Annual Report 2003

I approach the task of writing this Annual Report with a certain spring in my footsteps, because I believe that it is fair to say that the Trust is now emerging from a complicated period of reconstruction, where confidence was not high, into new sunlight, in which the way ahead is very much clearer.

During the course of this year, we have capitalised on the essential work undertaken last year. We have added new Trustees to our number, who bring with them fresh impetus, and have developed our policy of collaboration and partnership with other organisations and with individuals who are interested, as we are, in the broad fields of Social Work, Health and Education. One of our current preoccupations is about considering how best to maintain these new relationships, and partnerships , so that we can sustain both the learning, and the level of interest.

Despite our strong efforts to persuade them otherwise, I have to report that both Neville Singh, and Russell Forrest have decided that it is time to move on to pastures new, and will resign as Trustees with effect from this Annual General Meeting. They are senior Trustees who have been stalwarts of the Trust for many years, and we shall miss them. Neville has been our Treasurer since the start, and Russell’s most recent incarnation was that of Bursar of our Training Grant system. Both we and they regret their going, but both feel that the time is ripe to give up their stewardship. We wish both of them well, and hope that they will remain in touch and keep a friendly and supportive eye open for us.

Our finances continue to strengthen, although they are not yet at the level we require to reach a position of full confidence, and, while our Bursary, or Training Grant, system remains in temporary suspension, we are now at a stage of considering a cautious resumption of applications. We would like to thank most sincerely Anne Sutherland, The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Swan Mountain Trust, The Gordon Small Trust and others for their support.

One of the indications of our level of confidence lies in our renewed sense of risk taking, in that we felt able to undertake the financing and organisation of a joint lecture with the Howard League Scotland, dealing with a number of issues and perspectives within the Criminal Justice system. It was our Memorial lecture to Drummond Hunter, a Trustee until his death last year, and we were fortunate to have as our speakers, Dr Rob Hale, Consultant Psychotherapist and Psychoanalyst, and Dr John Crichton, Forensic Psychiatrist. The evening was chaired by Lord Bonomy, Senator of the College of Justice, all the indications are that the lecture was a considerable success at a variety of levels. It is our intention to participate in further collaboration with the Howard League in the future, and, as I write, we are also considering further partnerships with other groups.

We are now in the middle of developing our Business Plan. At this stage, we anticipate that this will focus on a three year period, which will enable us to approach Funders from a good base. A further benefit from this level of considered thinking will be an improved assessment process as we seek to identify the best use of our resources in identifying both Lecture subjects, as well as suitable partners. We are also starting to consider how many Lectures and Seminars we can undertake in a 12 month period.

The appointment of our Development Worker, Sally Thomson, has been central to our plans, and the energy which has been released by this appointment has enabled us to progress faster than at any other point in our recent history. Sally was appointed barely two months before the Drummond Hunter lecture, and had to hit the ground running-a feat she achieved with admirable balance. Currently, she is working on our development plan, and is pursuing the mapping of psychodynamic work in Scotland. Additionally, we are seeking to develop our list of supporters so that we can better inform them of our progress, as well as seek to understand and to meet, their needs.

We welcome new Trustees; Sheena Blair is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the BSc/BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Degree at Queen Margaret University College. She is in the third year of a Doctorate in Education, in the area of educational gerontology, at the University of Edinburgh. She has had a 35 year history of interest in psychodynamic work and was professionally active in this area from the late 60’s to the mid 70’s at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Colin Kirkwood, a counsellor, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, educationalist and author, is Senior Lecturer in Counselling at Moray House School of Education, at the University of Edinburgh..

We will continue to identify Trustees who can contribute to our work, and recently we have been considering a process in which we appoint Trustees from previously predetermined work areas.

June Nelson’s arrival as Secretary has been a very considerable bonus to us, and her happy knack of, not only managing our meetings, but also of keeping us on track is very valuable. It was also a source of particular delight that Lesley Boyd accepted the position of Vice Convenor, and her support has been a huge help this year. A further, very positive step lies in Sarah Whitley’s recent decision to accept the post of Treasurer to the Trust

In summary, we are in good health, and, as we develop, we continue to focus on both the Task and the Process of our undertaking. We approach the coming year with enthusiasm, and with great interest.

Brian Atwell (Convenor)

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