Surgeons and anaesthetists rapidly trained to treat trauma injuries in Gaza

During a remarkable four-day Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course, surgeons and anaesthetists from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Qatar gathered in Bolton to learn how to treat trauma injuries in the Gaza Strip.

Organised in two weeks in collaboration with Palmed, 42 doctors headed for the Middle East were trained to treat complex trauma injuries incurred in the Israel-Gaza conflict. This course not only marks a significant step towards preparing medical professionals for future missions in Palestine but also reflects a shared commitment to saving lives in conflict zones.

 "Thank you to the David Nott Foundation. Without them, this training would not have been possible. Together, we are organising this course to assist the people in the Gaza Strip once it is safe and travel becomes feasible. The response from numerous doctors expressing their desire to help has been overwhelming, and we are hopeful to conduct a second course in the coming weeks." - Riyadh Al Masharqa, Plastic surgeon, PalMed

Addressing urgent medical needs in Gaza

The course was organised in response to the pressing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestine. According to on-the-ground partners, medical professionals are stretched to their limits and hospitals are overwhelmed.

The group included specialists in orthopaedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatric anaesthesia, and general surgery. Some brought valuable, first-hand experience from regions affected by conflict, like Afghanistan and Syria, while others joined to grow their understanding of how to treat war wounds before heading on mission.

"I'm excited about expanding my skill set beyond obstetrics and gynaecology to acquire new capabilities that will benefit mothers and their infants in Gaza and the West Bank. I recognize the desperate need for assistance in this region. This course is unique as it combines obstetrics and gynaecology with trauma care. This training aims to address complex challenges comprehensively and I look forward to it.” - Dr Iman Al Mabhooh, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

A troop of volunteers

For the very first time, 11 FDNF volunteers from our Friends of The David Nott Foundation (FDNF) and Trainees of The David Nott Foundation (TDNF) societies volunteered to help arrange and assist during the course. This joint effort meant it could be organised at lightning speed, rapidly creating a network of well-trained war doctors.

“Given not only the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but with the targeting of healthcare workers in particular it's never been more important to strengthen our healthcare colleagues and equip them with the skills to do their incredibly difficult jobs and to support them through a very precarious situation.” - Nadia, FDNF Manchester President

Our surgical HEST and anaesthesia courses were held simultaneously, demonstrating our commitment to enhancing the skills of all those striving to preserve life in the operating theatre.

"What has been great about this course is meeting people that have experienced things in the field. From the anaesthetics point of view, it's been helpful to learn how they deal with limited resources and supplies, and we have been using airway mannequins and practicing with video scopes."- Dr Douglas Philpott, Anaesthetist

We’re committed

As war continues to rage, we are working on a second surgical training course with the goal of upskilling even more frontline medical professionals. We won’t stop empowering doctors with the knowledge needed to save lives and limbs against the odds.

Our latest training in Palestine


Funding paediatric trauma training for two Ukrainian surgeons 

In the wake of ongoing conflict, we have taken a significant step in supporting Ukrainian doctors. To further strengthen Ukraine’s medical workforce, we sponsored two doctors, paediatric surgeon Dr Dim Ershov and anaesthetist Dr Olga Panasiuk, to attend the Paediatric Advanced Cadaveric Trauma Surgery (PACTS) course for surgeons. 

After the war erupted, Dr Ershov, and Dr Panasiuk were recruited as surgeons for the Ukrainian army. The two doctors previously met our Co-Founder, Professor David Nott, during one of our surgical training courses in the country. Since March 2022, we have trained over 400 surgeons during 12 surgical training courses in cities such as Odesa, Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Lviv and Zhytomyr.  

Deepening our impact

In a bid to strengthen our support for medical professionals in war and catastrophe, we’ve expanded our offering beyond our flagship Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course. We worked with leading anaesthetists to develop an anaesthesia course and will be developing a nursing course next year, with the goal of saving even more lives inside and outside the operating theatre. 

