Sport for Confidence Hosts Inaugural Moving OT's Sharing Event

As part of the national MovingOTs agenda, Sport For Confidence hosted its first professional sharing event at Basildon Sporting Village, bringing together allied health professionals, students and partners to explore the ‘therapeutic value of physical activity’. 

 

The event took place on November 30, 2023, and attracted more than 50 attendees including occupational therapists, occupational therapy students and national partners, all keen to explore how physical activity can be successfully embedded into their practice settings. 

 

Driven by educational content and evidence-based research supported by examples of successful implementation models developed by Sport For Confidence, the day encouraged discussion and conversation around how physical activity can be used to promote health and prevent ill health for disabled people and/or those with long term health conditions. 

 

Lyndsey Barrett, founder of Sport For Confidence and MovingOTs founding member, says: “The event invited attendees to experience the evidence-based, therapeutic benefits of cycling, snooker, table tennis, and boccia and to understand how these sports and physical activity generally could be integrated into a variety of practice setting to promote positive occupational outcomes for participants. 

 

“At Sport For Confidence, our Occupational Therapists work alongside sports coaches to deliver physical activity-based interventions in community settings across Essex and London. Through our work, we are seeing hugely positive outcomes in participants including improvements in self-confidence, occupational performance skills and communication as well as improvements in strength, balance and mobility. All of these support happiness, health and wellbeing whilst encouraging participants to reengage with their community and make meaningful connections. 

 

“This Moving OTs event was all about sharing our experience and helping others understand how they could embed physical activity into their care and therapeutic approaches, enhancing the valuable contribution allied health professionals can make in the communities they serve.” 

 

The event was part of the Sport For Confidence national MovingOTs programme, organised in partnership with The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), Sport England and Everyone Active. 

 

Ian Cotton, Group Aquatics and Activity Manager for Everyone Active attended the event and says: “It was great to be able to be part of the day and see the positive impact that work between occupational therapists and sports coaches can have. Everyone Active is delighted to be working in partnership with Sport for Confidence at a number of centres, and to see the positive impact that sport and physical activity has on the participants.” 

 

Attendee Amy Taylor - Occupational Therapy Student at Salford University shared -  

 

“The event was a fantastic opportunity to meet other people who shared the same interest and passion for sport and physical activity, and how it can add value to people's lives, and our profession. It was fun, informative, and also a great confidence boost and validating experience for my own personal development. The Sport for Confidence team were also very welcoming, supportive and genuinely interested in your experiences and perspectives. Definitely worth the 5 hour car journey!” 

 

The MovingOTs programme is a growing community of practicing occupational therapists and students who believe in the power of physical activity and share the concern that physical inactivity is a global public health problem. In addition to physical events like this sharing event, the community also runs regular virtual meetings, providing opportunities to share ideas and examples of best practice. 

Speaking about the event, a participant says: “Great day. Enjoyed all the practical aspects and can see why clients would enjoy participating. Definitely plan to share with my multi-disciplinary team and see how we can develop our practice with amputee client group.” 

 

For more information on Moving OTs and to join the community of practice please email - movingots@sportforconfidence.com