What’s on in October 2021? Occupational therapy, brain injury and neurorehabilitation events
What's on in October 2021? Occupational therapy, brain injury and neurorehabilitation events
You will find all the links to these fantastic events at the bottom of the page.
Sporting chances
Run The London Marathon for The Children's Trust this month, even if you can't make it to the capital.
Participants can enter the virtual version of the race from anywhere in the world by running a course of their choice from 00:00:00 to 23:59:59 on race day.
A record 50,000 runners will follow the traditional26.2-milemarathon route from Blackheath to The Mall on the 3rd of October.
But, either way, there's still lots of time to sign up as a squad runner for The Children's Trust and help raise funds for youngsters with brain injury.
There are other ways to support The Children's Trust this month:
- The 4th of October - Schools around the country are being invited to participatein The Children's Trust Pyjama Week, in which pupils swap their uniforms for pyjamas for a £2 donation to the charity.
- The 10th of October - Join The Children's Trust squad in the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, taking in the autumnal sights of four Royal parks along the route.
More details about these events and others here: [1]
Hidden London treasure hunt
Hunt for treasure with the adult brain injury team from specialist solicitors Bolt Burdon Kemp who have arranged an exciting adventure around the streets of London. In support of the Silverlings brain injury charity, you can go sleuthing and compete for the honour of winning the treasure hunt!
The meeting point is Cowcross Street (Near Farrington Station), EC1M6DQ on the 13th of October at 4.30 pm.
The suggested donation in support of Silverlings brain injury charity is £15, so have fun in the capital and raise some treasure for a very worthwhile cause!
RSVP:
Child brain injury
Gain greater knowledge and understanding of brain injury in children at a one-day training event this month.
Postponed from last year, the Brain Injury Group (BIG) gathering in Milton Keynes will include experts talks on:
- Care and support in child brain injury cases.
- Brain injury and related spinal injury.
- Epilepsy after childhood ABI.
More details about the 5th of October event below. [2]
#MillionsOfReasons
There are 17 #MillionsOfReasons why the world is being made aware of cerebral palsy (CP) this month.
That's the global number of people living with CP, a lifelong disability that can impact movement, speech and intellectual ability.
World Cerebral Palsy Day is a chance for everyone affected by CP to come together to raise awareness of the condition and push for change.
Find out more about #WorldCerebralPalsyDay here: [3]
The day is also supported by CP Sport, a charity providing accessible and enjoyable physical activity for people with cerebral palsy. [4]
And it was CP football that helped brain injury survivor Charlie Fogarty MBE find a new route to sporting victory. [5]
Cheer for cause
Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality. 
World Health Organisation
This year's World Mental Health Day delivers 'cause for optimism' despite the covid pandemic's profound impact on mental health for many people.
And that's thanks to a World Health Assembly decision in May to increase quality mental health services at all levels.
It's now hoped countries will use World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October to showcase their work so far and their plans for the future amid this year's theme, 'Mental health in an Unequal World'.
The World Health Organization provides a wealth of information on how to best take care of mental health. [6]
The day is being supported in the UK by The Mental Health Foundation, which offers support and guidance to anyone with mental health concerns. [7]
Ask, look, listen
The UK's Malnutrition Awareness Week #UKMAW2021 this month reminds us all to ask, look and listen for signs of malnutrition risks, particularly among elderly folks.
- Ask – are they having problems with appetite, eating, drinking, shopping or food storage?
- Look - for signs of unexpected weight loss such as loose clothes or little appetite.
- Listen - to what they are saying; there may be underlying causes of malnutrition.
UKMAW was co-founded in 2018 by the Malnutrition Task Force (MTF) and nutrition charity BAPEN to raise awareness of preventable malnutrition.
Find out more about getting involved via the link below. [8]
All onboard!
The idea for a special day to celebrate the allied health professions came to dietician Rachael Brandreth and speech and language therapist Carrie Biddle on a bus.
But the UK's 14 AHPs all rode with it, and now Allied Health Professions Day #AHPsDay is celebrated every year on the 14th of October.
Please find out how it's being celebrated in this, its fourth year, via the link below. [9]
Happy birthday, BABICM!
Stand-up comedian and brain injury survivor Ben Shevlin aims to bring the house down after dinner at BABICM's 25th-anniversary conference this month.
Ben, originally from Oswestry, Shropshire, suffered severe head injuries in 2003 at the age of 21 in a motorcycle accident that left him in a coma.
He spent ten months in a specialist rehabilitation unit – but has since raised awareness of brain injury as a comedian and public speaker.
Ben will be delivering an after-dinner speech at the annual conference of the British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management (BABICM).
