message from the
CHAIRMAN
What a year 2021 has been . Throughout the year , RCOT has been striving to promote the fantastic work you do and increase the value and profile of the profession . It ’ s amazing to look back and see just how much we have achieved together .
Currently , with 35,000 members across the UK , our voice as a professional body has never been stronger or louder . Over 100,000 people are visiting our website each month .
We started the year by welcoming our new chief executive , Steve Ford . Steve has been a fantastic addition to RCOT and he has been busy finding out about the great work you are doing across the UK with his # TalktoSteve conversations .
Steve has also been working on RCOT ’ s new strategy , which we ’ re excited to share in 2022 . As well as becoming more diverse as a membership body , we will be looking to be on the front foot , lobbying for the issues that affect our members . We want RCOT to look and feel more like the community we know we are .
The COVID-19 pandemic sadly continues . 2021 has been an extremely challenging year , which has seen you working in unprecedented circumstances . Many of you have been on the frontline supporting people with the virus .
It ’ s also shone a light on the importance and need for occupational therapy across the UK and I am immensely proud of the work our members are doing .
On a positive note , 2021 saw not just one , but two , Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lectures . In April , Dr Jenny Preston MBE ( postponed from 2020 ) spoke about ‘ Re-engineering truth and certainty in occupational therapy ’.
In November , Dr Anita Atwal gave her lecture , ‘ No barriers to brilliance : social and creative courage to innovate and disrupt occupational therapy practice ’. For the first time , the lectures were held online and we were joined by members from across the UK in real time and through the recordings . Both lectures were a huge success and your feedback has been brilliant .
It was also fantastic to see so many of you at our Annual Conference , also held online for the first time . Over 1,600 occupational therapy professionals and learners took part . It featured an impressive line-up of speakers , including Professor Sir Michael G Marmot , who spoke passionately about health equity , and Professor Sally Singh who discussed digital interventions and rehabilitation .
RCOT wants to lead the way in making occupational therapy a more inclusive profession . Diversity is everything that makes each one of us unique and I was delighted to welcome Kalimah Ibrahiim onto our Council . Our ambition is to make each and every member feel that they belong and their voice will be heard .
I wish you all a fantastic 2022 .
Professor Diane Cox , RCOT chair of council
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