Social work students and apprentices in the UK, get ready for the SWU Assignment 2025! This competition will award £500 to each winning entry.
Each year the Social Workers Union (SWU) runs a World Social Work Day SWU Assignment essay competition in which we pose questions about current issues in social work. The 2025 competition will open for entries on Tuesday March 18th and will close at the end of day Saturday June 14th. The SWU General Secretary is also pleased to be announcing the essay question during his keynote speech at the upcoming BASW UK Student Conference 2025.
Who can enter this essay competition? All Social Work Students undertaking an Undergraduate or Post Graduate Social Work Degree in the UK, Social Work Apprentices, and students undertaking specialist pathway routes are welcome to write and submit their 750 – 1000 word answers.
Curious about what it takes to become a SWU Assignment winner? You can find out more about the competition and read the brilliant essays that have impressed the panel judges in previous years here: https://swu-union.org.uk/world-social-work-day-student-essay-competition The SWU Assignment is a great way to engage with current social work topics, especially if you are interested in becoming more involved in activism and the fight for social justice. SWU Vice Chair Chrissie Beatty is a pervious SWU Assignment winner, as is Churchill Fellow Omar Mohamed whose new documentary is highlighted in the March 2025 SWU Newsletter.
We have several exciting events lined up for World Social Work Week!
Campaigning Next Steps webinar on March 17th from 6-7pm
This online meeting is open to all Social Workers Union members and will be a chance for us to discuss how we can approach campaigning, especially since many of the issues are shared. From Union Contacts’ feedback, we know that social workers are struggling with high caseloads and are worried about the risks these pose. Additionally, there are new rules and legislation being considered by the government that could make this workload even worse.
We will hear from Simon and Nancy at Campaign Collective – who provide expert support for campaign strategy and delivery – will give an overview of how SWU and Campaign Collective work together. This will be followed by a chance for members to ask questions and discuss campaigns.
SWU members register your free place here: https://basw.co.uk/events/campaigning-next-steps-campaign-collective
Talk to SWU workplace issues webinar on World Social Work Day, March 18th from 6-7pm
Do you ever think ‘this job is killing me’? Health and safety risks at work are not limited to extreme situations. This free online session will answer your questions about health and safety challenges in social work. A panel of Advice & Representation Trade Union Officers will be on hand to answer your questions live and questions can be asked anonymously.
All social workers, NQSWs, social work students and apprentices in the UK are welcome to attend this free online advice and representation session. Register your place here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyxs6CBAhclq3U1sLdKOLbyPUtkOQnkROryVN0TuKUbim5Rw/viewform
BASW UK Student Conference 2025, March 20th from 10am – 7:30pm
The online BASW UK Student Conference this year takes place throughout the day into early evening, so you can dip in and out of sessions to suit your study / work / life commitments. This event is free for BASW & SWU student members and £4.80 for non-members.
Be sure to join for SWU General Secretary John McGowan and SWU National Organiser Jessie Hoskin’s session at 12:45pm – 1.15pm. Not only will they be announcing the essay question for the SWU Assignment 2025 competition, but they will also discuss how social work students can get more involved with trade unionism and activism covering free training with the General Federation of Trade Unions, opportunities to be a Union Contact and additional SWU work discussed covering Austerity Action Group, Reflective Supervision and Campaign Action Pack.
You can book your place on the BASW website: https://basw.co.uk/events/basw-uk-student-conference-2025
Did you know that with BASW you get discounted student membership to support your social work course and that you can also opt into SWU membership at an additional discounted rate of just 83p per month? Click here to learn about all the benefits of trade union membership alongside BASW, your professional association – all under one roof.