What is the Association for Video Interaction Guindance?
Video Interaction Guidance was first developed in the Netherlands in the 1980's. Since then its use in the Netherlands has become widespread.
There are a variety of names given to the same method, with differences arising in terminology, training methods and materials. However, the approaches share the same core: the importance of intersubjectivity in the relationship between the parent and child, and in the relationship between client and practitioner.
The name ‘Video Interaction Guidance’, and the frameworks for training and practice in the United Kingdom, were based on the Dutch model; we call it ‘VIGuk’. VIGuk has been developed to provide greater structure for the training in VIG and accreditation.
The Association
From its inception, VIGuk was an informal collection of VIG supervisors, with an informal leadership.
The UK Association of Video Interaction Guidance (AVIGuk) was set up in 2012 to provide more direction and leadership for VIGuk.
AVIGuk is an incorporated limited company, and is registered as a charity.
People: Who are we?
All VIG supervisors are members of the AVIGuk company.
The structure of AVIGuk is
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Board of Trustees
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Executive Team
In addition, VIG supervisors, and others with relevant skills, contribute voluntarily to new developments approved by the Board as well as ongoing matters such as diversity.
The Board of Trustees
The board is responsible for setting the strategic direction and ensuring that the charity is administered in a way that it achieves its charitable objects. Trustees sit for one or two terms in this unpaid role.
Ruth Hind
Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
Ruth is a Clinical Psychologist and has worked in NHS CAMHS and Perinatal services. She is an advanced VIG practitioner and qualified VIG supervisor, and co-facilitates ITCs. She now works as an independent practitioner. She offers VIG supervision to trainees based in both Health and Local Authority settings. She has collaborated with a VIG colleague to successfully adapt VIG for medical doctors to support more effective communication with their patients.
Angela Latham
Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
Angela is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and a VIG Trainer, Supervisor and Practitioner. Angela worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for many years before moving to the independent sector. Angela uses her VIG work to support families who have adopted children and has a keen interest in the perinatal period and early years. Angela is an active VIG supervisor supervising individuals from a broad range of professions from trainee practitioner to trainee supervisor.
Shelley Codd
Trustee
Shelley is a Registered Mental Health Nurse with 15 years of experience across acute adult and child NHS inpatient settings. She later transitioned into community-based roles within Perinatal and CAMHS services, where she developed a strong interest in therapeutic interventions. While working in the Perinatal team, she trained in VIG, supporting mothers experiencing a range of mental health conditions, including birth trauma. She became a VIG practitioner in 2023. Building on this foundation, she trained in EMDR, with a focus on birth trauma, and completed CBT training in 2024. In 2025, she was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees, contributing to strategic oversight and governance within the organisation.
Executive team
The Executive Team is headed by the Chief Executives, Hilary Kennedy and David Gavine. The team includes:
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AVIGuk Training Lead
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Support officers
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Finance Officer
Hilary Kennedy
Chief Executive (Joint)
Hilary Kennedy brought Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) to the UK in the early 1990s, and continues to be a leading developer of VIG, working with VIG training projects in the UK, Mexico, Tanzania, Finland and Czech Republic.
Prior to retiring in 2008, Hilary worked as an Educational Psychologist in Tayside, and as a Professional Tutor in Educational Psychology, at the University of Dundee.
She is joint Chief Executive for AVIGuk, focusing on Training, Research and Development.
David Gavine
Chief Executive (Joint)
David has been involved in VIG since the 1990s: firstly, as a practitioner, then as a supervisor. As a Professional Tutor in Educational Psychology, at the University of Dundee, he worked with Hilary Kennedy to embed VIG in the content and philosophy of the course. Later, as Principal Educational Psychologist in Dundee, he continued to support the development of VIG.
Having retired from practice as a psychologist, David, along with colleagues Hilary Kennedy and Penny Forsyth, set up AVIGuk in 2012. Since then, David has had a key role in the development of AVIGuk's online systems.
Helen Gibson
AVIGuk Training Lead
Helen has been involved with VIG since the 1990s. She worked in the NHS for over 25 years prior to moving to independent work to focus on VIG.
Helen is now an independent VIG Supervisor and Trainer. Helen is co-author of the VIG Skills Development Scale: the competency framework used by AVIGuk to assess skill level for accreditation.
As the AVIGuk Training Lead, Helen leads the Training and Development and Events team in coordinating and developing the VIG training programme to ensure that training and events provided by AVIGuk is consistent, impactful and of high quality.
Oonagh Davies
Research and Engagement Lead
Oonagh is our Research and Engagement Lead - working with Hilary's oversight. This year she has been establishing our new Research Database, developing our website content, and setting up and running the Lunchtime Lives. She is also working on connecting with other organisations - so do get in touch! She also works alongside Ava, to put on our Conferences. Oonagh is an Accredited VIG Practitioner and passionate champion of VIG and VERP. In her previous role - as a Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist - she practiced VIG with families and professionals, in homes, Early Years and school settings. She also initiated VIG Practice in an LA - for NHS colleagues and the Educational Psychology Service. Oonagh loves to help others connect, do research and share their work regarding this 'powerful and life-changing intervention'.
Alison Whyte
Admin Assistant
Alison has been involved with AVIGuk since 2023. She has a background in office administration and information technology. She came on board to assist with implementing new software systems.
Gurjit Matharu
Finance Officer
Gurjit has been involved with AVIG work since 2016, initially working directly with Hilary Kennedy. She was also responsible for updating events and training programmes on the AVIGuk platform, and organising various conferences.
In 2017, Gurjit's role developed further and she became AVIG's Finance Officer. Gurjit is part of the Executive Team.
Louise Harris
Support Officer
Louise accredited as a VIG practitioner in 2019. As a social worker employed by a local authority, Louise works mainly with families on the Edge of Care. She uses VIG to help families build on their strengths and avoid children coming into the care system. Louise also works independently as a social worker and VIG practitioner, and provides administration support for AVIGuk.
Marie Robertson
Support Officer
Marie has been an AVIGuk supervisor since 2011. Marie supervises on many infant mental health projects, along with tutoring on the Manchester IAPT 0-2 programme. Marie works independently, offering family risk assessments, and focusing on the child-parent attachment relationship.
Marie contributes to management of the AVIGuk Learning Platform, supporting members and supervisors.
Ava Carlon
Operational Lead
As AVIGuk's Operational Lead, Ava plays a central role in keeping the training team running smoothly. Working closely with Marie and Louise, she helps ensure our courses are delivered seamlessly, Supervisors are allocated appropriately, and communication with learners and stakeholders is timely, accurate, and supportive.
Ava also enjoys working alongside Oonagh to organise and deliver our much-loved conferences and events, creating opportunities for people to connect, learn and share ideas.
In addition, she manages AVIGuk's social media presence, helping our community stay informed and engaged.