The rcbcwales Community of Scholars was formed in September 2006 to facilitate interaction, collaboration and between PhD and Postdoctoral Fellows and their supervisors and mentors. It meets regularly for the purposes of networking, training, free exchange of research ideas and debate.

Frequency of meetings

The Community of Scholars meets every two months (apart from August). An annual Showcase conference is held for the wider dissemination of information about rcbcwales-funded projects within Wales. However, it is envisaged that there will be close links with Fellows from the other three countries within the United Kingdom and may include Scholars from other countries especially from within the European Union.

Location of meetings

Meetings are held in various locations convenient and fitting to a learning environment for the Fellows located in different areas in Wales. The venue is rotated around each of the HEIs affiliated to the scheme.

Community of Scholars training programme

Fellows attend a high-quality training programme bespoke to their needs as researchers and leaders. This programme is delivered to complement any personal training programmes agreed with individual supervisors and mentors. The training is free of charge to rcbcwales Fellows. Other postgraduate researchers may be invited to attend selected meetings at a nominal fee. Fellows are also eligible to attend CRC Cymru training sessions.

Training programme components

Training is a vital component in the development of the research capability of future researchers in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions in Wales. Therefore, a comprehensive programme is delivered to widen the knowledge and skills of the Fellows by way of a bespoke Masterclass Programme. Dr Rachel Iredale, the academic facilitator, organises speakers, background reading material and evaluations of each session. Subjects covered include:

• Writing for publication
• Grant applications
• Qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• Qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Research governance and ethics
• Project and Budget management
• IT competence
• Presentation skills
• Media presentation skills
• Political awareness/influencing
• Leadership

Community of Scholars trainers

Training is provided by external internationally recognised speakers, expert methodologists and academic members of the Partnership commissioned by rcbcwales. To date training sessions have been as follows:

Date	Venue	Topic	Speakers
15th March	Cardiff (Heath)	Ethics and Research Governance	Rosamund Howell
17th May 2007	UWIC	Project Management:     Discrete projects including budgeting, scheduling     Project Teams including conflict management	Annette Lankshear Ann Yeomans
5th July 2007	Swansea	Innovation in Research	Gary Rolfe Marcus Longley
20-21st September (noon to noon)	Gregynog	Leadership	Donna Mead Melanie Jasper Maggie Kirk Terry Dennis, Healthcare Alliances
8th November 2007	NEWI	Patient Involvement and Hard-to-Reach Groups	Ros Carnwell Sally Baker Julian Buchanan Bryan Collis Reginald Griffiths Pat Povah
17th January 2008	Glamorgan	Media Training	Peter Johnson Sian Pari Huws Lowri Newman