What's included

We’re pleased to introduce a new member engagement event designed to strengthen the connection between the organisation and you, our members. This event will be used as a dynamic platform to reflect on the evolving landscape of the counselling and psychotherapy profession, celebrate the achievements of the past year, and, most importantly, amplify the voices of our members.

At its core, this event aims to foster meaningful dialogue, enabling members to share their insights, experiences, and aspirations. It will serve as a space where the organisation, your membership body can present key updates, including a summary of organisational progress and wider impact on the profession, while also inviting open discussion on the issues that matter most to you. By changing how we gather ideas and suggestions, this initiative will help shape the organisations future priorities and activities in a more inclusive and collaborative way. The event will also incorporate Member awards, celebrating success and achievements of our members.

This is more than just an event, it's a commitment from us to listen, learn, and evolve together as a community.

The aims of the event are to:

  • showcase developments in the profession – to present recent changes, trends and vision for the counselling and psychotherapy sector, offering a comprehensive view of the evolving landscape
  • reflect on organisational progress - to share key achievements and milestones reached by the organisation over the past year, highlighting how member feedback has informed strategic decisions and initiatives
  • amplify member voices - to create a welcoming and inclusive space where members can express their views, raise concerns, and share ideas on issues that matter most to them
  • create future priorities together - to gather insights and suggestions from members that will directly influence the organisations future priorities and activities
  • innovate organisational member-engagement practices - to explore and pilot new methods for collecting member input, encouraging collaborative discussion, and building consensus within the membership base
  • a ticket to watch the member awards

The learning outcomes of the conference are to:

  • discover and build on your sense of belonging and shared purpose with fellow members and the organisation
  • explore key themes through the World café and describe your experience on important topics to inform future organisation strategies
  • understand BACP’s year in action, to understand the key areas of impact for the organisation and across the profession
  • gain insights into the outcomes from the Commission for the future of counselling and therapy
  • take part in a division connect session to understand and gain insight into the BACP divisions

Programme

Member Event 2026 programme

Increasing access bursary

Aimed at widening access for members to join the ‘Member event 2026 – listen, learn, grow’ in person, who will experience financial barriers to attend.  

There are up to 10 bursaries available, and each bursary will cover the event attendance fee (£35).  

To be eligible for this bursary, applicants must meet all the following criteria: 

  • be a member of BACP and hold ‘reduced membership’ status 
  • be UK based 
  • be able to demonstrate that attendance at conference would be beneficial to practice and professional development 
  • attend the Member event in-person on Saturday 10 October 2026  
  • must not be in receipt of other funding to attend this conference 

Application process: 

To apply for this bursary, please complete the online submission via our application portal.  

Your application must include: 

  • your name, email and contact details 
  • your BACP membership number  
  • a declaration that you are UK-based 
  • a short-written statement (no more than 400 words) summarising your reasons for applying for the bursary and what you hope to gain from attending conference 

Applications must be received by 11.59pm on Friday 29 May 2026. 

After the closing date, applications will be screened for eligibility. All eligible applications will be entered into a randomised draw to select the successful members. 

Those selected to receive a bursary will be notified by Tuesday 30 June 2026, and provided details of how to claim.  

Applicants are strongly advised NOT to book onto conference, or to book travel or accommodation, in advance of being notified of the outcome of the bursary application process. 

Please note that these bursaries are not transferable for use to attend any other conference or BACP event and don’t cover any travel, accommodation or subsistence expense. 

Key information

What's included

  • five hours of CPD presentations
  • dedicated live Q&A sessions after each presentation with our hosts discussing key themes with presenters
  • selected presentation slides
  • networking opportunities

Dates and location

Join us on Saturday 10 October 2026 from 9am until 7pm in London at Convene 133 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7DB.

The member awards evening will follow the main event and will run from 7pm to 9pm, more information to follow.

On demand

All bookings include access to the on-demand service, where you can catch up on the recordings from the conference as many times as you like from Friday 16 October 2026 until Friday 15 January 2027. A link will be circulated after the event.

Booking

Log in to book your place online. After booking, you'll receive information via email one week prior to the event.

Event sponsorship

For more information on sponsoring this event and other opportunities, please visit our website.