Birthday Message from the Chair

Happy Birthday ACP-UK! (5th July 2018)

On the day we celebrate 70 years of the NHS, I am also reminded it is exactly one year since the ACP-UK came into being following a momentous and fractious DCP meeting in York. BPS representatives had presented a summary of the proposals for organisational restructuring (initiated by Jamie Hacker Hughes in response to widespread disquiet amongst clinical psychologist members of the BPS). The proposals were met with much criticism and frank anger from the floor. At the end of the session a poll was taken as to whether attendees would support the creation of a new professional body outside the BPS: of the hundred or so present, almost everyone indicated agreement, with just one dissenter.

Later in the day at the same hotel in York, Alex Stirzaker, Reg Morris and I made speeches introducing and inaugurating the new body: the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK.

I am very proud of what has been achieved so far: we have an elected committee, a website, a corporate bank account, an administrator, and a CIC application was submitted to Companies House in June. An inaugural conference is being planned for spring 2019.

I am very grateful to you for supporting ACP-UK and for your subscriptions which are making all this possible.

Best wishes,

Mike

July 2018