We also provide scholarships for frontline doctors in need of additional training. Dr Ershov and Dr Panasiuk were funded by us to attend the PACTS course in Newcastle.   

The course, led by Dr Suren Arul, a paediatric surgeon who previously served in the military, is a two-day intensive program that blends surgical procedures with anaesthetics and nursing. The course incorporates realistic scenarios, including intensive role-playing at six different tables with various surgical cases, simulating the pressured experienced in war zones. 

"They kept us on our toes"

After their two days of training, we met up with Dr Ershov and Dr Panasiuk to ask about their experiences. “Teamwork in the training program put us in a more realistic situation.” shared Dr Panasiuk.  “The models were very interesting, very realistic. They kept us on our toes - as we would be during real surgery.”  

"We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the David Nott Foundation for their unwavering support. As Ukrainians, we wish to express our deepest thanks to David and the entire foundation for their tireless efforts. Through multiple courses, they have saved lives and limbs, standing as champions for Ukraine and democratic freedom. PACTS will equip us with the skills to be more effective. Without their support, we would undoubtedly be prone to making several mistakes."- Drs Ershov and Panasiuk

Protecting Ukraine's children

 Undoubtedly, Dim and Olga can now return to Ukraine equipped with the skills and knowledge to perform life-saving procedures and surgeries, said Dr Suren. "Their participation in the PACTS course, sponsored by the Foundation, has undoubtedly elevated their capabilities, allowing them to make a significant impact in their homeland."

As conflict in Ukraine persists, we will continue to provide training and support to doctors in need. Thanks to a new wealth of knowledge, Dr Dim Ershov and Dr Olga Panasiuk will give more of Ukraine's children hope for the future. 

Our training in Ukraine


MedGlobal Conference 2023: Building resilience amidst disaster

We’re back from Chicago, after two days at MedGlobal’s Annual Conference 2023. The conference brought together medical professionals, humanitarian aid coordinators, volunteers and students to discuss how we build resilience, protect mental health and utilise the power of artificial intelligence in conflict and disaster. 

“We are not immune from conflict and disaster anywhere in the world. Ecuador, Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, Sudan. Our mission is to ensure the lives of those going through challenge are better.” - Dr Zaher Sahloul, Co-Founder and President of MedGlobal

As conflict and disaster continues to stain our world, humanitarian organisations play a key role in helping communities survive and rebuild, whether by supplying basic resources such as shelter, food, water or clothing, or in the case of our Foundation, empowering doctors with life-saving surgical knowledge.

Despite the importance of humanitarian support, it is critical that communities are empowered to restore and rebuild their own lives - and have the tools to do so.

Local empowerment

Our Co-Founder and CEO Elly Nott spoke on the conference’s opening panel, alongside panellists Dr Omar Lateef, Chief Executive of RUSH University Medical Centre in Chicago, Sarah Eyring, Direction of Operations at the Stirling Foundation, and Sharon Eubank, Director of Humanitarian Services at Latter-Day Saint Charities. The group discussed how we can help communities become more resilient.

Elly shared: “What’s needed is a unified effort and giving locally-led organisations the space to flourish. They are closest to the need and what their communities require.”

For communities to rebuild, four things are vital:

  1. Humanitarian funding needs to be long-term, not just one to two-year funding cycles
  2. More funding must reach locally-led organisations, not as sub-contractors, but leaders of their own restoration
  3. Governance must be front and centre of all efforts
  4. Our healthcare workers must be better protected

Healthcare is a human right

Speaking about protection, Elly shared: “Healthcare is under attack wherever we look. We’ve seen it in over 900 verified attacks in Syria. The mental health effects on our healthcare workers are immense.”

In addition to advocating for the protection of our doctors, programmes like our Train the Trainers course hand the power to surgeons and anaesthetists in conflict and catastrophe, giving them knowledge and skills they can share with their colleagues. Sharing forms bonds and will help clinical teams make quick, effective decisions together, despite surrounding in chaos.

