Green Synergy is proud to celebrate the successful completion of a six-week placement by two Master’s students, Hayley and Sarah, who joined us from the University of Lincoln between April 2026 and 28 June 2026.
Undertaking their third placement as part of their two-year Occupational Health Master’s programme, Hayley and Sarah completed a role-emerging placement at Green Synergy focused on exploring how Occupational Therapy (OT) can add value within our services. Their work aligned closely with their Innovation in Practice module, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves fully in our organisation, engage with our team, and connect with our participants.
Throughout their time with us, the students were embedded in Green Synergy’s day-to-day activity. With full access to our workspace, project lifecycle processes, and delivery teams, they were supported by our Projects and Delivery Manager, Abbie Phillips. Their enthusiasm and commitment were evident from the outset, as they actively contributed across multiple areas of our work.
A key focus of their placement was our Better Together project, where they delivered meaningful contributions, including reviewing and enhancing feedback processes, identifying new ways to capture participant experiences, and gathering valuable insights to inform future activity planning. Impressively, they also designed and delivered their own mindfulness session, incorporating aromatherapy, windchime making, and clay work—providing participants with a creative and therapeutic experience.
In addition, Hayley and Sarah developed a garden-based Kawa model to better understand individual journeys at Green Synergy, created an activity pack, and mapped out an activities plan for 2026. Their work also highlighted important OT insights, particularly around accessibility, including how garden spaces can support people with varying mobility levels. They further produced accessibility videos to help visitors navigate the site, which will soon be available on our website.
Beyond their project work, both students fully embraced the practical side of Green Synergy, taking part in seed sowing, weeding, and preparing for our plant sale—proving that even those who aren’t “green-fingered” can thrive in our environment.
To mark the end of their placement, Hayley and Sarah kindly baked cupcakes for the team—a thoughtful (and delicious) gesture that reflected the positive relationships they built during their time here.
This partnership with the University of Lincoln has been incredibly valuable, not only in supporting the development of future professionals but also in helping us reflect on and enhance our own practice. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and welcoming more students in the future.
