Thank you for your support at the AGM. On this occasion, I’m going to use my space in Slipstream to highlight some of the things that are already going on in 2026.

Membership Price Rise
You may have noticed that the cost of IAM RoadSmart membership has risen to £51 per year, an increase of around 8%. Understandably, this has prompted questions about why members must belong to both TVAM and IAM RoadSmart. As an affiliated group, TVAM is part of the IAM RoadSmart community – we are IAM RoadSmart – and our membership ensures we have a voice in shaping future improvements rather than commenting from the sidelines.

It’s clear that IAM RoadSmart needs to evolve to remain relevant to today’s riders and drivers and to respond to the current political, economic, and safety landscape. IAM RoadSmart are acutely aware there are differences in culture and approach between the central organisation and groups such as ours. I’ve noticed an increased openness recently, and a desire to improve communication with groups.

In December, I met with Shona Johnstone, Chair of the IAM RoadSmart Board of Trustees. The main purpose of the meeting was for Shona to meet and understand the thoughts and concerns of groups up and down the country.

There is also a financial challenge to address, following the significant accounting deficit reported at the last IAM AGM.

In January, I joined several other SouthWest Group Chairs in a meeting with Interim CEO Mark Armitage. Mark opened the discussion by addressing the
deficit directly, setting out his commitment to organisational change rather than simply ‘minding the fort’. With his background in analysing and
implementing strategic improvements, we can expect meaningful changes over the coming months aimed at sharpening IAM RoadSmart’s focus and ensuring resources are used where they deliver real value.

I should add that following the meeting the level of communication between Chairs has improved.

Marketing
TVAM also needs to evolve to make the most of new opportunities. The committee has set an objective to strengthen our Marketing activity in its broadest sense. There is a strong feeling that we could do a better job of understanding and describing the benefits that membership and advanced training bring, to
demographics we don’t currently attract. A recent “Head of Marketing and Communications” role advertised on Groups.io has already received a strong
response, and I’m hopeful that by the time you read this, we will have someone stepping into that position to help drive our vision forward.

We welcome anyone interested in contributing to our marketing efforts — expanding our reach is vital to the club’s long-term growth.

IT Project
As mentioned at the AGM, our project to improve the way TVAM stores and shares information has now entered the rollout phase. Members who regularly handle personal data as part of their role will be issued Microsoft 365 accounts, giving them access to Email, SharePoint and associated services. Further guidance will follow to help ensure a smooth transition and consistent practices across the club.

Travel Policy
I have also been working on a solution to our current Travel Policy constraint — the rule that prevents us from promoting multi-element trips as official TVAM events due to the risk of triggering the Package Travel Regulations. This limitation affects the perceived value of the club, as these popular trips are currently organised informally within local groups. Booking trips through a Travel Agent remains a viable solution in some circumstances, as has been demonstrated by some trips this year. An alternative proposed approach is now with the committee for approval. While I can’t announce details just yet, I hope to provide a full update soon. Please watch this space

Kevin Dunwell
TVAM Chair