BASW and SWU have long been banging the drum for better and fairer financial support for social work students. 🥁

Radical strengthening of our whole profession begins with improving student bursaries so that more people can consider choosing social work as a career.

We're supporting #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek highlighting the importance of having strong systems around young people to help them feel they belong. 💚

BASW member, Tatenda Muskwe writes for PSW Magazine about the realities of being a social worker in a CAMHS hospital team. Read on the link below.

Social work is tough.

That's why, as your professional association, we provide our members with a personalised package of support, tailored to your needs.

BASW membership gives you the tools to meet the demands of our profession.

📰 We're deeply disappointed that the use of Pava Spray has been authorised at young offender institutions, despite strong opposition from across civil society.

It risks exacerbating trauma, provoking fear & damaging relationships between staff & young people that underpin effective rehabilitation.

NEW PODCAST! 🎙

What does the future hold for social work & BASW?

In this unique episode to start the year, host Jonny Adamson is joined by guests for a frank discussion on the state of the profession in the UK. Listen now on the links below.

Apple 🔗 apple.co/3g7YcE0
Spotify 🔗 spoti.fi/2QjefE6

Hannah Scott with her Olympic Gold Medal for rowing

Ald Y Boyle & Hannah Scott, Olympic Gold Medalist

Delighted that Causeway Coast and Glens Council has agreed my
Motion to confer the Freedom of the Borough on Olympic gold medallist Hannah Scott MBE. She made history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, winning gold rowing in the Great Britain & Northern Ireland Women’s Quadruple Sculls team.

More highlights from a packed 2025! ✨

Across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, BASW proudly serves, supports and represents our hard working members in all that we do. Check out a selection of our work over the past year on the link below.

🔗 basw.co.uk/articles/bas...

Scrapping 'cruel, inhumane' two-child cap will lift 450,000 out of poverty Social work profession welcomes policy change unveiled in autumn budget

The two-child limit has impoverished families across the UK for too long. Being a parent is tough, being a parent in poverty is harder.

Today's announcement on the two-child limit will be a relief for many.

Read our comments in Professional Social Work Magazine ⬇️

basw.co.uk/about-social...

🚨 As a member of the End Child Poverty Coalition, we've joined with partners in demanding the Chancellor scraps the two-child limit at the Budget.

It's the only way we can begin to tackle the abysmal levels of child poverty across the UK.

Read more 🔗 basw.co.uk/articles/scr...

Did you get your November/December edition of Professional Social Work Magazine through your letterbox? 📬

As a BASW member, you get exclusive access to the UK's leading professional social work publication, with features, articles, editorial and news.

Learn more 🔗 basw.co.uk/why-join-basw

💙 BASW supports Malnutrition Awareness Week, raising awareness of the risks and signs of preventable malnutrition and dehydration.

Help us spread the word to improve nutritional wellbeing across the UK.

Find out more 🔗 www.bapen.org.uk/malnutrition...

"Leadership, especially in social work, should never be about control and fear"

For #AntiBullyingWeek read this powerful reflection from Fostering Support Team Manager, Rabya Kataria written for PSW Magazine.

Let's use our #PowerForGood 💙

Read here 🔗 basw.co.uk/about-social...

Brush up your skills and strengthen your practice with our General Taught Skills Programme!

The next interactive online course will be a BIA & DoLS Legal Update.

🗓️ Wednesday, 10 December
⏰ 09.15 - 16.30
📍 Microsoft Teams

Book your place 🔗 basw.co.uk/training-cpd...

We had such a great time last Friday celebrating Black History Month with the @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social

Thanks to all our readers, Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi, Jade Jordan, Zainab Boladale, Samuel Yakura, and Ola Majekodunmi.

Our chair Nandi Jola reads her poem 'Black Irish' in this clip. ❤️

Pleased to be a contributor to this great @poetryireland.bsky.social pamphlet! A great night in No Alibis! Thanks Nandi Jola!

Coming soon! 👀

Nominations for our sixth annual Amazing Social Worker campaign will open on Monday, 10 November!

The campaign is your opportunity to give a shout out to a colleague and help us to recognise examples of amazing social work practice! ✨

We're on the search for the next BASW Student Ambassadors! 🔎

Are you a BASW Student Member interested in helping students across the UK connect with their professional association?

Then we want to hear from you! More details on the link 👇

basw.co.uk/articles/bas...

Square of tartan with vertical and horizontal thin stripes in red and grey on black

A new Scottish tartan memorializing the (mainly) female victims of the Witchcraft Act has been officially registered, created by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, founders of the Witches of Scotland campaign #WomensArt
via Smithsonian Magazine

📸 What a brilliant evening at the Social Worker of the Year Awards on Friday!

It was a privilege to join social workers across the country in celebrating our profession and recognising the many wonderful accomplishments across the sector.

Read more 🔗 basw.co.uk/articles/bas...

I recently sat down with three leaders who are part of the @obamafoundation.bsky.social's alumni network to hear more about their work to strengthen democracy in Hungary and Poland. They’re an example for us all. Take a look:

Wildfires devastated the Mournes and Sperrins, destroying habitats and endangering communities.

@andrewmuirni.bsky.social promised action and has today delivered the framework we need to stamp out wildfires.

The Bangor Literary Journal Poetry, Flash Fiction, Art and Photography

Pleased to be shortlisted for the 12th Bangor Literary Journal Competition with my poem: The north has always been moving. Winner is by public vote. Please consider voting for me & 2 others before 12 tonight! Launch on Sunday at Bangor Castle! www.thebangorliteraryjournal.com

African Migration and the Violence of Global Capitalism Introduction  Irish Journalist Sally Hayden investigates the impacts related to capital and how it marginalizes migrant populations within the

I just saw this recent piece from @danielfalcone.bsky.social on 'My Fourth Time, We Drowned'. Thank you to him for engaging so deeply with the book. Hopefully it encourages others to read it too. www.counterpunch.org/2025/08/08/a... @counterpunchmedia.bsky.social

Gaza City and Surrounding Areas Officially Hit by Famine, Global Group Says At least half a million people in the enclave were facing the most severe conditions measured by U.N.-backed international experts: starvation, acute malnutrition and death.

Breaking News: Gaza City and the surrounding area are officially suffering from famine, a global group of experts said. An Israeli agency rejected the finding.

You’re welcome! Thank-you for your work! ⭐️

This was a great interview and an important book. #JHISS25

Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and politics, dies at 49 Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist, has died at age 49. Their wife, Megan Falley, announced the news on Monday.

Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and politics, dies at 49

apnews.com/article/andr...

💜 BASW proudly supports Refugee Week 2025.

This year’s theme is “community as a superpower”, celebrating the incredible everyday.

Social workers play a pivotal role in supporting refugees and asylum seekers, helping to ensure their human rights are upheld and their holistic needs are met.

Across #EastAntrim here to help.
You can email, call 📞, walk in 🚶, our constituency services are private and confidential. We have lots of information and resources free to pick up. ℹ️
Carrickfergus 02893360286 or Larne 02828898005. All welcome 🙏🏻

Deeply saddened to hear of the death of my good friend and former Carrickfergus Councillor Sean Neeson.
My sincere sympathy and condolences to Carol and all the family.