Meet our new Occupational Therapist - Michelle Armitt

Michelle Armitt joined the team towards the end of 2022 as an Occupational Therapist in our National team as well as working in leisure centres as part of our delivery team. She was the first Occupational Therapy student to have her placement with Sport for Confidence and we are thrilled that she is now a permanent member of the team! 

 

We sat down with Michelle for a chat about Occupational Therapy and her role at Sport for Confidence. 

 

Hi Michelle! 

 

- You were our very first OT Student here at Sport for Confidence! Can you tell us a little bit about how your placement came about? 

 

“I saw an article in a Chelmsford magazine saying there was an occupational therapist working in the local leisure centre, which was a new setting for an OT to work in at the time. 

 

Luckily SFC were already in contact with the university with plans to take students on placement, so I requested a placement and kept my fingers crossed. Happily it turned out Megan Potts, the lead Occupational Therapist at Riverside in Chelmsford, became my educator.” 

 

 

- What made you want to embark on a career as an Occupational Therapist? 

 

“Occupational therapy presented itself to me later in my career, exactly at the right time! 

 

I was fortunate to have a friend whose sister was an OT in a local team working with clients with a learning disability. She generously offered a couple of days for me to shadow her. 

We spent time visiting clients at home and running activity and social skills groups at a day centre. Being with the clients, supporting them to grow their skills and confidence and seeing what the OT role had to offer had me hooked. 

 

Reflecting now, my previous roles in education and student support also helped me to see OT was the perfect fit!” 

 

- So far, what has been the most enjoyable aspect of your role at Sport for Confidence? 

 

“I love the contact with participants in groups on delivery days and building a relationship with them. Welcoming new participants and supporting that social connection, seeing their enjoyment and achievement in the activity they have chosen. Working one to one with clients on their goals is rewarding; seeing them grow and change inside and outside of sessions is fantastic. There’s nothing else like it! 

 

Equally, I enjoy the variety of the working week being part of the national team supporting students’ learning and universities with student placements. I am genuinely thrilled to be a small part of such a wonderful team, whose hearts are collectively in what Sport for Confidence does.” 

 

- What would your advice be to anyone thinking of a career in Occupational Therapy? 

 

“To take some time to research and understand occupational therapy, and where it could lead you. RCOT’s website chooseOT.co.uk is a good place to start. 

Try to make contact with as many occupational therapists and other allied health professions we work alongside, and seek shadowing opportunities where possible. It’s really helpful to see OT in action because of the breadth of career pathways it offers.” 

 

- What would your 3 essential desert island items be? 

 

“My cat Lily, my Spotify playlists and a Bear Grylls survival guide!” 

 

Welcome to Sport for Confidence, Michelle! 

 

Meet the rest of the team here