A list of previous events in the SWU calendar
SWU motions unanimously passed at the General Federation of Trade Union Conference
All three motions delivered by SWU at the GFTU’s 106th Biennial General Council Meeting were received positively and unopposed.
Learn more SWU motions unanimously passed at the General Federation of Trade Union Conference
The ‘Case for Change’ in Northern Ireland
Gerry Madden reflects on the BASW Northern Ireland and Social Workers Union event held in Derry on 2nd April 2025. “I was absolutely delighted recently to represent SWU at the launch of the BASW NI and SWU research report ‘The Case for Change’. This report is core to the ongoing campaign supported by both BASW…
SWU General Secretary John McGowan reflects on World Social Work Day
I am writing this blog after a wonderful day meeting with SWU and BASW members and other social work professionals at the busy COMPASS Event in Birmingham.
Learn more SWU General Secretary John McGowan reflects on World Social Work Day
Talk to SWU on World Social Work Day 2025
This free workplace issues webinar on March 18th will answer your questions about health and safety challenges in social work. Do you ever think ‘this job is killing me’? Health and safety risks at work are not limited to extreme situations of physical danger or incidences of high risk of visible injury or fatality. Yes,…
Anti-Racism and Anti-Fascism Rally 2024
SWU and SASW marched together under one banner to show that there is no room for racism or fascism in Scotland.
Talk to SWU at our free workplace issues webinar on 18 November 2024: Regulators and fitness to practice
This free session will outline differences between the UK social work regulators and explore how they approach ‘fitness to practice’ cases.
Make Equality Real campaign action call
Join the Make Equality Real campaign action call on 23rd October 2024 at 7pm on Zoom.
Why the decriminilasiation of sex work is a trade union issue
Decriminalization would allow sex workers to advocate for their rights more openly and safely.
Learn more Why the decriminilasiation of sex work is a trade union issue
SWU Executive Committee honours Angi Naylor for her contributions to the union and social work
Angi Naylor is a renown BASW / SWU activist, social worker, and folk singer who has been a member of the SWU Executive Committee since the union was formed.
A priority for Parliament – Free School Meals for All
Just a few weeks into a new Government, we’re doing everything in our power to spotlight the impact of child poverty on our communities.
Learn more A priority for Parliament – Free School Meals for All
GFTU launches new Education Programme for trade unionists and activists
This training is free for members of affiliated organisations such as SWU, including hotel stays and meals for the residential courses.
Learn more GFTU launches new Education Programme for trade unionists and activists
We are delighted to announce the winners of the SWU Assignment: World Social Work Day 2024 Essay Competition
Four social work students / apprentices have each won a prize of £500 for their outstanding essays on reflective supervision.
Reflective Supervision: A Best Practice Guide launched to international crowd of social workers in Edinburgh
Be sure to download your free copy of the Reflective Supervision Guide which is now available on the SWU website.
SWU and BNU to launch Reflective Supervision Guide
SWU and BNU have worked closely with social workers across the UK to develop a comprehensive approach to best practice for reflective supervision sessions.
Learn more SWU and BNU to launch Reflective Supervision Guide
GFTU launches the Make Equality Real campaign calling for the inclusion of socio-economic duty into the Equality Act 2010 and the end of austerity
Join us in calling on all political parties in Westminster to introduce the socio-economic duty of the Equality Act 2010 and help make austerity unlawful
SWU Conference – 27th April 2024, Manchester
Edith Till reflects on how the SWU Conference has inspired her and benefited her as a social work student.
SWU Conference 2024 – solidarity, activism, and social justice
Social workers, students, and trade unionists from across the UK gathered in Manchester to discuss activism and solidarity.
Learn more SWU Conference 2024 – solidarity, activism, and social justice
SWU Annual General Meeting 2024
Our upcoming AGM will be held online on Friday 27th September 2024 from 2– 4pm. This event is for SWU members only.
Meet the markers for the SWU Assignment: World Social Work Day 2024 Essay Competition
Social work students and apprentices be sure to submit your entries by the end of day Sunday 16th June 2024 for the chance to win £500.
Learn more Meet the markers for the SWU Assignment: World Social Work Day 2024 Essay Competition
Diaspora Dialogues Conference – A Momentous Event
SWU Assistant General Secretary Calum Gallacher reports on the first Diaspora Social Worker Conference in the UK.
Learn more Diaspora Dialogues Conference – A Momentous Event
SWU at events during World Social Work Month 2024
SWU spoke at the 2024 BASW Student Conference, Compass Birmingham Jobs Fair, and SASW “Still We Rise” WSWD webinar.
Learn more SWU at events during World Social Work Month 2024
Countdown is on to neurodiversity pledge launch
Councils and other employers of social workers will soon be able to sign up to a new pledge to celebrate neurodiversity in the profession.
Updated Austerity Action Group “Campaign Action Pack” to be launched at the SWU Conference
SWU and BASW are proud to support the updating of this activism toolkit and hope you will join us for its launch on April 27 in Manchester.
The importance of union membership for Diaspora Social Workers
I invite diaspora social workers to join me at the upcoming Diaspora Dialogues Conference on March 18th – online and in London.
Learn more The importance of union membership for Diaspora Social Workers
SWU Conference 2024: Trade Unionism & Activism – Links with Social Work
A FREE Training & Development Day for Social Workers and Social Work Students in Manchester on 27th April 2024.
Learn more SWU Conference 2024: Trade Unionism & Activism – Links with Social Work
Please share your views with SWU and The Independent
Help us highlight the pressures staff in social work are facing and the changes that may be needed to address them.
