Important update from Specialist Section Chairs and RCOT Communities team  

(This is a copy of the email sent to all Specialist Section members on Tuesday 16 July 2024.)

Dear Specialist Section member,  

We’re jointly writing to provide an update on our work to develop a new communities model for members that will affect your Specialist Section membership.  

Responding to barriers and challenges 

Over the past year we’ve been working together with members and volunteers to understand the barriers and challenges we face with our current communities, such as the additional membership fees these require and the limited opportunities for engagement outside of organised events. Thank you to everyone who’s shared their views and experiences with us.  

Reimagining communities 

Together we’ve developed a vision for a reimagined communities model that removes the barriers you’ve told us about and is accessible, inclusive and meets the diverse needs of our members through a more personalised and flexible approach.   

The new communities model will launch for all members in early 2025 and will:  

• Create a series of networks that will enable all members to connect with others based on shared interests, areas of practice and your RCOT region. 
• Introduce a community engagement platform which will host our networks, enabling members to connect with others across our diverse RCOT membership. 
• Include access to the platform and our networks in your RCOT membership and remove the need for additional subscription fees to join. 
• Remove ‘specialist’ from the names of networks to ensure they are welcoming to all members regardless of their career journey or reason for joining. 

Your Specialist Section membership 

To support the transition from one communities model to the new one, your Specialist Section membership will come to an end on Monday 30 September 2024. This means when you come to renew your RCOT membership you will not be required to pay an additional Specialist Section fee. 

Next steps 

• After this date we’ll continue to work together to prepare for the launch of our new networks. We appreciate there will be a gap in activity during this transition period and ask for your patience whilst we improve this valuable member benefit. During this time we will be:  
• Working with RCOT volunteers and a selection of groups to continue testing our new communities platform and learning how best to use its features to host our new networks.  
• Working with our volunteer community and wider members to develop our new networks and plan activities that meet professional development needs across all four pillars of practice and career levels. 
• Developing a new approach to volunteering that will create a variety of roles to support networks and their activities and offering our members valuable professional development opportunities regardless of their career stage. 

We’re really excited about what the new communities model will offer members and are pleased that we’ll soon be able to introduce this new member benefit to all members.  

Any questions? 

Read our FAQs for more information.  

If you have any further questions that aren’t already answered, please contact communities@rcot.co.uk. 

With best wishes, 

Specialist Section Chairs and RCOT Communities Team