The Student Success Endowment: Ben

I’m Ben, a first-year Occupational Therapy student here at Nottingham Trent University.  When I decided to leave my job and study for a career in healthcare, one of my biggest concerns was about how I would be able to pursue my hobbies and interests, mainly due to financial restraints. I spent my early twenties working a variety of office-based jobs and, while they taught me some really valuable skills, I gradually realised that I wanted a more people-focused career. I have always enjoyed jobs where I am helping others and, after speaking with friends and family, decided to research different healthcare fields. The combination of problem-solving and human connection motivated me to take the big step of leaving my job and studying to become an occupational therapist.

As part of my course, I recently finished a work placement with the Rapid Occupational Therapy Team in South Derbyshire. I got to be part of a fast-paced community service to support people to live in their own homes after being discharged from hospital or referred from another service. The placement involved ensuring individuals could safely and independently manage activities of daily living, such as preparing meals, washing, dressing and moving around their home.

For example, if we visited someone who has had a hip replacement and lives alone, a lot of activities they could previously do independently may be severely affected. After visiting them at home to assess their ability to complete tasks, we would identify any risk factors affecting their safety and recovery. We would sometimes recommend and order an adjustable bed where they can change the height to allow them to get in and out safely, stair rails for improved stability and trolleys to help them move items, especially hot food and drinks, around the house. For somebody who needed to spend a lot of time sitting and resting, we might order air mattresses and pressure cushions to reduce the risk of pressure sores and infections. With interventions like these, we helped people to maintain their independence, reduced the risk of falls and decreased the likelihood of hospital readmission after operation.

The service worked with people with a variety of health conditions, whether they were neurological, musculoskeletal or cardiovascular, and it was really rewarding to get to see people progress and improve with our support. I was drawn to occupational therapy because it’s such a people-centred field. I also liked the aspirational focus, as my work means I get to help people rebuild their lives in a meaningful way.

The Student Success Endowment played a crucial part in me being able to fully engage with the placement. The funding helped me to cover essential costs such as appropriate NHS footwear, which must be black, easy to clean and comfortable as we were on our feet for most of the day. The money also helped my daily travel and car maintenance, both when travelling to the health centre office and visiting people’s homes. This financial support reduced stress, making the experience more enjoyable and allowing me to focus entirely on learning and delivering high-quality care.

For anyone who is considering donating, please know your support will help remove financial barriers so students can focus on studies, wellbeing, and the opportunities that make university such a valuable experience. Every contribution helps students like me get more out of their time at university and build a stronger foundation for the future.