Social Work Student bursary campaign in Scotland

Social Workers Union & SASW
David Grimm (left) and Lucy Challoner (right) who are leading the @swstudentsunite campaign hold the jointly signed letter on 28th October 2022.
David Grimm (left) and Lucy Challoner (right) hold the jointly signed @swstudentsunite campaign letter on 28th October 2022.

Backed by the Social Workers Union (SWU) and the Scottish Association of Social Workers (SASW), social work students campaigning for change in Scotland have won post-graduate funding reform. The reforms, which come in from the 2024-25 academic year, will enabled students not eligible to receive bursary support through the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to apply for the postgraduate funding package administered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

Following a review, the Scottish Government has set out in a letter to students that Ministers “will provide all eligible under- and post-graduate social work students with an assessed practice learning placement in-year with a grant of £750.”  The Scottish Government also plans to develop a higher level apprenticeship in social work which will enable students to “earn as they learn” to a degree-level qualification in social work.

The student-led campaign is now calling for bursaries for all third and fourth year undergraduate social work students who work on the front-line alongside their studies, and for a pathway towards equality with other public-sector degree courses. These first steps the Scottish Government has taken are welcome, but there is still much to be done.

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