We shared as many of your practice examples and personal experiences as our pages would allow , and we will continue to provide you with a platform to showcase your service innovations and developments , personal experiences and service user stories throughout 2021 .
The January issue traditionally carries RCOT ’ s annual review , and this issue is no different . Starting on page 51 , with a huge ‘ thank you ’ to all our members and all health and care workers for their dedication in 2020 , the annual review has messages from chief executive Julia Scott and chair of council Professor Diane Cox , alongside a look at all the work RCOT has achieved over the year , regardless of the pandemic .
Back to features , and there ’ s a lot in this issue about the importance of keeping active . On page 18 , and based on her experience at charity Sheffield Mind as their Get Set to Go co-ordinator , Janet Paske shares her experience of supporting people with mental health challenges to be more active . She also offers some ‘ top tips ’ for what you can do to help people in the same situation .
Having planned a new outdoor therapy group programme for adolescents with mental health difficulties , the programme had to be amended when the COVID-19 pandemic struck . Clare Gardiner looks at the outcomes on page 38 .
And while Spring and all thoughts of gardening might seem a long way away , it ’ s never too early to start preparing for the change in seasons . On page 46 , Astrid Cooper shares her reflections on a project to promote positive wellbeing through social and therapeutic horticultural activities at a mental health inpatient unit for older people .
And of course the pandemic looks set to impact the profession long into the new year . In this issue we talk to Clare Pearsall , a band seven occupational therapist at Heartlands Hospital , University Hospitals Birmingham Trust . For many years Clare has worked on a hyper acute stroke unit and treating outlier neurological patients . At the start of the pandemic , she found herself working with a whole new patient group . Turn to page 24 to find out how a COVID-19 outreach service was developed and how Clare contributed to its delivery .
And if 2021 is the year that you want to take on a new challenge there are so many opportunities available and advertised in this issue : could this be the year that you become a BAOT union steward ? What about considering standing for election to RCOT ’ s governing councils ? Or perhaps the vacancies on the RCOT Boards : Learning and Development and Research and Development , or on one of our four RCOT Country Boards would be more up your street ? We are even seeking specific individuals to join the RCOT Publications Group .
We hope you enjoy the issue . We received so much positive feedback last year , and we are always looking to share new and exciting service developments and innovations . So why not make 2021 the year that you share your work with the wider occupational therapy community ? editor ’ s comment
Tracey Samuels , Editor
If you have any feedback about this issue of OTnews , or would like to contribute a short article or feature for a future publication , please email me at : editorial @ rcot . co . uk