As social workers and trade unionists we are passionate about making a difference. Below we highlight some of SWU’s current campaigns and activities.
The Austerity Action Group (AAG) is funded by SWU and was created to tackle the issues of poverty and inequality that continue to negatively affect people who use social services. SWU and BASW supported the AAG to launch the new Battling the Cost-of-Living Crisis: Campaign Action Pack (2024) and encourage social workers to make use of this toolkit for activism. AAG is also lobbying against the harmful impact of Universal Credit, specifically the two-child cap.
The AAG would love to hear your feedback! Please let us know what you think of the new Campaign Action Pack: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17I-IxBL9x5u967FsH3SKNHPD3tr_t8e9GMKNAT1YkHk
The SWU Campaign Fund supports our activist members by providing them with access to professional support for issues and causes they’re passionate about, and is managed by Campaign Collective. Since its creation in 2021, the fund has supported over a dozen member led campaigns across a spectrum of issues that intersect with social work. Any SWU members who would like to run their own campaign are encouraged to submit their idea for funding.
SWU and the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), in partnership with Bath Spa University, are leading a Professional Working Conditions campaign for improved working conditions for social workers. This research into the working conditions of social workers was first launched in June 2017 and this growing body of research is now the largest investigation of social worker working conditions and wellbeing ever conducted.
SWU and Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) have launched the Reflective Supervision: A Best Practice Guide (2024) which was co-developed with social workers across the UK.
Please let us know your feedback on the Reflective Supervision Guide here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/147CdFiYPzZCoMAry915vYHQaySZ0jptPxDLVJ1N8RLk
Each year SWU runs a World Social Work Day SWU Assignment student essay competition in which we pose questions about current issues in social work. The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at UK universities and the winning entries are each awarded a grant of £500.