Date: Wednesday 14 January 2026
Event: University of Salford Occupational Therapy Conference 2026
Location: Mary Seacole Building, University of Salford (exhibition on the ground floor, open all day)
Next week, I’m delighted to be travelling to the University of Salford to speak at the Occupational Therapy Conference 2026. It’s a special moment for me—both personally and professionally. Back in 2021, I spoke at a major OT conference hosted by the University of Brighton, where I shared an early vision for how social enterprise could shape the future of occupational therapy. A lot has happened since then.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of growing BounceOT, a social enterprise focused on inclusive, therapeutic play and occupational therapy services for children and adults with disabilities. Our work is grounded in co-creation with families and individuals, and powered by a deep belief that equity, access, and innovation aren’t luxuries in OT—they’re essentials. Returning to Salford feels like a milestone in that journey.
What I’ll Be Speaking About
Talk title: Scaling Occupational Therapy: Enhancing Impact and Value Through a Social Enterprise Model.
Building on my presentation at the National Conference for Occupational Therapy in Diverse Settings (22 October 2025), I’ll explore how social enterprise can be a transformative force in our profession—broadening access, deepening community impact, and creating sustainable pathways for innovation in practice.
Specifically, I’ll reflect on:
- Value beyond the balance sheet: How mission-locked governance and reinvestment enable service innovation, reduce barriers to access, and deliver measurable community impact.
- Co-creation as standard practice: Practical ways to embed participation from families and people with disabilities into design, delivery, and evaluation—so services are not only for communities, but with them.
- Scaling responsibly: Lessons learned about sustainability, partnership, and workforce development—what it takes to grow without losing values.
- Bridging sectors: Opportunities for collaboration between NHS, universities, social enterprises, and community organisations to meet unmet need at pace.
Why This Conference Matters
Salford’s OT conference has a strong track record of convening energy and ideas across the Greater Manchester OT community. Previous events in April 2019, January 2023, January 2024, and January 2025 attracted 150+ occupational therapists from the local area and up to 200 students—with consistently excellent feedback and requests to repeat the format. The 2026 programme continues that legacy: a free CPD opportunity for the local workforce and a valuable learning experience for students—both in organising and attending the sessions.
This year, the exhibition space on the ground floor of the Mary Seacole Building will be open all day to delegates. The University is also promoting the exhibition to our wider multi‑professional staff and students, creating a fantastic setting for cross-disciplinary conversations. If you’re curious about social enterprise, inclusive practice, or future careers in OT—please drop by. I’d love to chat.
“The social enterprise business model has given us a powerful framework to deliver occupational therapy in ways that are sustainable, inclusive, and deeply connected to community needs. It’s not just about doing good—it’s about doing good well, with purpose and impact. I’m proud to share how this model continues to shape our journey and inspire new possibilities for the profession.”
From Vision to Practice: What’s Changed Since 2021
When I first presented on social enterprise and occupational therapy at University of Brighton in 2021, much of the conversation was aspirational: could enterprise truly complement public services, expand access, and sustain innovation? Today, I’m excited to share practical evidence and lived experience from running BounceOT—what has worked, what we’ve had to rethink, and where we’re heading next.
Some reflections I’ll cover:
- Sustainability is a design choice: When financial models align with mission (not the other way around), you can protect access and still scale.
- Partnership multiplies impact: Universities, NHS teams, and community organisations each bring strengths; together, we’re stronger than our individual budgets.
- Students are catalysts: Student placements and peer learning accelerate innovation, evaluation, and knowledge transfer—benefiting services and future practitioners.
- Equity needs structure, not slogans: Policies, pricing, governance, and data practices all need to carry the weight of our values—for real-world, repeatable fairness.
An Open Invitation
If you’re attending the conference on Wednesday 14 January 2026, please join my session on social enterprise in OT—and come by the exhibition area on the ground floor of the Mary Seacole Building. I’ll be there throughout the day to meet practitioners, students, educators, and partners from across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Whether you’re exploring alternative models for service delivery, building your CPD portfolio, or simply curious about the future of occupational therapy—I’m looking forward to learning with you.
See you in Salford
:)
