Cecily Borgstein Co-chair of OT Frontiers Presented by Gabrielle Richards, WFOT delegate

OT Frontiers is a network of occupational therapists based in the UK who have an interest in occupational therapy in low and middle income countries. OT Frontiers is a network of occupational therapists based in the UK who have either worked in low and middle income countries or have an interest in doing so and want to support the development of the profession in these countries. They aim to promote an understanding of how, as British occupational therapists, they can most appropriately apply their practice in the context of these countries. Whenever possible they collaborate with overseas colleagues in projects that they undertake.   OT Frontiers started in 2005 when a group of OTs went out to Uganda to contribute to a training week for qualified OTs in this country. When they returned the therapists felt that they did not want to lose the knowledge and experiences they had gained, they wanted to maintain and develop the links they had formed with the OTs in Uganda.  As a result, OT Frontiers was ‘born’ and the network has grown ever since.

OT Frontiers has over 100 members, as you can see from the green circles on this map most, but not all of them, live in the UK. But these members have had experience of working all over the world. This interactive map is available on their website

OT Frontiers Activities Meetings Networking Advice and support Study days and conferences Small grants OT frontiers isn’t a sending agency so they can’t arrange for UK OTs or students to work abroad they do support OTs or students who are, or are thinking about practicing overseas but they are able to support individuals with who are or are thinking about practicing overseas and answer questions they might have about how to go about it and working to promote ethical and sustainable practices. This is done in a variety of ways such as meetings, more on those later. Networking opportunities at meetings and events. Offering advice and support for example if someone contacts OT frontiers saying they are going somewhere and want some advice and support if a member has been there and they are happy for this information to be shared they are connected with the person going out. There are also opportunities to attend or be involved in study days and conferences and OT frontiers offers small grants to support education and/or training in low and middle income countries.

Chair Vice chair Treasurer Secretary Membership secretary Media Education Research Networking Treasurer Secretary Membership secretary Project groups Study days University talks OT Frontiers has a committee who are elected yearly. This committee is comprised of: a chair who chairs the meetings and oversees the direction and vision of OT frontiers A vice chair who will fill in for the chair if necessary and is in charge of the marketing and image of OT frontiers and oversees external communications. The vice chair is also in charge of supporting the working groups, these are permanent groups in charge of things like media (facebook, and the website) research and networking The treasurer is in charge of monitoring and reporting on OT frontiers finances The secretary organises and minutes meeting and replies to most enquiries, they also support the Membership secretary who maintains the database and is in charge of distance partnerships and buddies There are also project groups, these are different to working groups as they are formed to deal with specific projects like a conference or study day or a talk that OT frontiers has been requested to give at a university

Meetings Held quarterly Usually in London Presentations sharing experiences Lots of time for networking Opportunities to get involved OT frontiers holds quarterly meetings, usually in London but there is going to be a networking event in northern England soon and there used to be regular meetings in Scotland There are always presentations of people (usually OTs or OT students) sharing their experiences or working abroad either clinically or delivering training, they are always very interesting and informative and there is lots of time for networking and sharing ideas and experiences with the other attendees and there are opportunities to get involved in working groups and projects The next meeting in on the 21st of July in London…come along!

Small Grants To support education and/or training in low and middle income countries Up to £100 Up to 5 offered a year Training in Uganda Conference in Rwanda Study day in Malawi One of the really exciting things that OT frontiers is involved in is providing small grants of up to £100 to allow the applicant to complete small scale projects or CPD activities, the results of which will contribute to participation in OT service developments at local and national level and the continuing professional development of OT’s or OT skills. The money could be used: To produce materials or resources for a specific project To attend a relevant training event To hire a venue for a service development or training event But not to pay participants for their attendance So far grants have been used to fund training in Uganda, helped Rwandan OTs access a conference and to run a training day for rehabilitation technicians in Malawi

Here is the application form, as you can see it is simple and straight forward to fill in and available on the website hopefully making it as accessible to OTs in LMICs as in the UK. Successful applicants are asked to write up the event, conference or project to feedback to OT frontiers and these are put on the website

Study Days Recently held a joint study day with CTI and Adapt “So You are Thinking of Working Abroad” Very successful, lots of positive feedback Plans for another joint study day early next year… Keep an eye on the website and Facebook for more information or come to a meeting to find out more OT frontiers has been involved in several study days, most recently in March this year. OT Frontiers ran a joint study day with Communication Therapy International (CTI- a SLT organisation) and Adapt (a PT organisation) both, similar to OT frontiers, interested in the development of therapy in low and middle income countries The study day was to launch “Working in Less resourced Settings- guidance for Allied Health Professionals” a document that has been put together by OT Frontiers, Adapt and CTI with advice and guidance for therapists currently or planning to work abroad. It was a sold out event and nearly 100 therapists and students came together to listen to talks and tackle issues raised when working or planning to work aboard. It was so successful that another joint study day is being planned early next year, keep an eye on facebook and the website, join OT frontiers or come to a meeting for more information

This is what the booklet looks like It is a very informative piece of work and is available free to download from the OT frontiers website in the resources section ot you can buy a hard copy- just email OT frontiers,

Find out more… https://www.otfrontiers.co.uk/ enquiries@otfrontiers.com Look OT Frontiers up on Facebook If you want to know more about OT Frontiers visit their website where you can download a membership form (its free to join) or email enquiries at OT frontiers.com, they also have a Facebook page and group