Two volunteer stories, one shared vision – make an impact on your community
If you’re ready to take the next step in your professional journey, while making a real difference, our newly-launched practice, professional and regional networks in RCOT Communities are designed to foster a thriving and united profession – and we need volunteers with passion, energy and purpose to make them a success.
Whether you’re looking to grow your leadership skills, connect with peers, or influence the future of occupational therapy, there’s a role for you. Volunteering with us is more than a personal development opportunity – it’s your chance to contribute to something bigger.
Becoming a volunteer allows you to shape how occupational therapists connect, collaborate and innovate. Our volunteers play an essential part in creating vibrant communities, where learning, sharing and growing together are at the heart.
By joining us, you’ll lead change within your professional community, gain leadership and networking experience that counts towards CPD and make connections that last a lifetime. You’ll also help amplify the voice of occupational therapy in a wide range of settings.
It's a platform for change... When I first moved into learning disabilities, I was desperate to meet others doing the same, but it wasn’t always easy. So I hope the new communities will give me and others that direct link to a huge pool of experience and knowledge.
Scott Gethings, Network Lead – Learning Disabilities Network
We spoke to two of our Network Leads to understand the real impact of volunteering with RCOT.
Scott Gethings is Network Lead of the new Learning Disabilities Network, and Elizabeth Jackson is Network Lead for the Neurological Network. Both bring different experiences and motivations to their roles, but share a passion for championing occupational therapy.
At first, Scott says he wasn’t sure he had the right experience to step forward, but a conversation with a respected colleague helped him to see the value in trying. ‘I told myself I couldn’t do it, but I remembered being told that occupational therapists can sometimes be hesitant to put themselves forward,’ he says. ‘I decided to be bold and take the leap.’
For Scott, the volunteer role is about more than personal growth – it’s also about advocating for people with learning disabilities, who often experience unequal treatment and misunderstanding in healthcare.
Encouraging every OT to join the networks, Scott says: ‘People with a learning disability do not exist in segregated communities, so I feel at some point in every OT’s career they are going to come across a patient with this diagnosis.
Knowing how to support, understand and advocate for people with a learning disability is an essential tool in everyone’s professional toolbox and will also lead to better occupational justice for those with a learning disability, who can so regularly have poorer experiences within health and other services. I would encourage everyone to join those of us who work with this population regularly and share in the expertise I know will be present.
But the network Scott leads isn’t just a community, he stresses, it’s a platform for change. Scott hopes it will allow for learning, research and collaboration across professional boundaries, breaking down silos in the process.
‘When I first moved into learning disabilities, I was desperate to meet others doing the same, but it wasn’t always easy,’ he reflects. ‘So I hope the new communities will give me and others that direct link to a huge pool of experience and knowledge.’
He adds: ‘We know that, in most instances, being a member of just one network is unlikely to give us all the connectivity and CPD opportunities to fully excel in our roles. For example, I work with children, young people and families in a mental health trust, so I’ll be keen to be part of their networks and collaborate on projects there as well.
‘I also look forward to connecting with the acute and emergency care, inclusive built environments, social care, and other networks, as I know these are areas of professional growth for my own clinical work.’
Elizabeth shares a similar story of initial doubt, followed by confidence found through community, saying:
You don’t need to be an expert – just passionate ... I was nervous when applying for the role. I didn’t think I’d be good enough. But I was accepted and have been so well supported by the Communities Team at RCOT, I feel that my contributions are respected and appreciated.
Elizabeth’s motivation was simple: a desire to help herself and others grow. Volunteering has brought her professional friendships and access to opportunities she says she would never have known about otherwise.
‘I wanted to develop a supportive network for my own professional growth and to support growth in others within the profession,’ she says. ‘I am passionate about advocating for the value of occupational therapy and the importance of meaningful occupation, dignity in risk and enabling people to live their best lives.’
