Emerging role for Occupational Therapy- in the wood

A project by: Rachel Stephens

Successful

WE RAISED £702

from 10 donors

This project received pledges on Thu 16 May 2019
Nature based Occupational Therapy intervention working with children with additional support needs

A short summary of your project

On 20th May 2019, I am excited to be starting a three week university role emerging placement, working as an Occupational Therapy student with Outdoor Woodlands Learning school (OWLs), Aberdeen. To help achieve this, I would really appreciate your support in raising funds to cover my travel costs and accommodation.

Who are you?

My name is Rachel & I am a final year Occupational Therapy student studying at Ulster University. 

Your story

Occupational Therapy! What’s that? We help people live, not just exist. When mental health or physical health stops you from doing activities, whether it's getting washed, going to work, or doing fun things such as socialising, this effects your health and well being. An occupational therapist will work with you to find different ways of carrying out activities to help you live your life your way. Occupational therapists work to help people help themselves!

The 3 week university role emerging placement means that I will go to a workplace that has never employed an Occupational Therapist. This means that I will apply all my knowledge gained from university lectures and 1000 hours of clinical placement, in an entrepreneurial way, to bring new ideas to the organisation. I am excited about this university placement, to show that occupational therapy interventions can be achieved without a white tunic, without a clipboard and even without walls, with the forest canopy as my office roof! 

Outdoor Woodlands Learning school (OWLs) have an extensive experience of working with a wide variety of children with a range of additional support needs. These include children with Autism, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and Pathological demand avoidance (PDA-on the autism spectrum). They engage children with a variety of activities in the woods to provide a fun learning environment, supporting the life long development of positive mental health. I am looking forward to learning a lot from the OWLs instructors and also to bring new idea’s from my Occupational Therapy practice. 

Where will the money go?

I need to take the ferry to Scotland, to enable me to drive during the 3 week placement, to reach the remote forests to the west of Aberdeen. All the money will go towards my travel costs and rent.

  • Return ferry ticket with car- £247
  • Petrol costs Belfast to Aberdeen (and between different forests for 3 weeks)- approx £200
  • 3 weeks accommodation - £100
  • Total = £547

No money will be received by OWLS, Outdoor Woodlands Training School charity. OWLS will hopefully benefit from amazing Occupational Therapy Idea’s from myself for 3 weeks! Priceless!

Rewards

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Help me succeed!

Please share this project on social media with anyone you think would like to support this project. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the sponsorship to help make this project happen!