“Mental health gets better when you believe in what you’re doing. Local empowerment will build improved mental health. If you feel valued, invested in, connected as a team and part of change – mental health will get better.” – Dr Omar Lateef

Lifetime Achievement Award

Outside of relationship building and discussion during panels, our Co-Founder Professor David Nott was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to humanitarian surgery on the frontline. He received a standing ovation from approximately 400 gala attendees, after sharing stories from his time in Aleppo.

"I was operating on a little girl. All of a sudden, we were told to evacuate as the hospital was about to be bombed. I looked at the anaesthetist, and said I wasn't leaving. They didn't leave either. Together, we operated on the little girl - and no bomb came. She survived."

We thank MedGlobal for their generosity and invitation. Together, we will continue to serve, support and empower communities in need.

Our mission


AIDEX Conference 2023: Joining forces and empowering local communities

In October, our team flew to Geneva to attend this year’s AIDEX Conference, bringing humanitarian leaders, local partners and NGOs together to discuss the world’s forgotten crises and humanitarian needs.

AIDEX presents a powerful opportunity to build collaboration, for common good

- Nicholas Rutherford, Managing Director of AIDEX and Development 2023

This year’s theme at AIDEX, ‘forgotten crises’, was a sobering yet deeply important topic. Discussions and workshops during the two-day conference shone a light on crises that lack prolific media attention, such as in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Chad and beyond.

Without an international spotlight, multiple communities across the globe are suffering the effects of conflict and natural disasters. To meet the growing needs of millions requiring humanitarian aid, we need a step change.

As stressed by Dominik Stillhart from Swiss Humanitarian Aid, “maintaining the status quo is not sufficient”. Together, NGOs and aid organisations must join forces to have greater, collective impact in the communities that need it.

True impact means localisation

Humanitarian action must be shaped by voices within affected communities, to ensure the problem is better understood and met with the right solution. Local communities must be empowered to rebuild their own lives in the long term. To do this, investment in locally-led organisations is crucial.

Local empowerment remains at our heart.

We upskill doctors living and working within conflict and catastrophe zones to become trainers themselves. We have trainers in northwest Syria, Palestine, Sudan, and in due course, Ukraine.

We don’t forget

Syria has long been out of the media spotlight, yet the northwest faces consistent bombardment and indiscriminate attacks, wounding and killing civilians and putting their already-fractured healthcare system under greater strain.

Since 2012, our Co-Founder David Nott has built a long-standing relationship of mutual respect and trust with Syrian doctors, something we sustain to this day. In May, we upskilled surgeons in northwest Syria to treat and rehabilitate those injured during the earthquake. 90% of our trainers were Syrian and the course was taught in Arabic – making our course even more accessible.

The media spotlight may move on, but we will continue to focus our attention and resources on crises for as long as we are needed.

Our latest training in Syria


Our action in response to the Israel-Gaza war

As a humanitarian organisation delivering surgical training to doctors in regions affected by conflict and catastrophe, we have been devastated by the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East.

We have been in contact with our partners, including Juzoor and Action for Humanity, local faculty of trainers, and those we’ve previously trained, to gather a comprehensive picture of the injuries being encountered and needs of medical professionals on the ground.

Reports reveal that many healthcare facilities are under severe strain. Emergency departments are under immense pressure, with growing numbers of trauma injuries due to shellings, shrapnel or collapsed buildings. Supplies at blood banks and basic medical resources are also running low.

Our action

To support hard-to-reach medical professionals at this time, we:

Turned our world-class surgical training course into a series of short videos that can be watched in their own time. We’ve shared our English and Arabic videos with local doctors across the region.

 

Shared our videos with local partner medical professional networks, ensuring even more doctors in need can benefit from the resource.

