ANNUAL BRANCH REPORT (presented to the AGM 2007)
Alice Sluckin, Secretary, Leicester Branch

The last twelve months have been very encouraging for the Leicester Branch as it has once again hosted a very successful day conference as well as continuing with its active programme of Twilight meetings.

As part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Association, and thanks to the work and support of Professor Panos Vostanis, the Branch held its October day conference on "Mental Health Interventions and Services for Children who experience Trauma". We were delighted that Emeritus Professor Bill Yule was able to deliver the keynote address on psychological responses to major disaster, an area in which he has been involved for the last 13 years. Further presentations were given by Professor Paul Stallard, Dr Guinevere Tufnell and Dr Jeanette Allen. The morning presentations were complemented by afternoon workshops offering a more practical approach to a variety of therapeutic frameworks. The day was extremely popular with a maximum turnout of 110 delegates and very positive feedback. It concluded with a drinks reception for all delegates and ACAMH branch members in celebration of the Association's 50th anniversary - a truly memorable close to a great day.

The Branch's 2007 March twilight meeting on "Attachment Theory in the light of recent research findings" was presented by Douglas Stewart, Senior Practitioner Educational Psychologist at the Children and Young People's Services in Leicester. The event was very well attended by participants from the whole area (as far afield as Lincolnshire) and the ensuing discussion very lively.

We were delighted to once again invite branch members to attend the Annual Sluckin Memorial Lecture which, this year, was given by the distinguished scientist and renowned television presenter Professor Aubrey Manning OBE FRSE FIBiol from the University of Edinburgh; he gave an interesting and insightful lecture on "The Animals and Ourselves".

We look forward to fitting in a further twilight meeting before the close of 2007 around the popular theme of maternal bonding and preliminary work on our 2008 annual day conference has already commenced.

Our branch committee remains small, but loyal, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and commitment over the last year. We said good-bye to Dr Liz Eglinton, one of our long-standing committee members, who moved to another professional field at the end of 2006, following successful completion of her PhD; we shall miss her ideas, dedication and hard work, but wish her all the very best. Special thanks go to the admin team at the ACAMH London Head Office for their ongoing wonderful support.
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