THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REVIEW 0607 www.britsoc.co.uk Executive Committee Members Executive Committee Co-opted members for BSA Office Members for the period the same period The offices of the British Sociological Association, and March 2006 – March 2007 the address at which the Charity’s Correspondent (or President senior employee), Judith Mudd may be contacted, Elected members Professor Geoff Payne are at: Bailey Suite, Palatine House, Belmont (trustees and company directors) Business Park, Belmont, Durham, DH1 1TW. Co-opted Officers Gillian Bendelow (MedSoc Study Group) Tel: 0191 383 0839 Fax:0191 383 0782 Prof Gayle Letherby (Chair) Julie Cappleman-Morgan (Outside Academia) Email: [email protected] Prof Pat Allat (Vice-Chair) Kerrin Clapton (Postgraduate Forum) Dr Thomas Hall (Treasurer) Annika Coughlin (Outside Academia) Staff Sarah Earle (Income Generation) Judith Mudd (Executive Officer) Ordinary Executive Committee members Nina Hallowell (MedSoc Study Group) Deborah Brown (Office Manager) Dr Abby Day (Publications / Income Generation) Ruth Lewis (Postgraduate Forum) Joyce Campbell (Administrative Assistant) Dr Bella Dicks (Publications) Sanjay Sharma (Race Forum) Liz Jackson (Conference Manager) Dr Mark Freestone (Website) Margaret Luke (Administrative Assistant) Mr Brian Goldfarb (FGP / Membership) Honorary Vice Presidents Libby Marks (Publications Manager) Dr Susan Halford (Publications) Martin Albrow Gillian Mason (Finance Officer) Prof Barbara Harrison (Conferences and Sara Arber Donna Willis (Website and IT Officer) Events /Consultations) Robert Burgess Dr Eric Harrison (Media Liaison) Joan Busfield Accounts Prof David Inglis (Publications) David Morgan Annual Accounts for the period September 2005 to Prof Linda McKie (Communications) Jennifer Platt September 2006 have been prepared by Baker Tilly, Dr Rob Mears (Postgraduate Liaison) John Westergaard Chartered Accountants, I St James’ Gate, Newcastle Dr Iain Wilkinson (Study Group Liaison) John Scott upon Tyne NE1 4AD. Dr Emmanuelle Tulle (Vice Treasurer / Membership) Dr Chris Yuill (Conference and Events / MedSoc Liaison) Ex-Officio Prof John Brewer (Immediate past chair) Foreword As the pages of this Annual Report show this year has been a busy one By Gayle Letherby for the Association and it is clear from the activities and events reported on here that as an organisation the BSA continues to serve and represent Chair of the British its member and support and enhance sociology as a discipline. Thanks are due to all the members of committees, study group convenors, Sociological Association journal editors and BSA members who contribute to the continued success of the organisation. In organising the annual conference in Harrogate last year the BSA was assisted by a professional conference organisation company: Conference Co-ordination. Predictably perhaps this led to some improvements and some new problems. The conference team for 2007 (University of East London) have worked closely with Conference Coordination this year and the record number of delegates indicates the likely success of the conference. The Medical Sociology Conference in 2006 was also in a new venue and Herriot Watt proved to be a popular choice. At last year’s annual BSA conference we launched The World of Sociology our new DVD designed to introduce students to sociology. Highlights at this year’s conference include the birthday celebrations Continued Overleaf FOREWORD 01 ANNUAL REVIEW 0607 THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION of two of our journals - Sociology is 40 this year and Work, particular significance this year have been the responses Employment and Society 20. We also launch Cultural to the ESRC 1+3 Consultation Document and the RAE Sociology (which is jointly owned by the BSA with Sage) Consultation Document. The BSA Executive Committee at this conference and there will be a further celebration continues to work closely with Heads and Professors of of the 40 years of Sociology at the European Sociological Sociology (HAPS formally HODS). Association Conference in September in Glasgow. A recent development at the annual conference and at MedSoc has There have been some changes in the BSA Office in been the introduction of media workshops. We have this year Durham this year. We were sad to see Nicola Gibson leave extended this provision starting with a one-day workshop in but have welcomed Liz Jackson as Conference Manager Aberdeen followed by an event in Warwick with more to follow. and Donna Willis as Website and IT Officer. Our thanks Our positive reciprocal relationships with sister organisations as ever are due to all the staff in the office – Judith Mudd, continue for example in a joint BSA/BSC conference – Sex Deborah Brown, Libby Marks, Gillian Mason, Liz Jackson, as