My 11 top tips for a Fellowship Journey

1. Plan, plan, plan. Nothing pays like preparation. You only have a limited amount of time on your Fellowship travels so use it wisely. Do your research and prepare as much as you can in advance. But remember to leave time in your schedule for those unexpected opportunities that will come up along on the way.
2. Knock on doors. Be ambitious and aim high. If there’s an organisation or a person you really want to talk to, reach out to them. The worst thing they can say is “no”. The Churchill Fellowship name will open a lot of doors! Always remember, people love to talk – all you have to do is ask.
3. Take some down time. But not too much… Your Churchill Fellowship is a once in a lifetime opportunity so remember to make the most of it.
4. Throw yourself in. I think there’s a limit to what you can learn by observing. Don't be afraid to get involved, try something new, stept out of your comfort zone – that’s a big part of learning. Remember your skills, knowledge and insights have value too so consider offering your services in return. I did a lot of teaching on my Fellowship and it was some of the best experiences I had.
5. Record, record, record! Record as much as you can as you go along. The time will fly by, and the experiences will mount up. The only way to capture everything is to record as much as you can as you go along. You can do it in any way you like – photos, voice notes, journal, film.
6. When you get back you will be buzzing. When you return you will be full of energy and ideas. That’s a good thing! In fact, it’s really important. You are going to need that energy. Bore your colleagues – it’s OK! Remember that all the energy a plant needs to grow is contained within a little seed.
7. Pace yourself. Don’t try to do everything at once. Some things will take time and your Fellowship is for life. Back to my plant analogy – a plant that grows too quickly can run out of energy so make sure you establish roots and take your time.
8. Do your report (in any format). I always tell new Fellows the report is not just a requirement of your Fellowship, it’s a really important and useful tool for you. It’s a way of organising all your thoughts, ideas, and experiences. I created a film for my report as that’s what worked best for me.
9. Aim high and be ambitious. Never forget or be in any doubt - you can change things. You can make a difference. That’s why you have been awarded a Fellowship.
10. Don’t panic…It’s not all plain sailing. If things don’t happen in the first six weeks or six months, don’t panic. Things take time. You never know the moment all your Fellowship learning and experience is going to kick in. It’s important to remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint.
11. Smile! I’m a firm believer that a smile will get you further than anything else in life. For those at the start of a Fellowship, you have every reason to smile. You are at the beginning of a tremendously exciting adventure.

Good luck!!