 

Invited local doctors to our global case study discussion forum to share patient cases and gain advice from peers around the world.

 

Exploring a bespoke discussion forum for doctors affected by this crisis, where our faculty of trainers and others can offer advice and surgical guidance more personally.

As the emergency unfolds, we will continue to monitor how best to support doctors under pressure until we are able to deliver our surgical training course in person.

Elly Nott, our Co-Founder and CEO, said:

“We are appalled by the violence and loss of life in Israel and Gaza and extend our condolences to all who have lost loved ones.

Following the attacks, many are contending with injuries of vast complexity, scale and intensity.

Healthcare workers should be able to deliver life-saving care to their communities free from the threat of violence and parties should uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Access and protection for humanitarians delivering assistance to those civilians affected is essential.”

Our training in Ramallah


Royal Parks runners help us train more doctors

We are continuously amazed by our supporters. This year's Royal Parks Half Marathon saw many of our supporters take to London's streets to raise thousands for doctors living and working in the world's most dangerous corners. Thanks to their determination, doctors in territories such as Ukraine, Yemen, Palestine and Syria will receive the surgical training needed to treat traumatic injuries and save lives.  

Our photographer and videographer, Lucy Lyon, swapped her camera for trainers and took part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon with her brother, Duncan. Together, the pair have raised over £3000 for our mission.

"It was an amazing day in many ways. Golden leafed London parks with warm sun, every shape and ethnicity, age and gender moving along side by side, in a steady tide, for thousands of different causes.

Everyone smiled, no one pushed or shoved. There was a human tree, and a very hot lion, tiger, and a bear. Even a rhino.  A man with a fridge on his back, and people in wheelchairs.

The supporters were everywhere, drumming and cheering us along. It was a morning well spent and all the while jogging along beside me was my little brother.

We agreed that running that distance together was more like running with a pet - a silent but constant companion. And the best bit about running in your late 40s is the gratitude you feel to those legs and feet for their constancy and power.

We have so far raised enough to support the training of at least two surgeons from a conflict zone, who will go on to save hundreds of lives in their region."

If you'd like to set yourself a challenge or raise funds for a cause that changes the lives of communities in conflict, get started today. Thank you to each and every person who supports our mission.

Get involved

 

 


41 Syrian doctors upskilled to screen and treat women with cervical cancer

Dr Saladin Sawan, Consultant Surgeon in Gynaecological Oncology and one of our faculty trainers, recently returned from a surgical mission in Idlib, Syria, upskilling 41 surgical residents and specialists to screen for and treat women with cervical cancer. Here, Dr Sawan shares his hopes for healthcare and future training in northwest Syria.

Syria remains engulfed in a complex humanitarian crisis. Over a decade of conflict has forced more than 12 million people to flee their homes and left displaced communities with reduced access to food, shelter and protection.

Cancer under the radar

Due to a buckling healthcare system and greater focus on other urgent needs, many are not seeking or receiving the cancer screening, diagnosis or treatments they need. Medical professionals also face challenges with transferring patients over the border to Turkey, which means cancer patient numbers in-country are growing.

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is the 4th most common form of cancer among women worldwide.

Our faculty trainer, Dr Saladin Sawan, travelled to Idlib to upskill Syrian surgeons to offer the best possible surgical care for patients with gynaecological cancers including cervical cancer.

“During my mission, I delivered gynaecology training to a group of doctors. Every day, we practiced surgical techniques. We used chicken thighs and a cutting-edge mannequin, provided by the David Nott Foundation, to practice performing cervical smears, colposcopies to assess the cervix for cancer or pre-cancer changes, and diagnostic punch biopsy, in addition to safely performing treatments for pre-cancer cell changes, in the form of loop excision (using heat to remove cells). Each doctor had hands-on practice and then we put skills to the test in operations.”

Dr Sawan teaching surgical residents in the operating theatre.

