Berkshire Branch

The Berkshire branch has been running for 20 years now. While membership has ebbed and flowed, there is a renewed commitment to the branch from professionals and others following two recent and successful conferences organised by the branch: Everywhere But Nowhere: the impact of domestic violence on children in 2005 and Parental Substance Misuse: the impact on children and families in 2006. Both conferences were a mixture of presentations from a national perspective and workshops run by local practitioners.

The branch meets approximately monthly (alternating between Reading and Slough). At present the branch is largely focused on organising smaller workshops during the year and an annual conference.

The branch AGM will be held on Thursday 18^th January 2007 at 6.30pm in Bracknell and will include a presentation by DCI Tim Price on Female Genital Mutilation.

The Branch Chair is Mark Bryant, the Treasurer is Sheila McKeand and the Secretary is David Chapman.

To contact the branch, please email Mark Bryant - rosta.online@tesco.net

East Midlands Branch

This branch was established in 1985 and held regular evening Seminars and Conferences over the years. Unfortunately for the last few years there has been little branch activity and we would love to see anyone in the area take up the challenge to work with the branch and help to get up it and running again. The office can assist and put you in touch with other members who still wish to play an active role.  

Greater London

More details soon. 

Greater Manchester Branch

This branch was first established as the North West branch in 1988 but was disbanded in 1991. Allan Sale formed a steering group to create a Greater Manchester branch in 1992 but it took him 5 years before the first conference was held in Spring 1997 and a committee was formed. Allan formally retired as branch representative in 2004 and Simon Goulding took over as chair. A one day Seminar on ADHD held on 21^st July 2005 was the last event held by the branch. A further Event is being planned for April 2007 when the keynote speaker will be Dr Susan Bailey, who will be discussing her recent research regarding Young sex offenders, further speakers are to be added. Please contact the BASPCAN office if you feel you are in a position to work with the branch in developing training events or if you are interested in providing a presentation.

South East (Sussex ) Branch

The South East branch is well-established and centres round the Clermont Child Protection Unit in Brighton, East Sussex.  It is now entering its 17^th year since establishment in 1990, when the National BASPCAN held a Conference and AGM at the University of Sussex, Brighton, in November that year.

The branch found the format that worked best for them was to hold an annual day conference, and has done this for a number of years.  All have been very well attended with around 130 or more delegates.  The Conferences are usually held at the Brighthelm Centre in Brighton itself, giving easy access to those travelling. Historically, the conference is planned well in advance and advertised nationally through BASPCAN mailings, and so delegates attend from throughout the UK.

The last conference was held in July 2006.  ‘Achieving Best Outcomes for Babies in the Care System: dilemmas and challenges of early permanence planning’ had keynote speakers including Dr Mary Mather, Consultant Paediatrician and former Chair of the BAAF Health Group, who spoke on ‘the Impact of Serious Parental Substance Misuse on Children’, Dr Danya Glaser, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Great Ormond Street Hospital, covering the topic of ‘Early Brain Development and the Importance of Attachment Issues’ and The Right Honorable Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division, Royal Courts of Justice, examining ‘Contemporary Legal Issues in Early Planning for Young Children in the Care System’

Arnon Bentovim is the Named Branch Chair but Graham Willis acts in his absence and the Secretary is Elaine Streeter.  The branch have a healthy bank balance, administered for many years by Lulu Maslen, their Treasurer.  Although Lulu retires from Clermont in November 2006 to spend more time with her family she has agreed to continue as Treasurer for the time being.

Exeter (South West) Branch

This new branch was established in autumn 2005 by Dr Charles Holme, a Consultant Paediatrician with the Royal Devon & Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust.

The inaugural branch seminar was held on Friday 7^th October 2005 and was free to all wishing to attend.  The guest speaker from the USA, Patricia Behman attracted many delegates all showing an interest in establishing a branch within the South West. The first branch              meeting was held on Tuesday 31 January when officers were elected :                                    Chair – Dr Charles Holme

                                    Vice- Chair – Ann Allen

                                    Secretary – Gordon Davies

                                    Treasurer – Larry Galloway

 

The branch then held a successful joint event with the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary in Exeter on SUDI/SIDS. Over 100 delegates attended. Following on from these successes a National Conference is to be held in Taunton on February 26^th 2007. Sarah Webb from the BASPCAN committee will assist with the day and is entitled ‘Safeguarding Requirements: From Safe Recruitment, through to safe working Practice and Managing Staff’.   

 

Anyone wishing to join the branch can contact Charles.Holme@rdehc-tr.swest.nhs.uk (telephone Clermont Unit: 01273 295970)  for information.

WESSEX BRANCH

In 1998 Joan Waddingham, a local member, contacted the national office to seek guidance to establish a branch in the Dorset/Hants area.

Along with her colleague Daphne Rose, Joan set up an initial interest meeting in February 1999. This was held at the Dorset Healthcare Trust in Boscombe, which is still the centre for the branch activities and attended by around 23 interested parties and a steering committee of 6 was formed. The Wessex branch then went from strength to strength under the chair of Claire Molloy. Joan Waddingham was elected secretary and Daphne Rose became branch Treasurer and they still both play an active part in the branch. Joan attends the NEC meetings as the nominated branch representative.

2003 and 2005 saw 2 large conferences take place in Bournemouth although the branch meets regularly throughout the year when guest speakers are invited to present at evening seminars. The branch tries to meet at various venues across the large area to accommodate all attendees.

The success of the October 2005 conference meant that Wessex was able to sponsor overseas delegate attendance and the Foreign Delegates drinks reception at Congress 2006. They also sponsored the attendance of 4 local members of the local branch to attend Congress. This was greatly appreciated by all.

The branch flourishes financially under the guidance of chair, Dr Richard Coppen and the tireless work over the years of Joan and Daphne and current committee members Mike Henry and Martin Taylor.

Please contact Joan Waddingham on email: joan.waddingham@bp-pct.nhs.uk