About Mary's Place® CIC
Supporting newly qualified professionals as they navigate one of the most important transitions in their career
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Welcome to Mary’s Place®.
Our purpose is to support newly qualified nurses, midwives, nursing associates and allied health professionals as they make the transition from student to professional.
Who are we?
Mary’s Place® was founded by Julie Bilboe-Crane, a nurse, educator, and coach with over 35 years’ experience in healthcare and higher education.
Julie has worked extensively with students and newly qualified professionals, supporting them through the transition into practice and developing a deep understanding of the challenges this stage can bring.
Her work brings together clinical experience, education, and coaching to offer support that is both practical, reflective, and grounded in the realities of healthcare.
Dr Victoria Wilson-Crane is an Educational Innovator whose PhD research explored transition in college students. Alongside her role as Director of Student Learning at Kaplan International Pathways, Vic contributes to the development and delivery of Mary’s Place®.
Julie and Vic are sisters, and their work is grounded in a shared interest in transition, learning, and human development.
Our purpose
We believe that the transition from student to professional is not just about developing clinical skills, it is also about navigating responsibility, identity, and pressure.
Mary’s Place® exists to provide space, support, and guidance during this time, helping individuals to feel less alone, more confident, and better able to move forward.
Our philosophy
We recognise that healthcare can be challenging.
Whilst we cannot always change the situations we find ourselves in, we can develop awareness of how we respond to them.
However, this is not always straightforward.
Choice is only available to us when:
- we recognise that we have a choice
- and we have enough space and energy to think clearly
At Mary’s Place®, one of our key messages is that you cannot pour from an empty cup.
By developing the habit of looking after yourself, you are better positioned to look after others: both service users and colleagues.
Why Mary's Place® exists
Mary’s Place® was created in response to what was seen time and time again in practice.
Newly qualified professionals stepping into demanding roles, often carrying significant responsibility early on, and managing this whilst appearing as though they were coping.
Through years of work in healthcare and education, it became clear that this stage of transition is not only professionally challenging, but personally significant.
At times, highly trained individuals leave their chosen profession, not because they are not capable, but because it has simply become too much.
Mary’s Place® offers something different: a space to pause, reflect, and make sense of the experience, rather than simply pushing through.
At an organisational level, this work supports staff retention.
For individuals, it supports clearer, more grounded decision-making.
The work is also informed by personal experience. Julie and Vic have both navigated significant life transitions.
The most profound of these, and the inspiration behind Mary’s Place, was the loss of Julie’s daughter and Vic’s niece, Mary-Lou. Her memory continues to shape the values and intention behind Mary’s Place.
Our Team
Our core delivery team comprises Julie and Vic.
We also work with a small network of qualified yoga teachers, coaches, and other professionals who align with the Mary’s Place® approach and values.
Mary's Place® is further supported by the following CIC Directors:
Chris Bilboe
Alison Booth (Director of Finance)
Louisa MacDonald
Megan-Lily McVey
What this looks like in practice
Our work is delivered in a number of different ways, depending on the needs of individuals and organisations.
1:1 Coaching Sessions
Personalised support to help you navigate the early stages of your career, make sense of your experience, and feel more confident in your role.
Many people come feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or questioning whether healthcare is right for them.
Coaching provides a space to pause, reflect, remember what you CAN do and make a plan for what needs support.
It is OK to not be OK.
Peer support
Mary's Place® Online offers a supportive space to connect with others who understand the realities of early practice.
Many people can feel alone in what they are experiencing, even when surrounded by others at work.
The community offers a place to share, reflect, and feel less isolated, helping you to recognise that what you’re experiencing can be uncomfortable - but normal. Experienced staff who can share helpful insights are welcome.
Well-being Retreat Days
Our signature Mary’s Place® offer, providing dedicated time away from the day-to-day to pause, reflect, and reset.
These uniquely structured days combine guided reflection and restorative practices with coaching-informed support enabling staff to feel more grounded, calm and with a renewed sense of positivity about their role.
We offer retreat days independently or as part of preceptorship programmes.
Mary's Place® in action...
If you’d like to find out more, you’re very welcome to get in touch
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