Dr Sawan trained 41 local doctors during the mission, which will improve cancer patient care while strengthening northwest Syria’s healthcare system in the long-term.

“I performed approximately 14 surgeries of different magnitude, some small procedures, some far more complex, for example radical hysterectomies for cervical cancer patients and debulking surgery for women with ovarian cancer. We used operations as teaching opportunities for local doctors – residents were assisting me and watching over my shoulder. We trained anywhere between three and seven obstetrics and gynaecology residents per day. Some doctors followed me, but I made it my goal to visit as many hospitals as I could to deliver training to those who could not travel. I was very happy.

I felt appreciated amongst a family of doctors and health professionals who looked after each other to deliver the best they could for their patients in some of the most difficult circumstances. I was certainly privileged to have had the chance to be with them.”

Eliminating cervical cancer

Due to ongoing conflict and accessibility issues, doctors in northwest Syria have limited access to training. The province also lacks a screening programme for cervical cancer prevention and early detection, leading to increased numbers of cases that require complex, radical surgery.

“WHO launched an Elimination of Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, which mainly targets low-income countries. The local doctors are really excited about establishing this program for women in Syria. They know the benefit, they believe in its value and importantly they feel it is only right to do since women disproportionately suffer the results of human papilloma virus infection which causes cervical cancer, unlike men. This would promote healthcare equity.”

In his training, Dr Sawan actively encouraged the local doctors not to fear making mistakes.

“Doctors become more confident and patients as a result will be safer. We strive for the doctors to test, try, play, make mistakes. The intention is that the doctors are more competent by the time they perform the operation on patients.

I am lucky to be part of the David Nott Foundation where the emphasis is also on building local expertise and sustainable care by training local health professionals in crisis areas. The donated equipment and surgical instruments meant I was able to deliver comprehensive training without compromises.”

Dr Sawan teaching residents with chicken thighs and a training mannequin, donated by the David Nott Foundation.

Glimmers of peace

“Around me in Idlib, despite being in a region struck by war, there were people trying to rebuild their lives. Developing roads, restaurants opening, people moving into the city. People have started to live their lives – the dust of war settling and communities trying to get their lives back.”

Since Dr Sawan’s mission and apparent signs of a healing community, the Regime has targeted 45 cities and towns in four days, killing 52 and injuring over 240, according to an October recent report led by Assistance Coordination and Information Management Units (ACU, UMI). Despite glimmers of hope, northwest Syria remains in the thralls of conflict.

What’s next?

As unrest continues, the need for training and sharing of knowledge remains. We are committed to upskilling even more obstetric and paediatric residents in northwest Syria, but there’s much more to do.

“Outside of returning to deliver more surgical training, we also want to deliver dedicated cervical cancer screening training to residents,” shares Dr Sawan.

On-the-ground partners have also identified other, urgent areas of need.

“A local humanitarian organisation, the White Helmets, are looking to develop training for paramedics, including resuscitation and emergency obstetrics, gynaecology and neonate training. To make sure we provide the right training material for paramedics, we want to speak to them to understand exactly what their needs are in the field.”

We’ll continue to do all we can to support medical professionals in Syria.

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80 surgeons and anaesthetists upskilled in Kyiv, Ukraine

Our new Chief Operating Officer, Tim Law, recently returned from his first mission. Tim supported our trainers to deliver two surgical training courses in Kyiv. With logistical support from our partner World Health Organisation (WHO), 80 surgeons and anaesthetists from frontline cities learned how to treat mass trauma injuries using world-leading surgical teaching models.

To continue upskilling Ukraine’s frontline doctors, our team embarked on the challenging journey to Kyiv, first flying into Poland and travelling by bus to our final training location two days later. Despite a temporary bus breakdown in scorching heat and consequent concerns about entering Lviv before curfew, our trainers arrived safely in Kyiv and began preparing teaching materials, tools and models for the arrival of more than 80 Ukrainian doctors.

