REPORT FROM NIPaS TRUSTEES FOR THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2023
During the year, January to December 2023, the Northern Ireland Psychoanalytic Society (NIPaS) continued to pursue its charitable aims of providing psychoanalytic education and training, and to seek to improve the mental health of the wider population. NIPaS was also formally recognised as a Provisional Society of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA, founded by Sigmund Freud in 1910) at the Congress in Colombia in July.
Training and Education
In 2023 NIPaS continued to refine and implement the five-year theoretical and clinical curriculum and to monitor the progress of all candidates towards satisfying the requirements for qualification as internationally-accredited psychoanalysts. NIPaS also launched a new training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, which we hope to be formally accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council in late 2024.
This year we appointed a new Training Analyst, Dr Deirdre Meehan, in February 2023. We also have a new Child Analyst, Dr Mary Short, who was also our first Member to qualify under our recently IPA-approved Child Analytic training in October 2023.
During the year, NIPaS also continued to organise seminars for Guest members and hosted visiting analysts from the British Psychoanalytical Society (BPaS) and the Viennese Psychoanalytic Society, who led seminars for full members, candidates, and guests, on various topics. NIPaS also continued to organise a well-attended monthly CPD group to facilitate the ongoing professional development of its members.
The NIPaS Outreach Committee continued to offer Work Discussion Groups (WDG) to reach a wider audience of clinical practitioners who are not formal members of NIPaS. We also hosted a public lecture ‘On Adolescence’, on 3 March 2023, by our Honorary Fellow, Dr Luis
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC100786
1
Rodriguez de la Sierra of the British Psychoanalytical Society which was well attended and received by a range of mental-health professionals and psychotherapists.
Governance
Our Honorary Treasurer, Dr Iain McDougall, stood down and was replaced by Dr Kristine Tiltina. There were no other changes in the officers of the organisation.
The Board and the Finance, Training and Outreach Committees continued to meet throughout the year to ensure the governance, regulation, and development of the Society’s various activities.
The Society also continued to be very ably assisted in its general accounting and administration by our part-time Administrator, Fiona Wilson.
Charity Commission Reporting
A report to the Charity Commission was made which included providing a copy of all accounts, minutes of meetings and governance documents for external assessment. Conor Moore, Independent Assessor, completed a comprehensive analysis of the documentation provided to him by NIPaS and was able to report back positively on this.
NIPaS Charitable Trustees
Dr Hannah Browne, President of NIPaS
Professor Bernard Cullen, Chair of NIPaS Training Committee, Board member
Dr Craig Johnston, Honorary Secretary, Board Member
Professor Gerry Lynch, Consultant Psychiatrist, Lay Member of Board
This report has been prepared by Dr Craig Johnston (Hon Sec of NIPaS) and approved both by the Trustees above and by the Board of NIPaS on 4 July 2024
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC100786
2