The BPS in Scotland
The British Psychological Society (BPS) is the representative body for psychology and psychologists throughout the UK, with more than 3,500 members in Scotland.
Our work in Scotland
You are automatically allocated membership to the Scottish Branch if you are a BPS member based in Scotland.
The Scottish Branch exists to promote and advance psychology as a whole, but with particular relevance to policy and practice in Scotland.
The branch helps our members to meet up (virtually or in-person) and share ideas with other psychologists.
Our Scottish branch e-newsletter informs members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to our members in Scotland, as well as requests for engagement on topical issues.
Please note: members must be opted into receiving emails, information on this can be found under the join tab.
The BPS Divisions (specialisms) with dedicated Scottish committees are:
- The Division of Clinical Psychology
- The Division of Counselling Psychology
- The Division of Forensic Psychology
- The Division of Health Psychology
- The Division of Neuropsychology
- The Division of Occupational Psychology
- The Scottish Division of Educational Psychology
For further information on / to join a Scottish BPS committee contact [email protected].
News
Events
Guidelines
Resources
BPS Scotland Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Working Party (BPSSS) Publications and report
Download a list of the BPSSS Publications and report
For BPS Scotland Branch members only
You need to be logged in to access this document
BPS Scotland Teaching Psychology in Scottish Schools and Colleges - the Future
This report describes the ongoing work of the British Psychological Society Scottish Branch's (BPS-S) Pre-Tertiary Working Group, which was set up in 2016.
The remit of the group is to gather information on all aspects of pre-tertiary Psychology education in Scotland and to identify areas of concern and where support is needed.
Conference materials
- Scottish Branch Postgraduate Conference 2021 - Abstracts
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2019 - Programme
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2018 - Programme
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2017 - Programme
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2016 - Programme
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2015 - Programme
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2014 - Programme
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2013 - Programme
- Scottish Branch Undergraduate Conference 2012 - Programme
Useful links
- Centre for Outcomes, Research and Effectiveness (CORE)
- Centre for Research on Families and Relationships
- Childline
- Consultation on the proposal to develop an Acknowledgement and Accountability approach for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
- Europsy
- The European Federation of Psychology Teachers' Associations (EFPTA)
- For Scotland's Mental Health
- HUG
- ISD Scotland
- Legislation Government
- Mental Welfare – Commission for Scotland
- MIND
- The National Archives of Scotland - Public Records Review
- National Confidentiality Inquiry (NCI)
- NHS Education for Scotland
- NHS Health Scotland
- NHS Research Scotland
- NHS Scotland
- Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (SCMH)
- The Scottish Parliament
- Scottish Assembly
- Scotland Government
- See Me Social Movement
- Survivor Scotland
- Victim Support
- Voices of Experience
We believe psychology has an important role to play in government policy and improving lives of the public.
Drawing on our members' extensive professional practice and research expertise, we provide valuable insight from the psychology profession on a range of policy areas – including health, education and justice.
We have a dedicated Scottish Policy Group, comprised of BPS members across specialisms in Scotland.
The group makes essential contributions to our work in Scotland – covering existing and forthcoming policy developments of relevance to BPS members and identifying emerging issues impacting members and those they support.
More information on our policy and public affairs work in Scotland can be found in the links below and by contacting our Senior Public Affairs Adviser at [email protected].
Scottish Public Affairs Updates
2024
Consultation responses
2025 consultations
2024 consultations
- BPS Response - Children's hearings system redesign (Scottish Government)
- BPS Response - Scottish Government AWIA updates
- BPS Response - 'Moving On' from Care into Adulthood (Scottish Government Consultation)
- BPS Response - Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
- BPS Response - Restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt
- BPS Response - Ending Conversion Practices in Scotland
- BPS Response - Scottish Government Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill consultation
2023 consultations
- BPS Response - Scottish Government consultation. A Human Rights Bill for Scotland
- BPS Response - Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill September 2023
- BPS Response - Scottish Government National Outcomes Consultation
- BPS Response - Scottish Government consultation Adult Secondary Mental Health Services draft quality standards
- BPS Response - Scottish Government consultation on Delivery of Psychological Treatments and Interventions, National Specification
2021 consultations
2019 consultations
- BPS response to the (Scottish Government) Neurological conditions national action plan 2019-2024 draft
- BPS response to the (Scottish Government) Good Food Nation consultation
- BPS response to the Scottish Government consultation on a new National Public Health body
- BPS Response to the (NHS Scotland) Independent review of Learning Disability and Autism in the Mental Health Act
Committee
Chair: Yana Yaneva (April 2024 - April 2026)
Appointed Members:
- Fiona MacKay (Chair: April 2022 - April 2024; appointed member: April 2024 - April 2025)
- Adam Mahoney (April 2023 - April 2026)
- Alison McMullan (May 2024 – May 2027)
- Bruce Ballantyne (Nov 2023 – April 2026)
- Catriona George (Nov 2023 – Nov 2026)
- Claire Stark (April 2023 – April 2026)
- Heather Connolly (May 2024 – May 2027)
- Jason Bohan (April 2023 – April 2026)
- Jennifer Dunsmore (August 2022 – August 2025)
- Karen Twiselton (April 2022 – April 2025)
- Katrina Forbes-McKay (April 2024 – April 2027)
- Kellyanne Findlay (April 2022 – April 2025)
- Larissa Cunningham (Nov 2023 – Nov 2026)
- Lauren Cannon (Sept 2022 – Sept 2025)
- Linden Hampton (Nov 2023 – Nov 2026)
- Nargiz Morrison (Oct 2023 – Oct 2026)
- Philip Quinn (April 2023 – April 2026)
- Morag Williamson (April 2023 – April 2026)
Join
When you join the BPS you are automatically made a member of your local branch.
The Scottish Branch of the BPS covers the following areas/postcodes:
- Aberdeen (AB)
- Dundee (DD)
- Dumfries (DG)
- Edinburgh (EH)
- Falkirk (FK)
- Glasgow (G1-G99)
- Outer Hebrides (HS)
- Inverness (IV)
- Kilmarnock, Ayrshire (KA)
- Kirkwall, Orkney (KW)
- Kirkcaldy, Fife (KY)
- Motherwell, Lanarks (ML)
- Paisley, Renfrewshire (PA)
- Perth (PH)
- Galashiels (TD)
- Lewick, Shetland (ZE)
Member e-newsletter
The Scottish Branch uses its e-newsletter to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues.
To receive this you will need to:
- become a member of the Scottish Branch
- check your email preferences that you have opted into receiving emails
- ensure that your email address is correct
You can check your preferences by logging into your member portal.
If you have any queries, please contact Member Network support - Scottish Branch.
Getting involved with the Scottish Branch Committee
The Scottish Branch relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Branch is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers.
Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or in-training members, and together form an open and inclusive community.