AATA Staff Membership list

Action Against Tranquilliser Addiction is a non-profit registered voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom.

Our organisation operates a strictly non-judgemental, anti-discrimination and mutually inclusive organisation. As an organisation we believe that religion, culture, ethnicity, social status, personal background should be no barrier to receiving information and guidance from our organisation. Any staff member who violates this code of conduct risk being suspended or removed entirely from our staff membership.

Our membership is as follows;

Chair/Director

Ross JM

Treasurer, Secretary

Dr JG McConnell BSc, MD, FRCP, FRCPEd

Treasurer

Marie Walker

Political Advisor

Sir Bill Connor

English Coordinator

Susan Bibby

Wales Coordinator

Jennifer Robinson

Scotland Coordinator

Therese Kennedy

The role of the director/secretary of the organisation is to oversee the functioning of the organisation and to provide leadership and direction. We as an organisation operate an inclusive role with every staff member’s views being carefully considered. On a yearly basis we review our staff’s membership and position in our organisation. We have two trustees, their role is to manage the finances of the organisation, including the receiving grant money and dispensing and accounting for how, when and where the money is spent. The release of money from the action against tranquilliser addiction organisation bank account can only occur after both trustees have signed for the release of funds.
The director of the organisation can in agreement with the trustees terminate the membership of a staff member if it is believed to be justified and in the best interests of the organisation. This decision if urgent can occur at anytime, if non-urgent then restructuring staff membership including, promotions, demotions and removal from staff membership will occur at our organisation's annual meeting.

The objectives of the organisation are;

To establish regional helplines for benzodiazepine users and their families which will provide information and support. To raise awareness of the serious problems associated with benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal. To work collaboratively with existing drug and alcohol services and the medical profession to improve the management of benzodiazepine dependence and to prevent benzodiazepine dependence from occuring in the first place.

The role of the trustees of the organisation are;

To receive and to dispense funding to fund our objectives of establishing a helpline service. To record proof of how the money was spent. To sign and counter sign for the dispensing of money from the Action Aganst Tranquilliser Addiction bank account.

The role of the director/secretary is to;

To provide a leadership role for the organisation, making decisions on granting and removing membership. To keep a record of all members contact details including names, addresses and telephone numbers. To grant powers and roles of members and member groups within the organisation Arranging annual meetings and recording and finalising votes.