Ignoring the marginalised is more of a threat to social cohesion than immigration says BASW's chief exec

“Marginalised, impoverished and ignored” communities are a far greater risk to Britain's stability than migration, the head of the British Association of Social Workers warned.

Bridget Robb spoke out in the wake of a speech by Home Secretary Theresa May who claimed social cohesion was threatened by immigration.

Addressing the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Ms May said schools, hospitals and “core infrastructure” like housing and transport could not cope with increasing numbers coming into the country.

Her speech, widely criticised by unions, charities and business leaders, added: “When immigration is too high, when the pace of change is too fast, it’s impossible to build a cohesive society.”

However, speaking at the annual BASW Cymru Social Work Awards in Cardiff, Ms Robb said: “I think we have a bigger problem from our existing populations. If people feel increasingly marginalised, impoverished and ignored then there will be increased violence and alienation.”

Ms Robb urged social workers to do all they can to support marginalised communities, including taking part in marches and protests against damaging government policies.

“Social work has a great tradition of engaging people and helping people to be active in their own lives and communities,” she said.

“We have to be supported to make that difference again. To help build society, not help people be shut off from each other by safeguarding fears that people are too dangerous to meet.

“It has been one of the pleasures of my job to join the anti-austerity demonstrations. Why? Because we need to stand together to work with others and to reclaim our public spaces.

“Being outside together is good meeting other people is good, being part of our communities is good.”

Ms Robb said social work was about more than rescuing individuals – it was about recognising and helping to remove the social barriers that contributed to their difficulties.

“Social work has a choice," she said. "We can continue to save people one by one – be that abused children or vulnerable adults – or we can open our eyes to the immense community challenges and stop hiding behind the barricades we have erected.”

Ms Robb stressed the Association was not motivated by political bias but by humanitarian concerns.

“We have members who support many political parties and none, so we are not driven by political ideology, but we are driven by our commitment to human rights and social justice. This is the essence of our Code of Ethics, which incorporates the international codes of humanitarian commitment to each other.”

Ms Robb applauded community-based social work initiatives highlighted at the annual BASW Cymru Social Work Awards ceremony in Cardiff as “leading the way”.

The annual event brings social workers from across Wales together to celebrate the profession and those working in it.