Ensure we’re funding the research that will improve outcomes for all

We are the professional body for occupational therapists, with over 36,000 members across the UK.

Every year, our Research Foundation awards up to five grants, totalling up to £140,000, to individuals researching key areas of occupational therapy. The recipients of these grants are decided by our Research Foundation Advisory Group.

You will bring your personal experience and valuable contributions to the group.

You’d need to be able to:

• attend one meeting a year for three years (you can join virtually)
• do some reading beforehand.

We will support you in the role, compensate you £150 a year for your time, and pay reasonable expenses. This is broken down further in our Recognition and Reward Policy.

You can find out more about the opportunity by downloading the role description.

You’ll find more details about:

• the Research Foundation
• what the Research Foundation Advisory Group does
• the public contribution role
• when meetings are and what preparation is required
• how you will be supported.

We’d love to hear from you if you have accessed occupational therapy services yourself, or cared for someone who has, and you have an interest in research.

We really want members of the public to be part of this group and we encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply.

By being part of this group you will help ensure that we fund the research that matters to the people who receive occupational therapy services, their families and carers, and the wider community.

Help us let people know about this opportunity by:

• sharing the news with people you know
• sending them this page
• passing along the role description.

You can also spread it further by downloading and using the resource pack.

If you do share anything on social media – use the hashtag #RCOTPublicContributor so we can like and share your post further.

This resource pack contains:

• suggested social media posts
• copy for newsletters and emails
• some simple graphics.