll now via our website.

Tailored specifically for the veterinary workforce, this course is developed by veterinary professionals from marginalised communities with many years of experience and expertise.

🌟What does the course cover?

With four modules and over 90 minutes of CPD available, this course will help you gain a deep understanding of the latest and most appropriate terminology...

👉EDI Terminology: Learn the differences between commonly used terms such as diversity, equality, equity and inclusion. Understand the impact of microaggressions on people from marginalised communities.

👉LGBT+: Learn the correct terms for addressing and understanding minority sexual orientations and gender identities. Understand the importance of normalising pronouns.

👉Race & Ethnicity: Learn what racism truly entails, including its various forms such as systemic, institutional, and interpersonal racism. Understand the significance and impact of terms, and learn to avoid those that are outdated or offensive.

👉Disability, Chronic Illness, & Neurodiversity: Learn about the social and legal frameworks behind the concept of ‘disability’. Understand the respectful language around disabled people, people with chronic health conditions, and neurodivergent people.

🌟Who is this course for?

This course is essential for anyone in the veterinary field who wants to communicate more inclusively and respectfully with people from various marginalised communities. If you've ever found yourself unsure of what to say or how to say it, this course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to get it right.

🌟Special Offer For You!

As we launch this pivotal course at BVA Live this week, we are offering it to you for the introductory price of just £19.99.

Act now to enhance your communication skills and ensure that your words always reflect respect and understanding. Click below to learn more and take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Don't miss out! Together, let's make inclusivity a standard practice in every conversation.

Visit our website to sign up!

Affinity Futures Team
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Facebook: Affinity Futures
Twitter: affinityfutures
LinkedIn: affinityfutures
Website: www.affinityfutures.com
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05/06/2024

Cant wait to see everyone at BVA tomorrow. Come find us for a chat, chill out on our floor or grab some ear defenders if you want to block out the sound for a bit

BVA Live is this week – Don’t miss out!

Affinity Futures (Affinity Futures), supported by Elanco, will be hosting our Active Allyship Zone at BVA Live again this year. Want to find out why promoting inclusion and belonging is so valuable as a recruitment and retention tool? Come and see us!

Visit Stand C07 in the exhibition to chat to our team about EDI and allyship training. We are run by veterinary professionals with a diverse range of expertise and offer consultancy services on all aspects of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

For a taste of what our team can deliver, join in on our 1 hour interactive workshops running each day on the stand:

Cards Against Inclusivity uses real-life example experiences of discrimination and challenging behaviours to examine their impact on individuals and the work environment. Develop strategies for addressing incidents and ultimately work to creating a psychologically safe workplace where everyone can thrive. Cards Against Inclusivity will run at 10.30am on Thursday and 2pm on Friday.

Behind ‘Difficult’ Employees examines the concept of labelling employees as ‘difficult’ when their actions or behaviours become problematic in the workplace. Learn how to dig deeper and address unseen challenges affecting employees to create a sustainable workforce. Behind ‘Difficult’ Employees will run at 3.30pm on Thursday and 10am on Friday.

Don’t miss out – see you on Thursday/Friday!

Affinity Futures Team
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Facebook: Affinity Futures
Twitter: affinityfutures
LinkedIn: affinityfutures
Website: www.affinityfutures.com

24/05/2024

16/04/2024

Hey! Any D/deaf or Hard of Hearing folks who would be able to attend and help facilitate our online EDI conference's Deaf Inclusion session on THIS Friday 19th April at 10am - unfortunately our community facilitator we had lined up is unable to attend at short notice due to unforseen circumstances and the session would really benefit from having more people with lived experience in the room. You would have lots of support as would be a co-facilitated by 2 very experienced session facilitators. Whole conference is closed captioned and we can discuss any other access needs.

Working together for an inclusive future...

11/04/2024

19-20th April! Don’t miss out on the UK’s ONLINE veterinary diversity conference. Here’s the line up. STUDENT VETS /NURSES REGISTER FREE! Spread the word!

https://affinityfutures.com/courageous-conversations

23/03/2024

BSAVA24 Well-being: Want to learn more about terminology and language for different communities whilst eating yummy food (vegan, GF and other allergen labelled, including salad 😋) come join us in between now and 230pm in the Well-being Zone ,