What is ATVSRG?
ATVSRG is ‘The Alexander Technique Voluntary Self-Regulation Group’. It is a professional forum with four member-associations: Alexander Technique International (ATI), The Interactive Teaching Method Association (ITM), The Professional Association of Alexander Teachers (PAAT), and the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT). These four organisations certificate teachers of the Alexander Technique in the UK. ATVSRG is supported in its work by the Foundation for Integrated Health (PFIH) and by the work of three lay members. The chair of ATVSRG is a lay-member, Diane Grayston, and she is paid for her services. The other two lay-members, Ian McLeod and Kay Dixon, are unpaid. Meetings are generally held in London or Birmingham at two-monthly intervals and are attended by a representative of FIH.
In 2005 both government and the healthcare professions acknowledged that self-regulation needed to be replaced by a better system to give the public adequate protection. Federal regulation has been developed instead and the ATVSRG has retained its original title for practical reasons only.
What is the role of ATVSRG?
ATVSRG exists to do those tasks which are required to enable teachers of the Alexander Technique to be appropriately regulated on a single unified register. These tasks include: developing criteria for Continuing Professional Development; for the Accreditation of unrecognised teachers, and for Accreditation of training courses. ATVSRG delegates some of its tasks to sub-groups. The full list of tasks is here. The focus in the year April 2008-March 2009 is to get to a situation whereby the professional associations are deemed to have adequate preparations in place for them to recommend, should they so wish, that their teaching members register with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) or any other body which succeeds it.
How is ATVSRG funded?
The work of ATVSRG is funded by grants from the PFIH and by grants from the four professional associations. In the current year, 2008-2009, the total grant from FIH is likely to be £5000.00; association grants are currently set at £2000.00 (£500.00 each), making a total budget of £7000.00.
Where does the money go?
The lay-chair receives an annual honorarium of £3000.00 for her work. Occasionally, ATVSRG employ outside experts to help with specific tasks with subgroups, for which they are paid a day-rate. ATVSRG also pays for room-hire, and the travel expenses of members. Lay-members’ travel expenses are paid in full; representatives of the professional associations have their expenses capped at £60.00 per meeting. ATVSRG’s money is held in a bank account with HSBC and administered by joint-treasurers Robin St Clair (ATI) and Richard Cauldwell (ITM). A treasurer’s report is presented to every meeting, and the annual accounts are scrutinised by an appropriately qualified person.
What are our values?
In this dialogue and process we aim to:
- Protect and cherish the Alexander Technique, develop our own skills as teachers and pass on the Alexander Technique intact to subsequent generations of teachers.
- To work towards the highest possible standards of Alexander teaching.
- Take full responsibility towards members of the public who may engage in learning the Alexander Technique.
- To be guided by the principles of the Alexander Technique in our discussions and decision making.