BRINGING TOGETHER THEORY AND ACTION

A number of issues have come together to shape this meeting.

Firstly, the UK Community Psychology Network holds occasional national meetings at which those interested in community psychology in the UK can meet to explore common interests, offer each other support, organise for the future etc. The Stirling Group offered to host a network meeting in November 2001 but, for a variety of reasons, this was rescheduled to spring 2002.  Communications from Network members have suggested that there are a number of different visions around as to what ‘community psychology’ means and that it would be useful to ask Network members coming to the conference to prepare accounts of their own visions to share. We believe this would form a basis for discussion of how community psychology ‘should’ develop in the UK.

                Secondly, critical reflection on previous international community psychology congresses by a number of community psychologists belonging to the Network suggested that CP conferences often reproduce many of the features of our social arrangements seen as problematic by critical community psychologists. It was suggested that consideration should be given to trying to make community psychology meetings more thoroughly community psychological in process as well as in content. In a previous communication with Network members it was suggested we should, through our conferences and meetings as elsewhere in our practice, strive to facilitate a range of stakeholders working together to achieve emancipatory critical understanding of social issues, to challenge oppression and contribute to positive change through working at multiple (including socio-structural) levels. This meeting, with its attempts to bring together community members and activists, professional and non-professional community workers, academics and social scientists, represents an effort attempt to take this recommendation forward in theory and practice.

                Thirdly, whilst initially planning the Network event, a range of stakeholders in Cambuslang (a community near Glasgow) began to address issues in relation to mental health and well being in their own community. A Healthy Living Initiative application to fund an infrastructure has now been submitted. Irrespective of whether this particular application is successful, the momentum around the development of this HLI bid provides opportunities for taking ideas and practice forward to promote positive mental health and to prevent distress. The Community Psychology Group at Stirling is being supported by the University of Stirling to trying to promote, through this meeting, Campus-Community partnership working.

Fourthly, a proposal submitted to the British Psychological Society that Professor Isaac Prilleltensky be offered a Visiting Fellowship of the British Psychological Society during 2002 was approved and funding guaranteed. Isaac will be giving a formal presentation at the University of Stirling on his own work in critical community psychology on the Thursday evening. This will be simultaneously be a CCPE / Psychology Department / Faculty of Human Sciences / Public Lecture, which will also bring some minor financial subsidy). Furthermore, Isaac has kindly agreed to attend and contribute to all three days of this collaborative community event.