The Sandy Murray Memorial Award 2024/25 Video Competition

What is the Sandy Murray Memorial Award?

At the instance of the Trustees of the Psychologists Protection Society, the Murray Family agreed to offer a bi-annual prize to honour the life, work and dedication to the Society by founder Sandy Murray. Since Sandy’s passing in 2014, many members have provided testimony as to the helpful support received from Sandy throughout his 40 year service and how he encouraged, inspired and enabled Members to face the difficulties which cropped up in their life as a therapist.

What is this years competition?

The 2024/25 Sandy Murray Memorial Award is a video competition for PPS Members. As PPS marks its 50th year of protecting therapists, we invite you to submit a brief video sharing your vision for the next half-century. Your contribution could offer a glimpse into the potential hurdles, advancements, and breakthroughs that lie ahead in your field of expertise, be it counselling, psychotherapy, or psychology. (See below for more details.)

We can’t wait to watch your videos and see your vision for the future. Best of luck!

What is the prize?

The winner will be invited to our next AGM to be presented with an engraved glass trophy inscribed with citation SANDY MURRAY MEMORIAL AWARD, with the winner being able to retain an engraved glass keepsake. A money prize, donated by the Murray family will be provided to the Winner as well as the second and third place runners up. The winners will be named perpetually on PPS literature and online media streams.

How can I find out more?

The “Competition Rules” document contains further information about this years competition.

What is the topic?

As PPS marks its 50th year of protecting therapists, we invite you to submit a brief video (this may be a self-recording, digital presentation, art or drama) sharing your vision for the next half-century. Your contribution could offer a glimpse into the potential hurdles, advancements, and breakthroughs that lie ahead in your field of expertise, be it counselling, psychotherapy, or psychology. Let us know how you foresee these developments shaping the landscape of therapeutic modalities in the coming years.

How do I enter the competition?

The Entry Form below must be completed fully and sent with your entry.

Please note: The essay competition is open to Members of The Psychologists Protection Society only. Entries must be received by PPS on or before the 31st January 2025.

Who was Sandy Murray?

Sandy Murray, who passed away in 2014, was Secretary of the Psychologists Protection Society and servant to our PPS members for 40 years. The Psychologists Protection Society was formed in 1974 out of an indemnity scheme operated by the British Psychological Society.

Sandy, a Clinical Psychologist himself and one of first in the UK to establish an exclusively private practice, took over the scheme and created a new organisation, inviting his fellow professionals to join him.

Sandy made himself available to members 24/7 providing practical, sensible, in-depth advice to those in difficulties in a sympathetic and caring manner.

If a member required at phone call at 6 o’clock in the morning, Sandy was ready and waiting. If a member needed to chat face to face, Sandy was on the next train. Under Sandy’s careful stewardship, the Society grew from 200 members in 1974 to over 6000 today.