She adds: ‘I’m excited to have this national network of occupational therapists at my fingertips. The opportunity for a safe and supportive space, where we can develop one another through shared experience, ask complex questions, and develop a sense of accessibility, to support training and CPD when I am able to, in a flexible way, is what I’m looking forward to most.’
The Neurological Community Network’s vision is one of shared learning, flexible development and professional advocacy: ‘‘I hope the network will become a mechanism for growth and development of shared research questions and projects, creativity, advocacy for the profession and for the people we work with,’ Elizabeth says.
Why volunteer with us?
Our new communities are designed with flexibility in mind. Each practice network has a variety of lead and co-ordinator roles, with practice network leads, and lead and co-ordinator roles focused on community engagement, equity, diversity and belonging (EDB), innovation, learning and development, occupation, research and specialisms.
Regional networks mirror this structure, with regional network leads, community engagement leads and co-ordinators, and EDB leads and co-ordinators.
Some roles can be shared to suit availability, and more roles will be introduced as the communities grow. If you don’t see a role that feels like the right fit yet, don’t worry – this is just the start. Your ideas and feedback will help shape what comes next.
Who can apply?
All RCOT members are welcome to get involved, whether you’re an experienced volunteer or completely new to this kind of opportunity. The initial lead and co-ordinator roles will require around 10–12 hours a month, but there will soon be additional options for those with less time.
Both Scott and Elizabeth recognise there can be challenges in connecting with the wider profession. But both agree that the new RCOT Communities platform is a step in the right direction.
‘I’m hopeful that this new platform provides a dedicated professional space that allows us to focus purely on networking and sharing our experience and projects. Finding each other can be hard and largely relies on word of mouth and coincidence; it’s also reliant on us being able to attend monthly virtual meetings at set times.
‘I hope the networks make us all much more accessible and easier to find, and that our wealth of information can be shared, regardless of working patterns and capacity.’
Elizabeth wholeheartedly agrees.
Having a dedicated platform for accessibility to CPD and training opportunities will enable flexible learning that can meet the needs of the professionals accessing the learning and the volunteers creating the learning materials. The improved oversight and integration with RCOT’s Communities Team will ensure that there are high quality CPD opportunities that are aligned with national priorities and the needs of the occupational therapy profession.
Your profession needs you
Both volunteers are keen to stress that you don’t need to have all the answers – just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.
Scott encourages people to recognise the skills they already have, saying that if you’re passionate and have time to give, you already have what’s needed. ‘Do it!’ he exclaims.
‘Everyone is allowed to try something new and even if you discover it wasn’t what you expected, or don’t have as much time as you thought, you will still have learnt something, and the profession will have gained in some way from your willingness to give it a try.
‘Ask yourself, if you were your own patient, would you be encouraging yourself to take a positive risk and have a go at that new occupation?’
So, if you’ve been waiting for the right time to get involved, this is it. Whether you’re looking to lead, support or simply connect, RCOT Communities is here to help you grow – and help occupational therapy flourish.
We're actively looking for leads and community engagement roles in the following regions:
- London
- Scottish Eastern
- Scottish Northern
- Scottish Western
- South West
- West Midlands.
We also need more volunteers in our practice networks:
- Acute and emergency care*
- Healthy ageing*
- Neurological practice
- Children, young people and families
- Inclusive built environments*
- Oncology
- Dementia care*
- Learning disabilities
- Palliative and end of life care
- Frailty*
- Long-term conditions
- Primary care
- Health and work
- Mental health*
- Social care
*These practice networks need Leads.
We have a range of roles available in all our networks, including the Community Engagement role. You don't have to do it alone; all lead and coordinator roles (except the Network Lead role) can be shared with other members.
There’s a role to suit every level of time commitment and interest. Find out more about all the roles and opportunities available and how to sign up at rcot.co.uk/latest-news/join-our-vibrant-community-volunteers
This piece was first published in OTnews in May 2025.