Festive message from BASW Chair Julia Ross and CEO Ruth Allen
As 2023 ends, we hope you get some quality time to enjoy festivities and relaxation with those closest to you over the coming days. We thank you for all you have done this year for social work and for our communities across the UK. And we thank you too for being part of BASW. We are our members and we are here for our members.
We know how hard social workers are working across the UK every month of the year. At this time of the year, people we serve often need us the most. Some of you will be working throughout the Christmas bank holidays or will be having just a short break. Some of you will be volunteering over Christmas or looking out for your neighbours and friends at this time which is so hard for many – emotionally and practically.
We hope you also look after yourself, get some down time with those you love, have some fun and reflect on how much social work has contributed to our societies in 2023.
We remember the communities in the UK affected by poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. We remember the communities around the world afflicted by war, poverty, human rights abuses, climate injustice and other human-made and natural trauma and losses. Social workers are diverse and so BASW members have different views and approaches towards specific issues.
But we all share values and ethics as social workers founded in our belief in the equal value of all human life. We apply this in social work practice and in the influence we strive to have on politicians and decision makers.
We look forward to working with more and more of our members throughout the year, tackling the contentious as well as the easy issues together. And BASW will continue to be the strong and independent voice of the profession throughout 2024.