Fundamentals in Athletics takes home top AHP award
The programme provides an opportunity to engage in fun , purposeful , outdoor , sporting activity to promote functional gains and improved mental health .”
Left : Fundamentals in Athletics collected their award at a special lunch held at the Park Plaza in London in April
Occupational therapist Clare Gardiner , advanced practice physiotherapist Lynsey Cunningham , and athletics coach Lee Campbell have taken home the Chroma award for AHPs ( including arts therapists ) working with people who have mental health problems , at this year ’ s Advancing Healthcare Awards .
The trio scooped the award for Fundamentals in Athletics , a group physiotherapy intervention that incorporates athletics as a therapeutic medium for young people experiencing motor skill impairment , some with underlying mental health issues .
The programme provides an opportunity to engage in fun , purposeful , outdoor , sporting activity to promote functional gains and improved mental health .
Clare , an occupational therapist with 20 years ’ experience working with children , currently works for the health development team in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust as the manager of SET Outdoors .
‘ The aim of SET Outdoors is to work with children ’ s services across our trust to help staff incorporate outdoor , nature-based and / or animal facilitated activities into their everyday practice via group sessions ,’ she explains .
‘ All of our projects are co-produced and cofacilitated with a staff member and an outdoor or animal “ expert ”. My role as SET Outdoors manager utilises my occupational therapy skills of activity planning and analysis to allow me to project manage a wide variety of programmes , from equine facilitated therapy , to horticulture and sports-based activities , with children across the developmental spectrum .’
For this award-winning project , SET Outdoors teamed up with physiotherapy colleagues to co-produce an athletics programme . Lynsey delivered her physiotherapy intervention in partnership with Lee , who is a UK Athletics Full Coach and Special Olympics Head Athletics Coach .
The programme originally came about because Lynsey had a cohort of patients who were struggling to engage in traditional clinic-based physiotherapy treatment and who were struggling with their emotional wellbeing .
The young people were reporting high levels of pain and fatigue alongside loneliness , isolation and low mood .
Clare adds : ‘ My role was to agree on the appropriate therapeutic medium / activity with Lynsey , source a suitably qualified athletics coach , book and fund the athletics track facilities , chair planning meetings , develop the programme plan , evaluate the results and collate the information in a report .
‘ Lynsey and Lee skilfully co-delivered the sessions and engaged the young people in a meaningful and motivating programme .’
8 OTnews June 2022