On the 19 and 20 of September, the BACP Board gathered at BACP House for two productive days of discussions and decisions that continue to shape the future of our organisation and profession. As always, the meeting was an opportunity to review the core administrative aspects of our work, but it also gave us the space to dive into some of the most pressing issues and exciting opportunities facing BACP.
Administrative matters and routine updates
We began with the usual formalities, including approving the minutes from our previous Board meeting and reviewing committee reports. This regular process ensures that we stay aligned and provides a strong foundation for everything else we discuss. Reports from the Chair, CEO and Committee chairs were presented and discussed in detail, offering valuable insights into the ongoing work across all parts of BACP.
SCoPEd and accreditation routes
Our meetings are always regular opportunities to monitor progression of the SCoPEd initiative. We reviewed and approved proposals for new accreditation routes, which will be further refined in line with our overall plan. Our goal is to make these routes as fair, consistent and simple as possible, reflecting our members’ wide range of training and experience. Ensuring this diversity is crucial for the health of our profession. We know members will be keen to see the details of the new accreditation routes and can confirm that, once finalised, we’ll be publishing details of these routes in spring 2025.
Business plan - BACP's future direction
One of the highlights of the meeting was a comprehensive presentation on our business plan led by our CEO, Phil, and the executive team. Phil, since joining BACP, has been instrumental in driving forward a strategy to further establish and extend BACP as the leading organisation in our profession.
The core of our business plan centres around how we deliver real value to our members, ensuring they see BACP as offering a compelling and unique proposition. It’s an exciting time for us, and I’m confident that we're on the right path to making BACP even more impactful for our members and the profession as a whole.
HR update and staff wellbeing
We also heard from our HR Director, who provided an update on staff wellbeing and the outcome of our recent participation in the MIND Workplace Wellbeing Index, which helps us understand how we're performing as an employer. As a Board, it's essential that we offer our executive team the backing they need to ensure BACP remains a positive and supportive place to work.
The role of our Vice-Presidents
We’ve been looking at how we work with our Vice-Presidents (VPs) over the last year and how we can maximise the impact we have together.
We were pleased to be able to review a paper outlining how we want to move forward, and we agreed that the role should continue to play an important ambassadorial function. We're incredibly grateful to all the VPs who've worked with us and those who are currently appointed. Going forward, prospective candidates for this role should not only align with our core belief that 'counselling changes lives' but also have significant reach and influence in their respective fields. We’ve asked the executive team to begin the process of finding candidates who will amplify our message and bring further visibility to the vital work we do.
Financial health and investments in research
I’m pleased to report that we approved the 2023-2024 financial statements for both BACP and BACP Enterprises. These documents show that we're in a healthy financial position, thanks in no small part to the hard work of our staff, who consistently strive to make the best use of our funds.
However, the most exciting development from this meeting was the board’s approval of a significant further investment into research. We're committing £250,000 toward research grants, which will fund groundbreaking projects that advance the counselling profession. This is a continuation of our dedication to supporting the evidence base that underpins our work.
Our intent is to ensure that research remains at the forefront of what we do as an organisation. By fostering continuous research, we aim to generate new insights that will shape the future of counselling and psychotherapy, enhancing the efficacy of the services our members provide.
The first wave of funding will be allocated to a range of research proposals that align with our strategic priorities, with a focus on projects that demonstrate the real-world impact of counselling in diverse settings. Our incredible research team now has the green light to begin seeking proposals, and we look forward to receiving innovative, evidence-driven ideas from across the profession.
Next year, we'll provide a more detailed update on the progress of these initiatives at the BACP Research Conference, where we plan to showcase some of the early outputs from the new grants. This conference will be a key moment to share findings and bring the research community together, as we continue to build on our shared commitment to advancing the profession through robust and high-quality research.
Moving forward
Overall, this was an incredibly productive and forward-thinking meeting. It’s clear that BACP is in a strong position, not only financially but in terms of our strategic direction, member offerings and our commitment to research and development. We're committed to ensuring our members voices are heard and represented in all that we do.
I look forward to updating you all on the progress of these initiatives and continuing to work together to strengthen our profession for the benefit of all.
Natalie Bailey
Chair, BACP Board
