Overview of the year

The last twelve months have been eventful and successful for the Sutherland Trust which continues to thrive in terms of core business.   Attendance at the two annual lectures has consolidated at approximately one hundred people per event, approximately £5,500 was allocated for twenty successful awards, our trustee complement has been sustained and reciprocally helpful relationships exist with other likeminded organisations such as the Scottish Institute of Human Relations and the Howard League for Penal Reform.

It has been also been a year in which trustees assumed new roles.   Following the AGM in September 2008, Dr Chris Holland became Treasurer, Dr Desmond Ryan became Company Secretary and Marshal Schwenn became Administrator and Financial Worker.

A further change of personnel occurred in June 2009 when Jo Hilton resigned as Development Worker and the Trustees agreed to appoint Marshal Schwenn to the twin roles of Administration and Development effective from July 2009.   Careful attention to governance of the Sutherland Trust has progressed with the adoption of a three year strategic plan which is revised annually and distils into a yearly action plan. 
 

Specific events

The first lecture of the year in the autumn was entitled: “Are We Bothered” which involved a joint presentation by Jonathan Wood and Stephen Fischbacher with the key purpose of engaging colleagues in education to explore ideas concerning emotional literacy.  This lecture attracted new attendees and it sought to consider techniques which would help young people engage with their emotion.   The combination of musical and literary approaches resonated well with psychodynamic thinking and a new audience.

The Spring lecture focussed on the work of Isobel Menzies Lyeth and was entitled “The Art of the Possible” and given by Dr Tim Dartington.   This lecture celebrated the life of Isobel Menzies Lyeth and specifically revisited her work on the ways that organisations can defend against inherent anxiety.  This lecture gave Trustees the opportunity to consider this valuable addition to the literature in relation to future work in the public sector.

The Autumn lecture was given by Dr Jane Polden and was entitled “Behind Closed Doors – Exploring Therapeutic Process in the Prison Community.   This lecture dealt with a therapeutic community in the south of England and reflected upon the dynamics and processes experienced in a living and learning opportunity.   The re-offending rate of prisoners was significantly reduced following this experience compared to the main prison community.   This lecture was presented in collaboration with the Howard League for Prison Reform and chaired by Professor Angus Skinner.

Outcomes from the lectures have been specifically valuable for underpinning future work still in the planning stage. This year, the lectures appear to have attracted an increasing number of younger people which has expanded the database.   Logistically, the lecture format is designed to maximise discussion and a café style of seating enables this to occur.

Our “conversation” in September involved Dr Gavin Miller giving a lecture on “Scottish Psycho therapy and Christianity” and specifically included reference to the work of R. D. Laing.  This prompted a lively exchange of views.

Finances
Our financial position is robust and has been very effectively managed by our respective Trustees and in particular, Marshal Schwenn.   It is entirely transparent and monthly updates are provided to ensure that the Chair and office bearers can monitor the position.   Discussion of the financial position occurs at each of the four meetings per year and agreement is reached on the yearly amount allocated for awards.   Financial contributions have been received by the following Trusts:

• Tekoa Trust
• Esme Fairbairn Trust
• Mary Hartnoll
• Swan Mountain Trust
• Gordon Small Trust

In addition, monies from lectures, lat year’s Book Festival and Bank interest augment the financial position.

Events
All events are conceived within the regular meetings of the Sutherland Trust and small working parties design and plan how the lecture will proceed.   Certain themes have evolved including education, the prison population, organisations and emotional literacy.
Over the last three years, the Sutherland Trust events have been very well and imaginatively publicised by Jo Hilton.   The marketing format of postcards advertising the lectures will be continued.   They have become a key characteristic of the Sutherland Trust activities.   The venue of the Teviot Debating Hall is central, conducive and again linked with Sutherland Trust activities.  

Awards Scheme
This is a primary role of the Sutherland Trust and the group responsible for this chaired by Dr Anne Claveirole must be congratulated for careful selection of people for the awards.  Testimonials which are received from successful candidates demonstrate how valuable those small “pump priming” awards are for studies which involve psychodynamic thinking.

Governance of the Trust
Trustees carefully ensure transparent decisions and activities.   We ensure that we abide by OSCR recommendations and have sought to develop a three year strategic plan which ensures continual proactive work.   All accounts are monitored monthly and are then verified by solicitors.

Profile of the Trust
Work on the website continues to ensure public access to forthcoming activities.  Unfortunately, the intention to liaise with the Scottish Government has not resulted in any specific outcome and this will be resurrected in the following year.   As mentioned earlier, the audiences at the three annual lectures appear to be widening.   Reciprocal links with other organisations is invaluable and this will be sustained in 2009/10.

Trustees constantly seek to promote the mission and values of the Trust and have been extremely successful in maximising professional contacts in this respect.

Future possibilities
The major thrust for the following twelve months is the exciting possibility that the Sutherland Trust will “broker” a project financially underwritten by the generous funding of the Gordon Small Trust.   A working party has been established to produce a proposal concerning this initiative. 

Grateful thanks are offered to all trustees for their constancy and imagination in ensuring that the Sutherland Trust has had another very successful year of operation.   Particular thanks are offered to Lesley Boyd, Vice-chair for assuming the Chair for a couple of months during the year and for writing the annual report for the Gordon Small Trust AGM. Trustees take responsibilities very seriously and give considerable personal time and energy to the annual activities.

Dr Sheena E. E. Blair
Chair 2008/9

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