Crime – in the spring of 2006 and in having Tim Newburn Donna Willis, Joyce Campbell and Margaret Luke. In (President of the BSC) as guest speaker at our Annual General addition to regular duties, sickness and departures have led Meeting at last year’s annual conference. at times to increased responsibilities for all and those of us who work closely with the office are grateful to all the BSA Members of the Executive Committee and its sub- staff for their dedication and hard work. committees – Finance and General Purposes, Publications, Communications and Conferences and Events – have been Last but not least thanks are due to Geoff Payne, BSA involved in the usual range of activities over the year. In President (2005 – 2007). Geoff’s Presidential lecture was addition this year the BSA Executive has been busy reflecting a highlight at last year’s conference and his thoughtful, on the findings of the Alinear Reengineering Ltd review of supportive and forward thinking work for the association is our structure and working practices. We report on the work appreciated by us all. This year we welcome Sue Scott, we have done and of the subsequent changes to structure BSA President (2007 – 2009) and look forward to another and organisational practice at this year’s AGM. The changes year of BSA activity. that we will implement in 2007/8 will promote more efficient working practices and free up more time for strategic planning Gayle Letherby for the association. As ever the BSA has also been involved Chair, BSA Executive Committee in the response to various consultation exercises initiated by government, funding agencies and various HE bodies. Of 02 FOREWORD THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REVIEW 0607 Executive Committee 1. Status and constitution of the charity Sociological Association and proceeds on a rolling basis with new members elected to the Executive Committee in the spring of each year. The British Sociological Association (BSA) was founded in 1951. It is a charity registered in England and Wales (charity registration number 1080235) and a Company Members of the Executive Committee are the legal trustees of the Association, and Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3890729). have overall responsibility for ensuring the organisation has in place an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise; to provide reasonable assurance that the 1.1 BSA Publications charity is operating efficiently and effectively; that its assets are safeguarded against The charity controls a trading subsidiary: BSA Publications Limited. BSA Publications unauthorised use or disposition; that proper records are maintained and financial Limited publishes sociological journals on behalf of the parent body, the British information used within the charity or for its publication is reliable, and that the charity Sociological Association. complies with relevant laws and regulations. Much of the work of the Executive Committee is carried out by delegated sub-groups – Finance and General Purposes, 1.2 Executive Committee and trustees Publications, Conferences, and Communications. The activities of the BSA are co-ordinated by an elected Executive Committee (Council) made up from ordinary members of the Association; the Executive 1.3 The BSA office Committee directs current activities and attends to the future direction of the The work of the Executive Committee and its sub groups is supported by a dedicated Association in the light of its stated aims and objectives. The Executive Committee staff team, based at the Association’s registered offices in Durham. The BSA employs comprises 18 members, including three officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer), seven staff on a permanent basis all of whom are subject to an annual professional nominated and elected by the wider membership for a term of three years. The development review. Other paid support includes temporary office assistance as election of Executive Committee members is governed by and set out in the charity required and contracted services (see below). Office staff are responsible for the day governing document, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the British to day administration of the business of the Association under the management of the Association’s Executive Officer, Mrs. Judith Mudd. Continued Overleaf EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 03 ANNUAL REVIEW 0607 THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2. Aims and objectives 3. Activities The objects for which the Association was established as a Company are set out in its 3.1 Membership Memorandum and Articles of Association as the advancement of public education by The Association has provided a range of services to members and the discipline (and the promotion