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 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:
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 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:
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.
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:
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:
Publication of awards
With the permission of the recipient ACC will: