GASIFund Committee update

The upcoming Symposium heads up the committee’s priorities at the moment and will do for the next few months. We are faced with the reality of the world all too starkly, replaying itself in our own Group Analytic Society as we work out how to manage our anxieties and enable those members in parts of the world further away from Athens than are we, and with fewer funds to get there, to attend. The deadline for bursary applications is now closed. We have received the record number of 69 from 16 countries including India, Rwanda, South Africa, China, Israel/Palestine, Dubai, Albania, Lithuania.

A thorough examination about decolonising the curriculum in Group Analysis by Suryia Nayak and Pablo Castanho’s thoughtful response are the final papers in the current issue (December 2025) of the Group Analysis journal. With the Symposium in mind, we find ourselves at the point where thought and action, the personal and political meet and challenge our Society, this microcosm of the world, to manage the inequalities that prevent all those who want to participate, from doing so. The practical albeit short-term way is to find the money that will level up the inhibiting financial inequalities.

It is a pleasure to report that the committee has two new members: Andie Lloyd and the new chair of the GASI Finance Committee, Athena Marouda-Chatjoulis.

In the UK, where GASI is registered (another geographical reality), the tax system recognises and encourages giving to charitable organisations. Thank goodness and a lot of hard work, GASI has retained its charitable status despite the recent challenges, and the GiftAid benefit for UK members who make donations is now in place. It will add 20% to their donations. Julia, Janaki and Reem have adapted the GASI system to handle the technicalities. The task of bringing and keeping everything up-to-date feels endless.

Another reality is that there is less in the coffers than three years ago in Belgrade. There is little remaining in legacy funds like that left by Jane Abercrombie. We are relieved and grateful that the winter workshop in Pescara was a success and able to transfer its €4580 surplus towards bursaries for the Symposium. However, our society is now more dependent than ever on donations. Along with appeals like this to members, training institutes are being contacted and potential sponsorship being considered. There is little choice but to join the fundraising fray if decolonisation is to be more than theoretical.

It seems only fitting in this issue of Contexts dedicated to the memory of Earl Hopper, to note that he was one of the founders of and a significant contributor to the GASIFund.

Please do be in touch with any ideas and, if you can, click that Donation button.