Well I can’t believe this is my last DSEP Chair’s blog post of my tenure as Chair. The conference in December will mark the end of my two-year period as Chair and the transition to a new Chair of the Division.
The increasingly dark nights of autumn signal the count down to the 2019 DSEP Annual Conference taking place this year at the voco St John’s hotel in Solihull, West Midlands. The conference taking place on 2nd and 3rd December already looks like it is going to be a great success based upon registrations to date. The conference has many highlights in the programme including eminent keynote speakers such as Prof Diane Crone, Prof Chris Harwood and Dr Allan Johnston. The theme for the conference is ‘New horizons in sport, physical activity and performance psychology’ and the programme will offer expert insight into many contemporary issues and challenges facing practitioners, researchers, educators, and trainees alike. To book a place at the conference visit the BPS conference page:
Book a place at the DSEP Annual Conference
The CPD team within the Division continue to develop plans for delivery in 2020. At the time of writing we are in discussions with BASES about running a joint CPD event in 2020, as well as running free-to-member and free-to-Stage 2 trainee events, plus delivering the first DSEP webinars. As I write this in mid-October we are also running the first free-to-Stage 2 trainees event run by the Division focused on ‘Contemporary Practitioner Skills in Sport and Exercise Psychology’. If you are interested in running or organising a BPS Learning Centre workshop please get in touch.
I am sure you have noticed the increased presence of the Division across a range of different social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and the Division’s blog post page as well. Emily Pattinson has been working hard to provide regular posts and updates focused on sharing information, starting conversations, inviting comment, and advertising events relevant to our membership. We are also looking to launch a new annual Division members survey at this year’s annual conference to provide a further voice to the Division’s membership to influence and shape the future direction and focus of the Division in a rapidly changing British Psychological Society.
It is great to see the Division’s Applied Hubs continuing to grow both in terms of numbers and activity. It is also wonderful to see a session at the Annual Conference focused on the work of the Applied Hubs. The DSEP committee are currently exploring a number of ways we can seek to further support the Hubs and the reach of their activities.
Finally, you have hopefully seen the calls for nominations for DSEP committee members across the different communication channels. Membership of the committee is open to all DSEP members, regardless of age or experience. Anyone who is keen to continue the great work undertaken by committee members past and present is encouraged to put themselves forward for one of the roles. Being on the committee represents the opportunity to make a difference, to contribute to the profession in the UK, and to make new friends.
As ever, if you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to get involved please get in touch. You can email the DSEP chair at: dsepchair@bps.org.uk
Stewart Cotterill
DSEP Chair
BPS Division of Sport and Exercise Blog 