Over six days, our faculty of trainers delivered two condensed hostile environment surgical training (HEST) courses, rich in trauma surgery teachings and practical sessions.

This year, we expanded our course to include anaesthetics – a vital component of trauma surgery care. During this mission, two new faculty trainers, Dr Ian Tyrrell-Marsh and Dr Tom Dolphin, led our anaesthetics module and upskilled 22 anaesthetists from across Ukraine.

Dr Ian Tyrrell-Marsh co-led the anaesthetics module of our courses in Kyiv.

Doctors united in learning

Although united by a shared desire to manage catastrophic injuries, attendees came to our training from different Ukrainian cities.

Tim Law, our COO at the Foundation, shared: “Participation in the course was designed such that about two thirds of doctors came from front-facing oblasts or provinces. They came from Zaporizhizhia, Dnipro, Kyiv and beyond. Most of them were based in civilian hospitals.

A lot of their cities are subjected to bombardment on a reasonably regular basis. As we’re still seeing in the news, attacks lead to casualties of war, some of which are military, but many are everyday people.

Often civilian hospitals treat both civilian and military casualties, as many frontline fighters are transferred from military hospitals to make space for the next round of injured.”

The destruction of conflict – Kharkiv following missile attack in 2022.

Unrivalled education

Witnessing my first surgical training course in action – there is no doubt it is world-leading education.

"It was fascinating to be able to see the real value that the David Nott Foundation can add to the skills of medical professionals forced by circumstance to react to the challenges presented by armed conflict. It’s world-class education delivered by seasoned practitioners, and based on years of accumulation of course materials and conflict-specific skills.

The combination of experience within the training faculty, course material quality and the practical sessions with Heston, our human body war wound simulator, enables demonstrations that otherwise aren’t possible in Ukraine,” continued Tim.

Cadavers cannot be used for teaching in Ukraine, and our war wound model has been described by surgeons as even more effective than cadaver training.

Some shared that they’ve never had access to such state-of-the-art materials and were excited to be able to take our hand-made silicone hearts back to their hospitals to continue their practice of cardiac suture repair.

Ukrainian doctors practicing cardiac repairs using our cutting-edge heart and pericardium models.

Remnants of war

Although the likelihood of active conflict in Kyiv has lessened, remnants of war can be seen in and around the city. Air raids are a common backdrop, often ignored by locals as they try to continue with their everyday lives.

On the road from Lviv into Kyiv, you can see signs of Ukrainian defence. Minefield markings, skull and cross bone signs and string between trees signpost dangerous land.

On the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, approximately 40 Russian military vehicles had been lined up along the main street. A sign that although life goes on in Kyiv, national pride and the community’s acknowledgement of their country’s continued battle remains.

“We aim to continue to develop this world-class training, such that we can continue to deliver training in the world’s most challenging environments, enabling medical professionals to enhance their skills whilst remaining close to where they are most needed", shared Tim.

"We will develop our offering to include new modules on hospital management and surgical nursing and are in the process of building a second synthetic full-body simulator and of increasing the scale of our teaching faculty.  Taken together, this should enable us to increase the scale, scope and quality of our future interventions. Thank you to our supporters for helping to make these dreams a reality.”

See our training in action


Apply for our new Programmes Officer role

Job Title: Programmes Officer at the David Nott Foundation

Summary: This role will support the planning, delivery, and evaluation of overseas Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) courses and to lead on administration for train-the-trainer and Humanitarian Sector Surgical Training (HSST) courses run within the UK. The role holder will be the lead officer for managing the supply chain for programme activity, maintaining an inventory of training materials, developing equipment manifests, procuring items in short supply, liaising with logistics contractors for international movements, and accounting for items on a routine basis. The programmes officer will also provide staff and administrative support to a range of other initiatives within the Foundation, as required. This could include helping to plan and deliver events for staff and volunteers, maintaining volunteer databases, supporting office administration, and helping fundraising and communications functions.