This year's event is the biggest ever in celebration of 25 years since the professional body was set up to underpin the development of case management in the UK.
With over 850 members, BABICM provides education, training and support to ensure case managers can fulfil their duties towards people with brain injury and complex medical conditions and their families.
The two-day conference, Dual Diagnoses, will focus on building competence in complex case management.
Expert speakers will include:
- Dr Czarina Kirk – Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
- Merrilee Briggs – Director of Nursing and Patient Care at The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital
- Dr Darren Carr – Consultant Psychiatrist at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust.
- Professor Peter Kinderman – Professor of Clinical Psychology at Liverpool University
- Major James Mitchell – Rehabilitation and Neurology Registrar at Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall
- Sarah Griggs – Irwin Mitchell
- Huw Ponting and Karen Jackson from Enable Law
- Mark Bailey – Partner at DAC Beachcroft
The conference runs from 20 to the 21st of October. [10]
Higher motives
Health professionals with introductory knowledge of motivational interviewing can upgrade their learning this month.
An intermediate workshop, hosted by the National Centre of Rehabilitation Education (NCORE), will be focusing on developing core practical skills in the technique in physical or mental health settings.
Discussion of anonymised clinical cases and interactive exercises will also feature during the event on the 18th of October at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital, Derby. [11]
OT Service Day
The UK's occupational therapists (OTs) are being urged to step up for a Global Day of Service to help people in need on World Occupational Therapy Day.
Occupational therapy practitioners and students are all welcome to volunteer professional time to helping an individual or organisation.
Free services to help a community could include:
- Mentoring in schools or rehabilitation settings.
- Hosting a fund-raising event.
- Donating blood.
- Supporting a community project.
Once the service has been completed, it's hoped OTs will then share their experiences to help keep the spirit of giving alive until next year.
The OT Global Day of Service is coordinated by The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and the Promoting Occupational Therapy team at Boston University, US.
Community service can be carried out on the big day, the 27th of October, or the weeks before or afterwards.
World Occupational Therapy Day, hosted by WFOT, is celebrated by OTs internationally to celebrate and promote good practice and future goals.
The theme for this year is 'Belong. Be You'. [12]
Stroke signs
What are the three main signs of stroke? If you don't know, World Stroke Day this month could be an excellent time to find out. [13]
The' serious nature' and high rates of stroke are top of the agenda this year as the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) works to raise awareness of stroke prevention.
"For 2021 and 2022, our campaign will be focused on raising awareness of the signs of stroke and the need for timely access to quality stroke treatment," a WSO spokesperson said.
And those signs of stroke are:
- Face drooping.
- Arm weakness.
- Speech difficulties.
Tumour talk
The particular challenges of a brain tumour diagnosis will be highlighted this month during the 15th International Brain Tumour Awareness Week.
Supporters are being asked to share their stories via social or mainstream media or take part in fundraising activities for brain tumour research.
From the 30th of October to the 6th of November, the event is being coordinated by the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA). [14]
RCOT round-up
Here are some of the opportunities on offer via the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) this month to enhance or broaden your occupational therapy skills [15]:
The 1st of October - RCOT Specialist Section – Children, Young People and Families host an online one-day national conference, 'Strength through adversity: A strengths-based approach to occupational therapy.
The 4th of October - Simply Mindfulness: specialist occupational therapist Debbie Larson heads an 8-week cognitive therapy course on the foundations of mindfulness and its neurophysiological mechanisms.
The 6th of October - Bathroom adaptation and design course, online via Zoom.
The 7th of October – RCOT virtual event: National Care Service consultation - draft response.
8 and 9 October - Learn Sleep: Course in CBTi (cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia).
The 12th of October – Kitchen adaptation and design course, online via Zoom.
The 20th of October - Ramping for Wheelchair Users, Level 1, online via Zoom.
The 20th of October - Occupational Therapy Tools for Autism Spectrum Disorder - working with children and their families.
The 21st of October - Expert Assessments for Blue Badges, via Microsoft teams.
The 27th of October - Induction for RCOT Branch volunteers and Board members.
Recently on talking heads ...
Links
- The Children's Trust events
- BIG: child brain injuries training event
- World Cerebral Palsy Day
- CP Sport
- Charlie Fogarty MBE: how pure OT imagination helped net a golden goal ticket after brain injury
- WHO: World Mental Health Day 2021
- The Mental Health Foundation
- Malnutrition Awareness Week
- AHPs DAY
- BABICM 25th-anniversary conference
- NCORE events
- World Occupational Therapy Day
- World Stroke Day
- International Brain Tumour Awareness Week
- RCOT events