Special interest groups

The Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR) has a long-standing relationship with BASW. The group includes national experts in this area of social work practice and seeks to influence UK policy in this area, advocate rights of people affected by assisted reproduction and promote effective social work practice.

The Social Work with Romani and Traveller Communities Special Interest Group

As social workers, we are responsible for championing human rights and challenging oppression and discrimination – the human rights of Romani and Traveller families have been disregarded for too long and Romani and Traveller communities need us to do our job and influence much needed change. The Social Work with Romani and Traveller Communities Special Interest Group has been set up to do just that. It is an opportunity for social workers to come together and stand in solidarity to bring about fairness and justice for Romani and Traveller Communities.

The group is currently Chaired by Doreen Dove and supported by Sian Wilton (BASW Cymru).

• So, if this speaks to you and you’re a social worker keen to develop anti-racist social work practice and address the devastating impact of discrimination against Romani and Traveller communities, please get in touch with Sian in the first instance. 
• For more information see: Supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities

The Diaspora Social Workers SIG has members who originate from overseas and currently study or work in the UK. The group celebrates the contributions of diaspora social workers in the UK and promotes their interests within BASW and with other organisations. This group welcomes members of all nationalities and allies who support the interests and welfare of diaspora social workers. 

If you wish to know more, please contact Helen Randle (BASW Policy & Research Team Administrator) or follow the link above.

Supported by BASW, the BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group (NSW SIG) is a SIG for neurodivergent social workers, and professionals within social care.  Follow the link above to find out more.

If you are a social worker who is neurodivergent, come and join us, let’s be the change and make our workplace neuro-inclusive! This vibrant, active SIG meets online, usually on MS Teams, on the last Tuesday of every month, 7pm till 8.30pm. 

There is also a sub-group of the SIG set up specifically for ND student, Newly Qualified and ASYE social workers (see below and also on the main NSW SIG page).

Please note that both of these groups are a safe space for peer support only, and not for CPD purposes.  If you are unsure whether you may join this community, please contact Helen Randle (BASW Policy & Research Team Administrator) in the first instance.

Neurodivergent Student, NQ and ASYE social workers

A sub-group of the NSW SIG

A safe community space for neurodivergent (ND) student social workers, ASYE and newly qualified social workers (NQSW) in the UK.

Please note that both of these groups are a safe space for peer support only, and not for CPD purposes.  If you are unsure whether you may join this community, please contact Helen Randle (BASW Policy & Research Team Administrator) in the first instance.
 

Who is it for?

For neurodivergent (ND) student social workers, ASYE and newly qualified social workers (NQSW) in the UK.

Please visit the SIG/Group page for more information

 Special Interest Group on Social Work and Ageing

Are you interested in social work, ageing and later life?

This UK-wide Special Interest Group is a social work voice for policy and practice change, alongside older people. 

Our aim is to challenge ageism and advocate for more effective social work practice in later life.

Our work includes: 
•    Advocating for social work responses to improve wellbeing through allyship and empowerment 
•    Promoting policy and holistic practice that recognises diversity and intersecting experiences within the ageing population 
•    Promoting social work in later life in education and professional development 
•    Developing and sharing evidence about how social work contributes to positive ageing.

We welcome BASW members and allies with lived or practice experience. 
 
Dates for 2025 meetings will be published in the near future.

The UK Jewish Social Workers Group is the first of its kind. It aims to connect Jewish social workers and Jewish people working in the social care sector to discuss antisemitism issues, as well as promote Jewish culture and develop resources for working with Jewish people and communities. Antisemitism is on the rise globally and in the UK, and it can be countered by sharing experiences in a safe space and speaking up as a group.

It is not necessary to be a BASW member to join. However, we are a Special Interest Group led by BASW members, and membership in BASW is encouraged to help strengthen our collective action.

Anyone identifying as Jewish, regardless of background, beliefs, politics, or denomination, is welcome. We are a diverse group of intersecting identities that follows the Code of Ethics and strives for inclusion.

Help be the positive change to combat antisemitism and promote Jewish culture. Contact us at jewishsocialwork@gmail.com to join.

Statements 

• Open letter from the UK Jewish Social Workers group in response to the ‘Complaint about BASW podcast October 2021’  | PSW Magazine | June 2022.
• Statement from the UK Jewish Social Work Group unequivocally condemning the Pogrom on 7th October 2023 by Hamas | October 2023

According to the United Nations, the intensity and frequency of emergencies and disasters are increasing across both ‘natural’ and (hu)man-made disasters. Its risk reduction agency, the UNISDR is calling for better preparedness and more adaptive responses. The UK as a whole, and within its constituent nations, is no stranger to different types of emergencies and disasters, ranging from collective ones such as terrorism, floods, droughts and extreme weather events, large-scale road incidents to personal traumas experience by individuals. 

SPEDI aims to:
1.    Facilitate the sharing of social work academics’, practitioners’ and service users’ experiences of emergencies and disasters.
2.    Revisit theories, issues, concepts such as risk and resilience, skills, policies and practices prevailing in social work undertaken during emergencies and disasters.
3.    Consider and develop the infrastructures necessary to enhance social work practice in supporting victim-survivors before, during and after disasters at UK-wide, nation-specific and local levels.
4.    Discuss appropriate forms of support, supervision and self-care necessary for social workers in emergency and disaster situations.
5.    Identify training needs (qualifying; specialist post-qualifying and CDP levels).
6.    Influence policy-making and legislation concerning disasters.
7.    Promote understanding of social workers’ roles in disasters by engaging in disseminating materials about social workers’ roles in emergencies and disasters

If you wish to know more, please contact Helen Randle (BASW Policy & Research Team Administrator) in the first instance. 
 

Internationally, Community Social Work (CSW) is not thought to be dead in the water. Nations facing country-wide disasters know they need to support whole communities. It is time for a revival of our collective understanding about what CSW is and what it can achieve. If you have an interest in CSW or have ever used CSW skills, join colleagues at this meeting and be part of the BASW Special Interest group (SIG) so we can trailblaze the way.

If you wish to know more, please contact Helen Randle (BASW Policy & Research Team Administrator) in the first instance or follow the link above.

The Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) Special Interest Group (SIG) 

The SIG is on hiatus until May/June 2025.  There will be no further meetings of the SIG until that time. This notice will be updated in due course.

The SPSSIG is now closed and no future meetings are planned at this time.  Thank you for your interest.  Please look at and consider joining with BASW's other groups, networks and events.