Accountability: Initially, this role will be accountable to the Chief Operating Officer.

The David Nott Foundation is a UK registered charity which trains doctors in the surgical skills they need to be able to provide relief and assistance in areas affected by conflict and catastrophe worldwide.

Responsibilities:

Programme Development

  • Assist in the planning of overseas Hostile Environment Surgical Training missions and help lead the planning and pre-course administration of the UK-based Humanitarian Sector Surgical Training and Train the Trainer courses.
  • Manage the Foundation’s HEST course training equipment including procurement, management and repair.
  • Manage course logistics including booking of venues, travel bookings, security planning, visa and passport applications, elucidating vaccination requirements, and preparation/shipment/customs clearance of training materials. Assist in any other pre-course preparation required by programme managers.
  • Support post-training evaluation for all courses to include student feedback and end of mission
    reports.

Programme Delivery

  • Deploy to high-risk countries, occasionally at short notice, to help administer course delivery.
  • Provide direct administrative support to the course director for all UK-based courses.

Fundraising

  • Input donor data into the Donorfy customer relationship management tool in support of the Fundraising Manager.
  • Draft and dispatch thank you letters to donors and supporters.
  • Dispatch merchandise and fundraising packs to supporters.

Communications

  • Design and schedule social media content in support of the Head of Communications.
  • Manage the enquiries inbox ([email protected]) and telephone.
  • Draft, for approval, a monthly communications/programmes update email.
  • Draft a monthly David Nott Foundation supporter newsletter.
  • Upload news stories to the Foundation’s website.

Administration

  • Support the executive team in monitoring the progress of key projects and initiatives.
  • Work with the Finance Manager to keep track of invoices and payments for teaching equipment and other course expenditures.
  • Manage office administration, e.g., booking of taxis, purchase of office supplies etc.

Other administrative tasks as required.

Person Specification

Over and above anything else, we are interested in providing an opportunity to someone from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who wishes to enter the humanitarian sector and who has not had the benefit of privilege in their upbringing. Desirable qualifications, skills, attributes, and experience might include:

  • Knowledge of, and keen interest in, public health, current affairs, the humanitarian sector, and
    international relations.
  • Ability, personal resilience, and willingness to travel to high-risk countries to facilitate HEST
    training, which – as things stand – involves approximately 7 weeks of international and 2 weeks
    of national travel per year.
  • Willingness to travel outside of normal office hours.
  • Proven ability to manage own workload, organising and prioritising tasks to meet deadlines.
  • Good communication, interpersonal and writing skills.
  • An ability to manage time-sensitive work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent organisational skills with an ability to establish tools for effective workload
    management.
  • Willingness to grow with the role.

In common with all staff, the role holder will need to commit to:

  • Acting with honesty and integrity at all times.
  • Demonstrating respect for others through consideration and empathy in all communications with colleagues and external stakeholders.
  • Making an active contribution to developing the Foundation.
  • Being receptive to feedback, learning from experience and others, and sharing experience and knowledge.
  • Keeping others informed of issues which they need to be aware of because of their role and
    responsibilities.
  • Consciously reviewing mistakes and successes to improve performance.
  • Using discretion and being aware of issues requiring confidentiality.

The role holder must have the right to live and work in the UK, and they must not have any
restrictions on their international travel through dual nationality or an entry ban in any country
within which the Foundation might, in future, operate.

Salary: £26000-£28000, depending on skills, attributes, and experience, plus an annual personal development fund of £2000 and membership of a workplace pension scheme.

Contract Length: Permanent, with an initial probationary period of three months.

Application Details: To apply, please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) stating why you want this opportunity and detailing how you meet the person specification above. State if you live in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and whether you were a recipient of free school meals. This information will remain confidential. Please send all applications to [email protected] quoting ‘Programmes Officer’ in the subject line.

Application deadline: Midnight 29 September 2023