Who are the Fellows?
Fellows are Foundation Year 2 (F2) doctors who have been awarded a Fellowship position following a competitive application process.
The F2 Fellows continue to train in and practice clinical medicine alongside this Fellowship, and therefore have undergone the necessary employment requirements, such as DBS checks, to hold their training position.
What is expected of our organisation as a host?
As a host organisation, we ask that you provide structured support to ensure a successful and meaningful fellowship experience. This includes:
– Allocating two named individuals who will act as key points of contact for the Fellows throughout the placement. This dual-contact model ensures continuity and smooth communication. If one person is away, off sick, or moves roles, the second contact can maintain engagement, prevent delays, and ensure that important information is not missed.
– Collaborating with the Fellows to co‑design a suitable project that aligns both with public health priorities and the needs of your organisation. You’ll help define the project focus, scope, and key outcomes, with support from the fellowship team.
– Participating in up to three in person project half-days, where Fellows and hosts come together for structured learning, planning, and progress discussions.
– Attending the end of programme Presentation Day, where Fellows will share their project findings and recommendations.
Together, these commitments help create a supportive environment that strengthens the fellowship experience for both your organisation and the Fellows.
What types of projects are suitable for the Fellowship?
Projects should have a clear public health focus. For example, reducing health inequalities, improving service access, supporting population wellbeing, or analysing local health needs.
Project examples include:
– Assessing community needs by identifying gaps in services for specific population groups
– Analysing data to understand the needs of a population you support
– Evaluating the impact of an existing programme by measuring impact and effectiveness of current projects
– Designing new health improvement initiatives, such as workshops, training sessions or resources
– Reviewing existing service pathways to identify gaps or inequalities
– Mapping community needs to inform strategic planning or funding bids
How much time will the Fellows spend with our organisation?
Between October and June across an academic year, each Fellow will contribute 8 protected working days to a project.
These 8 days include up to three in-person study days, as well as the final Presentation Day. Outside of these allocated days, it is up to the Fellows to organise their time as a group to undertake their projects.
Do we need to provide funding or resources?
Fellow salaries and expenses are covered by their placements in the Foundation Training programme; programme study day workspaces are provided by the Wessex School of Public Health.
Host organisations are asked to provide materials and data pertaining to their projects and staff time for collaboration, but no direct financial contribution unless specified.
What level of supervision or support do Fellows need from host organisations?
Fellows should have two named organisational contacts, with expectation that one will be the Lead Contact who provides regular guidance necessary to undertake their projects.
They are competent professionals but may be new to public health approaches or community-based work.
Will our organisation have input into the Fellows’ project goals?
Yes. It is essential that host organisations co‑design the project. The fellowship model relies on genuine partnership, ensuring that the work undertaken is meaningful, achievable, and aligned with the priorities of your organisation.
As a host, you will work closely with the Fellows to:
– Define the project focus and objectives, ensuring it addresses a genuine organisational need or opportunity.
– Shape the scope of work so that it is realistic and manageable within the timeframe of the Fellowship.
– Provide insight into your community, service users, and local context, which is critical in designing a project that is relevant and impactful.
What support does the programme provide to us as hosts?
Host organisations are supported throughout the Fellowship to ensure projects run smoothly and that both Fellows and community partners have a positive, productive experience.
– Administrative oversight for the Fellowship is provided by the Lead Registrar(s) and the Public Health Training Programme Manager. They handle the logistics of the programme, communication with host organisations, scheduling key dates, and ensuring that both Fellows and hosts have the information and resources they need.
– Each Fellowship group and their project will be supported by Mentor Registrars, Public Health Consultants-in-training, who act as guides and sounding boards for the Fellows. They help ensure the work remains on track, is methodologically sound, and aligns with public health principles.
– Final accountability for the fellowship sits with the Leadership Team of the Wessex School of Public Health.
What happens at the end of the Fellowship?
At the end of the fellowship, each project group will formally conclude their work and share their findings with host organisations and the wider programme.
Outputs will include a written report, a poster and a presentation. All groups will deliver their presentations at the final Presentation Day. Many organisations find that relationships formed through the fellowship naturally lead to continued collaboration, whether through further project development, shared learning, or links with the public health system.
At the conclusion of the programme, we will invite participating organisations to provide short testimonials reflecting on their experience as hosts.
These testimonials help:
– celebrate the contribution and impact of community partners,
– highlight the benefits of participation,
– and showcase the value of community‑centred public health work.