Our Annual Awards offer funding for occupational therapy students, learners and practitioners to be able to take part in research, learning and development activities such as professional development, overseas placements, service improvement and research projects.
We’re inspired by how much our members innovate and dedicate themselves to the occupational therapy profession. This year, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve awarded a total of over £14,000 across eight awards to 10 worthy recipients. Learn more about our 2023 winners below.
The Barbara Tyldesley Student Award – This award provides support for a UK pre-registration student or learner member’s participation in a role emerging or research placement, an approved practice placement overseas or involvement in a global health project.
- Ciara Sherry – Role Emerging Placement in a Cambodian School for Children and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities.
The Constance Owens Early Researcher Award – This award enables an individual occupational therapist at an early stage of their research career development to begin to participate in research, through pilot or preliminary research activity relevant to occupational therapy.
- Tracey Elder – Feasibility testing of vocational rehabilitation intervention to support people with multiple sclerosis at work.
The Constance Owens Liverpool Award for Service Development – This award provides support to a member participating in a service development activity or project, likely to have an impact on outcomes for people who access service/carers, occupational therapy service effectiveness and professional practice.
- Bryony Helen Gettins – Holding my own destiny: Person-centred shared goal sheets.
- Lucie Johnson – Therapeutic Gardening group for the Sudbury Community.
Innovation Award – This award provides support for an innovative or developmental project or activity likely to have an impact on people who access occupational therapy services/carers and the profession.
- Sara Thelwell – Turn Only Once Bed Care Concept.
Institute of Social Psychiatry Award – This award provides support towards a research or developmental project/activity in a topic relevant to occupational therapy and mental health that demonstrates relevance to social psychiatry.
- Lucie Johnson – Therapeutic Gardening group for the Sudbury Community.
International Activity Award – This award provides support towards a member’s active participation in an overseas activity, including virtual/online participation.
- Natalie Victoria Robertson – Post Graduate Certificate in Sensory Integration.
- Elspeth Clark – Attendance at the Nordic Network of Disability Research (NNDR) conference.
Pearson Award – This award provides support for a professional or student/learner member towards an activity that forms part of their education, research or continuing professional development.
- Eve Ovenden – Paediatric Sleep Training for Occupational Therapists.
The Tunstall Award for Technology Innovation in Occupational Therapy – This award supports the innovative use of existing digital technology to support individuals, communities or occupational therapy service delivery in a real-world setting,
- Alicia Ridout – Building the flow: digital road mapping for practice education support.
A huge congratulations to our winners. You’ll hear more about how the awards benefitted them as the year goes on, and we look forward to celebrating them at our annual Celebration of Excellence event in the Autumn.
We have had some fantastic applications for the RCOT Annual Awards this year. I’d like to give my warmest congratulations to all the winners and look forward to seeing the outcomes of their projects and CPD activities. The impact of the annual awards grows each year. Although it might seem daunting to apply, I really would encourage all our members to think about applying whatever stage of career development they are at and to take up these developmental opportunities.
– Dr Gillian Ward, Research and Development Manager, RCOT
For more information about our Annual Awards, previous winners and project reports you can visit our Research and Development page.
FAQs
How are the recipients chosen?
Once anonymised, the applications are independently reviewed by an external and an internal RCOT assessor. The Annual Awards panel meets in January each year to decide on the funding based on the independent reviews. The panel is chaired by our Chair of Council.
How are the applications anonymised?
All identifying information is removed from the application before to sending it for review.
What will the winners receive?
Each recipient receives a specific amount of money, specified by the award and the decided by the panel. Recipients will be recognised on our website, social media, in our magazine OTnews and in a printed publication for our Celebration of Excellence Awards event. Some externally sponsored award winners may be promoted by sponsors.
When do applications open for the 2024 Annual Awards?
Applications for the 2024 Annual Awards have not opened yet. The call normally opens in August each year. We will announce on our website, social media, in our magazine OTnews and a dedicated email once these have been opened.