Black History Month 2021
Today marks the first day of Black History Month 2021 – an annual commemoration and celebration of the history, achievements, and contributions of Black people in the UK.
BASW is delighted to share a collection of resources and content related to the key themes of Black History Month 2021 and will be releasing new material as the month progresses.
BASW UK Anti-Racism Statement
We are committed to developing anti-racist practice within social work - and promoting anti-racism across wider society. In July 2021, we released a statement outlining this commitment and our next steps.
Events / Training this month
- SASW - Black History Month 2021: Respect and Recognition
- BASW England Domestic Abuse Workshop Series: Supporting Black and Minoritised Survivors of Domestic Abuse
Resources and articles
- Report - Anti-racism in Social Work: Activities across the UK
- PSW magazine - Anti-racism in social work: 'the struggle is real and you are part of it'
- SASW report finds Black and minoritised ethnic social workers continue to experience racism at work
- World Social Work Month Blog: Anti-racist social work in Wales
- Race Equality Action Plan - Consultation Response from BASW Cymru
BASW Podcasts
Andy McClenaghan is joined by Mit Joyner, President of the National Association of Social Workers in the USA, and Shantel Thomas, BASW Anti-Racism Lead to discuss the issue of structural and institutional racism in the UK and the USA. The conversation explores the impacts of structural and institutional racism and considers the issue in the context of the murder of George Floyd, the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sewell Report, the Windrush Scandal and the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The episode concludes by examining how social workers can be agents of change by promoting anti-racist values and practice.
In the second of two episodes exploring issues related to the independent review of children’s social care in England, Andy McClenaghan is joined by social workers Patriche Bentick, Senior Practitioner at Camden Council and James Kargbo, Fostering Team Manager, also from Camden Council. They examine issues facing Black and minoritized children in the care system, the extent to which matters of equality, diversity and inclusion have been considered in the Care Review so far and the need to decolonise social work education.