Promote OT to the public
The public needs to be made aware of the benefits of occupational therapy so they can ask for OT services
Occupational therapy - helping people to live life their way.
Set up a display
You may wish to set up a display at your workplace or in a local community centre. You could include on this display:
- pictures of occupational therapy in action
- photos of your occupational therapy team and their names
- brief case studies of how occupational therapy has helped your clients
- testimonials from service users
- details about the different fields of occupational therapy
- information on how to access OT services
Run a stand in a public area
Running a stand in a public area, for example at a supermarket, shopping precinct or railway station is an excellent way of raising the profile of the profession. You can do gadget demonstrations, give away leaflets and pens and you can find out what people know about the profession. If you choose to run an information stall in a public area, make sure you ask permission from the premises’ management to set up a stall. Send a request in writing (either email or letter), and your request should include:
- the reason why you want to have a stand on their premises
- when - time and date
- the number of people manning the stand
- what you will be handing out
Download template letter to a premises manager
You may also want to contact organisations that have a retail outlet and will be sympathetic to your message, such as Age UK, Mind, the Alzheimer's Society, Scope, Stroke Association, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, etc. They may allow you to hand out leaflets or set up a stand in one of their charity shops, if their outlet is located nearby.
Run a stand at a community event
Another way you can promote the profession to the public is by getting involved in a community event that may be taking place during OT Week. These may include local fairs and festivals, community action events (such as no cars days), firework displays, family play days, carnivals etc. You may be able to book a stand - make sure you have enough volunteers to help you run it. Below are some ideas of how you can promote occupational therapy:
- display posters and information leaflets on OT
- show some local case studies on the difference OTs make to people’s lives
- provide information on how the public can access OTs
- ask visitors to the stand what they know about occupational therapy
- run a Guess the gadget competition: display interesting items such as adapted cutlery, jar openers, hand rails, and ask people to correctly guess the items
- demonstrate activities such as salt dough model making, decorating biscuits/cakes to illustrate how OTs can help people continue with their hobbies
- hand out leaflets on your services, or some of the College leaflets, as well as other giveaways such as OT branded pens and stickers - order promotional materials from the College in advance of your events by emailing Jim.Waters@cot.co.uk
- volunteer to be a guest speaker
Write to a local group offering to speak to their members about occupational therapy. You can approach your local branch of the WI, WRVS, Rotary Club, carers support groups, community breakfast clubs and toddler groups such as Sure Start. All of these groups should welcome guest speakers or visitors to their meetings.
Download letter to community groups offering to speak at their meetings
Alternatively, you may prefer to host a coffee morning in your service and invite members of the local community groups to attend, enabling you to give a presentation on the value of occupational therapy.
If you receive a positive response from your offer to speak at a community meeting, see below for some subjects you may wish to present
Equipment in your home
- how equipment can help you
- types of equipment available
- how to access equipment
- how OTs can help
- how to obtain OT support
- work-related stress
Define work-related stress
- describe symptoms to look for
- how occupational therapy helps with work-related stress
- how to obtain OT support
- developmental milestones for children
- what can you do to help your child meet the development milestone?
- what other support is available?
- how occupational therapy can help?
Helping an older relative
- what type of help would an older relative need?
- how can you access this help?
- how occupational therapy can help