Learn more Please share your views with SWU and The Independent
Talk to SWU at our free workplace issues webinar on 12 February 2024
All social workers and social work students in the UK are welcome to attend this free online advice and representation session.
Learn more Talk to SWU at our free workplace issues webinar on 12 February 2024
BASW NI Community of Practice – Public Inquiries Information and Briefing session (Jan 17)
This session features a presentation from Belfast HSC Trust and the BASW/SWU A&R Team, and is open to members who may wish to come forward to give evidence at the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry.
ADSS Cymru Staff Insights Project: Implementing the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan
ADSS Cymru is calling for views of past and present social care staff to inform the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.
Learn more ADSS Cymru Staff Insights Project: Implementing the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan
Student bursary campaign event on January 16th: “Can bursaries for social work students be made fairer?”
Social work students and lecturers in England are invited to discuss proposals for a fairer bursaries system.
SWU Union Contacts Training and Development Day – 23 September 2023
It’s not too late to register for SWU’s Training & Development Day in Manchester on Saturday 23rd September 2023.
Learn more SWU Union Contacts Training and Development Day – 23 September 2023
SWU is thrilled to announce the winners of our World Social Work Day 2023 Essay Assignment Competition
Four social work students / apprentices have each won a prize of £500 for their outstanding essays on supporting diverse communities across the UK.
General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) launches new Education Programme at the Durham Miner’s Gala
The highlight of the Durham Miner’s Gala weekend was the launch of the GFTU Educational Trust’s new training programme.
Campaign Fund calls for bids from Wales – SWU and BASW Cymru Community of Practice
Social Workers are urged to find out more about how the SWU Campaign Fund could help them raise awareness of issues which they see in their work and among the vulnerable people they support.
Learn more Campaign Fund calls for bids from Wales – SWU and BASW Cymru Community of Practice
SWU event outlines how social workers can seek help from press regulator
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) outlined how it operates and how social workers can seek its support and protection.
Learn more SWU event outlines how social workers can seek help from press regulator
Campaign Fund calls for bids from Wales
Join SWU and BASW Cymru on June 28th from 12:30-13:30 for this online Community of Practice.
IPSO training event on June 8 is open to all – learn about the media complaints process for social workers, the rules the press must follow, and how IPSO can help social workers
This free event organised by IPSO, SWU, and BASW will help social workers understand press regulation and editorial standards.
Educational Psychologists and Social Workers join forces to fight cost of living crisis
“The conditions social workers and educational psychologists are witnessing today are like those which nineteenth century poor law campaigners reported.”
Learn more Educational Psychologists and Social Workers join forces to fight cost of living crisis
SWU and BASW NI discuss future joint campaigns
The special BASW NI Community of Practice with SWU was an excellent discussion on future campaigning and models for working together.
Talk to SWU interview with Dr Neil Thompson for Stress Awareness Month 2023
Let’s talk about stress and burnout in social work.
Learn more Talk to SWU interview with Dr Neil Thompson for Stress Awareness Month 2023
The BASW Social Work Journalism Awards are open for nominations until April 28th
These awards will recognise outstanding reporting of social work and build on the new guidelines on media reporting of social workers launched by SWU.
Learn more The BASW Social Work Journalism Awards are open for nominations until April 28th
Austerity Action Group at “Poverty: A Black Country Perspective” event in Wolverhampton on April 18
Dr Pete Unwin and SWU Vice Chair and AAG Chair Angi Naylor will be joining up with The Blakenhall Writers once again at this BASW Black Country Branch Event in Wolverhampton.
Special BASW NI Community of Practice with the Social Workers Union on April 27
SWU General Secretary John McGowan will visit BASW Northern Ireland to discuss the work of the Union and the SWU Campaign Fund.
Learn more Special BASW NI Community of Practice with the Social Workers Union on April 27
MSPs to debate social work petition on March 22
Scottish Parliamentarians will debate a petition calling for bursaries for social work students on 22 March 2023 – watch it online!
Join SWU and BASW England at the Birmingham COMPASS Jobs Fair on March 20th
We invite members and new faces alike to visit us at our stall at the COMPASS Jobs Fair in Birmingham on March 20th.
Learn more Join SWU and BASW England at the Birmingham COMPASS Jobs Fair on March 20th
Professor Jermaine Ravalier invites you to attend his lecture ‘At first they clapped: what has happened to our public sector and how do we fix it?’ on March 23 in Bath
Social workers are invited to attend this free professional lecture by Professor Jermaine Ravalier on March 23rd at 6pm in Bath.
World Social Work Month: Talk to SWU at our workplace issues webinar on 30 March 2023
All social workers and social work students in the UK are welcome to attend this free online advice and representation session.
Learn more World Social Work Month: Talk to SWU at our workplace issues webinar on 30 March 2023
SWU Annual General Meeting 2023
The 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Social Workers Union will be held online on Friday 29th September 2023 from 2pm – 4pm. This event is for SWU members only.
Social workers help to set out stepping stones to better working conditions
A group of practising social workers – who are all in the process of overcoming adversity in the workplace – explored the commonalities between their issues in a recent webinar organised by the SWU Campaign Fund. Social worker, Lisa Fitzpatrick, explained what sparked the idea for the webinar: “I’m very conscious that we have members…
Learn more Social workers help to set out stepping stones to better working conditions
See you at the SASW Conference on 22-23 November 2022
Join SWU at this year’s Scottish Association of Social Workers (SASW) Conference. This year’s SASW Conference will be held online from November 22nd – 23rd and then followed by an informal social reception on the evening of Wednesday November 23rd in Edinburgh. This conference is free for SASW members and all students. As we continue…
Learn more See you at the SASW Conference on 22-23 November 2022