Sport for Confidence CIC has received a national award for its pioneering work hardwiring occupational therapy driven services into community sport and leisure settings.

The Community Interest Company was crowned winner of the Excellence in Emerging Roles award at the Occupational Therapy Excellence Awards – as well as being a finalist in the Most Innovative Use of Practice award for its partnership with Essex Country Council. This initiative delivered a two-year test and learn pilot to measure the positive impact of embedding physical activity into a whole system approach to adult health and social care.

Occupational therapists typically work within the NHS or social care sectors, where physical activity is rarely a part of their practice. Sport for Confidence founder, Lyndsey Barrett, was the first occupational therapist (OT) to work out of a leisure centre in 2015 and has innovated an approach that embeds physical activity into occupational therapy, creating physical activity opportunities for more than 3,000 individuals every month who face barriers to exercise.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to win this particular award because it represents professional recognition from the Occupational Therapy community for the groundbreaking work we are delivering, using physical activity to drive positive occupational outcomes and tackle health inequalities,” says Lisa Westhorpe, occupational therapist, National Team, Sport for Confidence.

“Through lectures, student placements, our community of practice, partnerships and events, we actively share our insights and successes with the wider OT community. This equips OTs, students and support workers with the skills and confidence they need to use physical activity, not just to deliver leisure occupations, but also as a powerful tool for assessment, intervention and engagement in therapy.”