You Are Here:

Home > The Society > Achieving Our Aims and Objectives > Annual Reports and Accounts > Annual Review 2007 > Branches > Northern Ireland Branch

Northern Ireland Branch

Maurice Stringer(Chair, Northern Ireland Branch and Regional Office)

The Northern Ireland branch of the British Psychological Society has been recognised over the years as being particularly active, and has been commended for the work it does and the activities it engages in. The Branch is unique, in that it is geographically isolated from the mainland membership and has a remit that extends outside the United Kingdom. The Branch and Regional Office represents psychologists throughout Ireland with current membership being drawn roughly 50% from Northern Ireland and 50% from the Republic of Ireland. Membership of the Branch has grown steadily over the years with numbers now approaching the 2000 mark (see graph below).

Relationships with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) are good with regular meetings between representatives of the two societies and joint sponsorship of events for members North and South. Attendance at the Northern Ireland Branch Annual Conference and events organised by the Branch are becoming increasing popular highlighting the need for increased regional activities. The establishment of the devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland; a more peaceful environment and improved North-South relationships have combined to strengthen the need for increased regional representation and more focused activities for our members. The recent agreement between the BPS and PSI on recognition of continuing professional development activities will also open the way for many new regional workshops and events.

Regional representation

While the Branch and Regional Office provide a centre for psychological activities in Ireland, we are determined to ensure that members of Society divisions based in Ireland are properly represented. Currently members of divisions have to travel great distances to get to events organised for mainland based members. In early 2008, we plan to submit requests for local divisions in the areas of Health, Forensic and Educational Psychology. These will follow the model established in Scotland and will provide members of these divisions with local events and improved opportunities in these areas. We have been encouraged by the support shown by both the BPS President and Chairs of these Divisions in applying to create these new divisions to improve access for members based in both the North and South of Ireland.

Events

Three major conferences were held by the Branch this year on Forensic Psychology jointly sponsored by PSI (organised by Geraldine O'Hare), Self Harm (organised by Mark Conaghy) and our Annual Conference at Carlingford. All three events were highly successful with record attendance levels and participant feedback on the standard of presentations and workshops was exemplary. The President, Pam Maras (one of four visiting speakers) at our annual conference in Carlingford, conducted the prize presentations for our best postgraduate presenters. We were particularly pleased with the number and quality of postgraduate papers and posters given at the conference. Other noteworthy events included our highly successful Belfast Lectures and Careers events which allowed over 300 school children to learn more about psychologists and their work and a stand at the Big Into Baby event which allowed us to take psychology to a mass audience of thousands of young parents.

Hobnobbing with royalty

In recognition of our increased focus on the new Assembly in Northern Ireland we have secured funding to appoint a part-time assembly advisor to ensure that psychological issues are addressed properly at a regional level. Committee members were invited to attend the Annual Garden Party at Hillsborough Castle to mix with Charles and Camilla.