image image image      Celebrating members' success

Information

More about SEBDA

  1. SEBDA is a charitable organisation (registered charity number 258730), which exists to promote excellence in services for children and young people who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Further information on SEBDA's History
  2. SEBDA provides valuable support to professionals working in our field. Members receive our acclaimed journal 'Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties' and 'SEBDA News' as well as preferential rates for our training and professional development events. Members value networking with professionals working in different settings and local authority areas.
  3. Since its foundation in 1952 (as the Association of Workers for Maladjusted Children - later the AWCEBD) SEBDA has campaigned for better services for children and young people experiencing SEBD and - vitally - better support for those who work with them. We understand the huge pressures on committed professionals who rarely receive the praise they deserve. We've been there - and most of us still are there!
  4. SEBDA is multi-professional. Our membership includes teachers, education officers, behaviour support workers, psychologists, residential and other social workers, CAMHS and youth workers. They work in a wide range of mainstream and specialist settings, including PRUs and support bases. SEBDA seeks to represent their views to government and other bodies.
  5. SEBDA members have been at the forefront of practice-focused research in our field, publishing a wide range of books, resources and government-funded research reports on SEBD issues, inclusion and the social and emotional aspects of learning.
  6. SEBDA is committed to increasing social inclusion through making mainstream schooling more supportive. We also know from research and experience that for a small minority of pupils, social inclusion can be best pursued through education, support, care and therapy in specialist settings. Further details

Mission Statement

The Association exists to serve the interests of children and young people experiencing difficulties in their social, emotional and behavioural development. This aim will be achieved by:

  • promoting understanding of their needs;
  • supporting those who work with them;
  • providing training and education to increase knowledge, understanding and skills;
  • engaging with policy-making agencies and service providers to inform and influence their decisions;
  • identifying and disseminating good practice;
  • facilitating and promoting multi-disciplinary co-operation.

Structure

Membership: There are over 1100 SEBDA members, living mainly in England, but also Scotland, Wales and Ireland and a few abroad. SEBDA is intra - and inter-professional, drawing members mainly from education (mainstream schools, PRUs, behaviour support, educational psychology and special) but also from care and mental health agencies concerned with children with SEBD. Our work reaches many non-members.

National Council: The SEBDA National Council consists of representatives from the SEBDA regions and is responsible for ensuring that the Association is representative of its members; pursues its agreed aims; builds an effective organization, identifies and disseminates good practice and provides relevant training and materials.

Executive, management and administration: Working closely with the Executive Director and Development Officer(s), the small National Executive puts proposals to and responds to requests from the National Council. Executive carries out the policies agreed in National Council. Officers give their services voluntarily.

Staffing: By April 2003 SEBDA had recognised that to pursue its aims more effectively, there was need for some professional staff. Dr Ted Cole was therefore appointed Executive Director. His post is supported by a grant from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Since his appointment, there has been significant growth, reflected in a doubled annual turnover cf 2002 (excluding grant aid), more SEBDA events, bigger membership and influence. Since January 2006, he has been supported by Barbara Knowles, the SEBDA Training and Development Manager, and an Administration Officer at the SEBDA Head Office.

SEBDA Voluntary Officers

Joan Pritchard , Macclesfield, is Chair and Course Tutor for the SEBDA Accredited Courses. Professor Harry Daniels, University of Bath is President. Margaret Gibson, W. Lothian is Chair of the Scottish Division, of which Professor Pamela Munn, Edinburgh University is President. The Chair of SEBDA Cymru is currently in the process of being filled.

A full list of officers and representatives can be viewed here.

The Association Constitution

The running of SEBDA is governed by its constitution, a copy of which is lodged with the Charity Commissioners. The full document can be viewed by SEBDA members.

To find out more contact: Dr Ted Cole, Executive Director, SEBDA, Room 211, The Triangle, Exchange Square, Manchester, M4 3TR, or e-mail tcole@sebda.org