Up to four of the most compelling arguments within the word limit will win a grant of £500 each.
Each year the Social Workers Union seeks to challenge and engage students and apprentices with the SWU Assignment — an essay competition for World Social Work Day in which we pose questions about current issues in social work.
The competition is open to Social Work Students undertaking an Undergraduate or Post Graduate Social Work Degree in the UK and to Social Work Apprentices in the UK.
The 2026 SWU Assignment question is:
“How can the social work profession push back against far-right narratives of division, and how can social workers co-build solidarity and hope across communities?”
Click here to see the flyer with the 2026 competition details.
Please email your completed 750-1000 word assignment as an attachement before the closing date with a covering letter giving your name, address, university, year of study, and academic tutor (if appropriate) to: joanne.marciano@swu-union.org.uk
The assignment should be typed, have your full name, use the assignment question as the title, and must follow an academic process such as including a word count and using the Harvard Referencing System.
The competition opens for entries on 17th March 2026 and will close for entries at the end of day Sunday 14th June 2026.
All completed assignments are judged by a Panel.
Please note: By taking part in this competition you are agreeing to SWU using the assignment for future purposes such as publishing it in the SWU Newsletter, the SWU website, or other relevant forums. Only the winning assignments will be used.
Click here to learn more about student membership with SWU and BASW – the specialist trade union and professional association for social work in the UK have a fantastic joint membership offer to support you through your social work journey!
Previous SWU Assignment winners
Are you interested in reading the brilliant essays that have impressed the panel judges in previous years? Here is a list of all the winning SWU Assignment essays to date: