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
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
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, Reserach and Effectiveness (CORE)
- Centre for Research on Families and Relationships
- Child Line
- 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
- In care survivors
- 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
- Support in Mind Scotland(link is external) University of Glasgow
- 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].
Consultation responses
- 2023 - BPS Response - Scottish Government consultation. A Human Rights Bill for Scotland
- 2023 - BPS Response - Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill September 2023
- 2023 - BPS Response - Scottish Government National Outcomes Consultation
- 2023 - BPS Response - Scottish Government consultation Adult Secondary Mental Health Services draft quality standards
- 2023 - BPS Response - Scottish Government consultation on Delivery of Psychological Treatments and Interventions, National Specification
- 2022 - BPS Written Evidence - Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
- 2021 - BPS Response - Scottish Government Draft Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change
- 2020 - BPS Response - Scottish Government Mental Health Law Review
- 2019 - BPS response to the (Scottish Government) Neurological conditions national action plan 2019-2024 draft
- 2019 - BPS response to the (Scottish Government) Good Food Nation consultation
- 2019 - BPS response to the Scottish Government consultation on a new National Public Health body
- 2019 - BPS Response to the (NHS Scotland) Independent review of Learning Disability and Autism in the Mental Health Act
- 2018 - BPS Response to the (Scottish Government) Adults with Incapacity Reform consultation
Scottish Public Affairs Updates
- Scottish Public Affairs Update - February 2024
- Scottish Public Affairs Update - December 2023
- Scottish Public Affairs Update - November 2023
- Scottish Public Affairs Update - September 2023
- Scottish Public Affairs Update - July 2023
- Scottish Public Affairs Update - April 2023
- Scottish Public Affairs Update - March 2023
Committee
Chair: Fiona McKay
Chair Elect: Yana Yaneva
Honorary Treasurer: Vacant
Honorary Secretary: Vacant
Committee Members:
- Karen Twiselton
- Kellyanne Findlay
- Morag Williamson
- Jason Bohan
- Claire Stark
- Sarah Gillanders
- Wendy Maltinsky
- Philip Quinn
- Adam Mahoney
Neuropsychology Representative: Catriona George
Pre-Tertiary Representative: Morag Williamson
PsyPAG Representative: Jennifer Dunsmore
Practice Board Representative: Alison McMullan
Practice Board Ed Psych Representative & Lead SIGN Representative: James McTaggart
Student Representative: Lauren Cannon
Student Ambassador Lead: Sophie Anne King
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.