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Fellow & honorary fellow

ACC membership

Fellow & honorary fellow (gifted membership only)

Fellowship and Honorary Fellowship are awarded in recognition of the contributions that individuals have made towards the work of ACC and the wider world of counselling and pastoral care either through direct service to the charity, or by contributions in the wider world of counselling and pastoral care. They are gifted by ACC towards the individuals, which means they cannot be applied for.

 

Fellows

Fellows are current or former members of ACC. The award is in recognition of their contribution to the work of ACC. A Fellow will have demonstrated their eligibility for the award by having made a significant contribution to the work of ACC through, for example:

  • direct service to ACC. Voluntary or semi voluntary service that is sustained over an extended period of time (5 years +) in support of ACC as an organisation. This could be as a trustee, committee member, or in an administrative or ancillary capacity.
  • service in the wider community of Christian counsellors and pastoral carers. Exceptional service in the establishment or leadership of an ACC affiliated organisation over a sustained period of time (3+ years).
  • an individual member who demonstrates a portfolio of significant achievements that have contributed to developments in the field of counselling or pastoral care over a period of time.

Benefits and rights

If a Fellow is continuing to practice in any of ACC membership categories, they will continue to pay full fees and be required to follow the annual renewal process appropriate for that membership category. Once a Fellow has ceased practicing and no longer needs a professional membership, they will be provided with the equivalent of free lifetime Friend membership. This means that they are kept in touch with ACC through emails, entitled to discounts at ACC events and the accord journal.

Fellows do not have voting rights as a member of ACC, i.e. at AGMs or Extraordinary General Meetings. However, if they hold another ACC professional membership, they will have the voting rights appropriate to that membership.

 

Honorary fellows

Honorary Fellows are not and do not have to be past members of ACC. The award is in recognition of their contribution to the fields of counselling and pastoral care, not necessarily directly towards the work of ACC.

An Honorary Fellow will have demonstrated their eligibility for the award by having made a significant contribution to the field through:

  • academic research, teaching and writing on the subject of Christianity and mental health and wellbeing in relation to the ministry of counselling or pastoral care;
  • professional teaching and writing on the subject of Christianity and counselling or pastoral care;
  • exceptional provision of pastoral care and/or counselling services, for example the setting up and running of a charity with a Christian foundation, which delivers counselling and/or pastoral care services on a significant scale;
  • advocating or advancing the broader profession of counselling and psychotherapy and/ or forms of pastoral care or the wider promotion of mental wellbeing;
  • service which advances the cause of under-represented people or groups, especially within an inclusion and diversity context.

Benefits and rights

Honorary Fellows will be provided with the equivalent of free lifetime Friend membership. This means that they are kept in touch with ACC through emails, entitled to discounts at ACC events and the accord journal. They do not have voting rights as a member of ACC, i.e. at AGMs or Extraordinary General Meetings.

 

Awarding fellowships

Individuals can be nominated by ACC members, staff and officers. All nominations should include details of how the individual meets the criteria for the award and will be considered by ACC Board in the autumn of each year with awards being made in December.

Fellows and Honorary Fellows are sent a letter by the Chair informing them of their award.

Nominations for awards

If you would like to recommend an individual for either a Fellow or Honorary Fellow award, then please email office@acc-uk.org providing:

  • your name and contact details;
  • the name and contact details of the person who you are nominating;
  • details of their work that you believe makes them eligible for such a reward in line with the above criteria.

All nominations must be received by 31 October each year.

Retaining and removing fellowships

The status and benefits of Honorary Fellow and Fellow are awarded for life and do not have to be renewed each year like other ACC memberships. An individual would cease to be an Honorary Fellow or Fellow if they:

  • requested it to be ceased; or
  • behaved in such a way as to bring ACC into serious disrepute such that ACC Board deemed it necessary to remove the status, in which case the individual would be notified of the decision.

Publication of awards

With the permission of the recipient ACC will:

  • publish a list in accord each year of new Honorary Fellows and Fellows, including the name of the recipient, the award given and a short citation about their work.
  • maintain on the website a list of all current Honorary Fellows and Fellows, including the name of the recipient, the award given and a short citation about their work.