Student Placements

At Sport for Confidence, we are committed to developing the future health and care workforce through meaningful, inclusive, and high-quality placement opportunities.

A Unique Learning Experience

As a community health service rooted in occupational therapy and physical activity, we offer a unique learning experience that moves beyond traditional models of care.

We support students both locally across Essex and nationally, offering flexible placement opportunities that include:

Face-to-face placements
Hybrid models
Fully virtual placements
Long arm practice educator support

Our placements are designed to be accessible, innovative, and reflective of real-world practice across systems and communities.

Our Approach
at SFC

At SFC, our Occupational Therapists use the power of meaningful activity, including sport and physical activity, to break down barriers and build confidence.

We provide practical, person-centred support that helps people overcome obstacles and engage in everyday activities, in ways that feel safe, achievable and empowering.

Participants taking part in a table tennis session at an indoor sports centre

Where You Can
Learn With Us

Students have the opportunity to gain experience across a diverse range of settings, including:

Community Occupational Therapy within leisure centres
Primary Care services
Single Point of Access
Specialist provision projects
The Learning Arena
National placement opportunities

This breadth of experience enables students to understand how occupational therapy and physical activity can be embedded across health, care, and community systems.

Who We Support

While we specialise in occupational therapy placements, we are proud to offer opportunities to a wider workforce, including:

Physiotherapy students
Speech and Language Therapy students
Nursing students
Paramedic students
Allied Health Care Professionals

We believe in supporting a whole-system, interdisciplinary approach, reflecting the way services are delivered in practice.

A woman helping another woman sitting down use a resistance band

What Students Can Expect

At Sport for Confidence, placements are designed to reflect the diversity of practice across health, community and national systems. Depending on your placement type (in-person, hybrid or virtual), your experience may include a combination of the following:

In-person delivery placements
(community and leisure settings)

Hybrid and national placements
(blending practice and systems learning)

Virtual and leadership placements
(project and development focused)

All Placements

Students may have the opportunity to:

Observe and support initial assessments, developing an understanding of how we explore an individual’s needs, strengths, and goals
Participate in both standardised and non-standardised assessments to identify barriers and facilitators to engagement in physical activity and daily life
Assist in delivering and observing group interventions, using physical activity to promote wellbeing, social connection, and participation
Support 1:1 interventions, focusing on personalised approaches that reflect what matters most to the individual
Contribute to collaborative goal setting, creating meaningful and achievable outcomes
Use outcome measures to track progress and evaluate the impact of interventions
Understand the national landscape in regard to physical activity and inclusivity

Students may:

Work alongside national leads and experienced occupational therapists to understand how physical activity is embedded across systems
Explore how the Sport for Confidence model translates into different contexts, including health, leisure and community settings
Gain insight into the wider landscape of physical activity, inclusion and inequalities at a regional or national level
Combine practical experience (where possible) with project-based or reflective work

Students may:

Lead or contribute to a dedicated project, such as developing resources, research outputs or service improvements
Use our digital placement platform to guide learning, reflection and professional development
Explore how to apply an occupational therapy lens to physical activity within their own local context
Connect with local organisations (e.g. Active Partnerships, charities, health services or community groups) to understand opportunities for inclusive practice

Students are supported to:

Develop confidence in applying an occupational therapy perspective to physical activity and participation
Understand how to work beyond traditional healthcare settings
Explore their role in addressing health inequalities through meaningful, community-based practice
Learn from the Sport for Confidence model while applying this learning within their own context

Two women riding a tandem bike on an athletics track

What Students Learn

Through their placement, students will develop the knowledge and skills to:

Apply a person-centred, occupation-focused approach, valuing lived experience over diagnosis
Use physical activity as both an assessment and intervention tool to support health, wellbeing, and participation
Identify and address environmental and social barriers, improving accessibility and inclusion within community settings
Understand the role of leisure centres as community health hubs, supporting prevention, belonging, and long-term engagement in meaningful activity

Coaching Placements

We offer sports coach placements that provide valuable hands-on experience in inclusive practice. Coaches have the opportunity to develop skills in inclusive communication, understand and apply reasonable adjustments, and learn how to adapt sessions to support individuals with a wide range of disabilities.

We also provide training on how to design session plans that offer the “just-right” level of challenge, ensuring activities are accessible and meet the needs of a diverse range of participants. Our approach promotes person-centred care, supporting every individual to engage in a way that suits their needs and abilities.

Woman facing away from the camera wearing a Sport for Confidence Coach t-shirt

MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT

Get in Touch

To find out more about our placement opportunities or discuss how we can support you, get in touch!

Get in Touch