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News
OT-founded Sport for Confidence celebrates a decade of breaking down barriers
Sport for Confidence CIC is celebrating 10 years of working across systems to break down barriers, challenge inequality and embed inclusive access to physical activity in everyday life.
Founded in 2015, the company was created to bring together the expertise of occupational therapists, the physical activity workforce, and individuals with lived experience, to tackle persistent inequalities in access to physical activity and sport.
From the outset, the company’ s vision has been to narrow the gap in occupational, health and social outcomes, by embedding inclusive, personcentred practice into local systems and everyday community life.
Lyndsey Barrett, Founder, Co-CEO and Lead Occupational Therapist at Sport for Confidence, says:‘ Celebrating this milestone recognises all those who’ ve helped shape this journey, including our teams, participants and partners.
‘ It is also a reminder that the work continues. There is still much to do to close the outcomes gap and create systems where everyone can thrive through movement. While we’ re proud of how far we’ ve come, we know there is more to do. We
Above: The Sport for Confidence team celebrate its 10th anniversary
remain committed to working with our national and community partners to create services and systems that are equitable, responsive, and rooted in lived experience.’
Follow the celebration at # 10YearsOfSFC and # PlayYourPart on social media or visit www. sportforconfidence. com.
Good news for social care occupational therapists in Scotland
RCOT is delighted that occupational therapists working in local authority social work in Scotland will be included in the scope of the Scottish Social Work Partnership( SSWP).
RCOT has been working hard with UNISON colleagues and our members to make this happen, so it’ s wonderful to see it becoming reality.
The SSWP refers to a collaborative initiative established to support the reform, improvement and sustainability of social work services across the country. It’ s been set up in response to the proposed National Care Service Bill as a result of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland, also known as the Feeley Review, and will put occupational therapists on an equal footing with social workers.
The SSWP is a strategic group that brings together key stakeholders involved in social work. The partnership’ s main goals are to: support and improve social work practice across Scotland; and strengthen the professions involved and ensure they are valued, supported and sustainable.
RCOT Council Member and OT Team Manager at Fife Health and Social Care Partnership,
Neil Carnegie, said:‘ I very much welcome the decision to include occupational therapists within the partnership. Including OTs ensures the partnership reflects the true interdisciplinary nature of social care and acknowledges the value that the profession brings.
‘ It’ s crucial that OTs are part of the planning, design and delivery discussions from the start. This decision will also support better workforce development, training and career pathways for all professions within social care.’
Katie MacGregor, RCOT Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Scotland, said:‘ We’ re grateful to members and UNISON for their ongoing work with key stakeholders in the Scottish Social Work Partnership.
‘ This decision recognises the vital role occupational therapists play in social work teams. We’ ve long advocated for their inclusion; this marks a step forward in enabling meaningful collaboration.
‘ We look forward to continuing our work with Social Work Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities( CoSLA) and the Scottish Government as the partnership evolves.’
September 2025 OTnews 9