Social workers call for citizens basic income in 2021 Manifesto Launch

*** for immediate release***

The Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) has today launched its 2021 election manifesto – and with it calls for urgent measures in law to protect people’s human rights, and more effective state aid to prevent them from living in poverty.

The document, launched on World Social Work Day 2021, comprises seven asks across three key priority areas: Human Rights, Poverty, and Listening to the Voices and Experiences of Social Workers.

On the Manifesto launch, SASW National Director, Alison Bavidge said: “Our Manifesto sets out important steps needed to protect the most vulnerable people in Scotland – and the social workers who support them. As candidates stand for election and re-election in 2021, we ask them to stand with social work – with practitioners, with people who use social work services, their families, and their communities – and to take decisive action to fulfil our Manifesto. We will continue to work with candidates in the run up to the election, and with the future Scottish Parliament, to ensure a fairer future Scotland.”

Children and Families Social Worker and Chair of the Association’s Committee, Jude Currie, said: “It’s exciting to finally see the publication of our Manifesto for Social Work ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections. I particularly welcome the call to address and mitigate poverty across Scotland, by providing a citizens’ basic income. As a social worker, I see the devastating impact poverty has on the children and families my team and I support daily. No one should be forced to choose between feeding their children, heating their home, or the other necessities Scotland’s families are sadly denied.”

The seven calls to politicians within SASW’s Manifesto are:

  1. Commit to providing greater human rights protections for all citizens in law
  2. Reject the principles of ‘no recourse to public funds’ and ensure local authorities are funded to address the needs of all vulnerable people whatever their immigration status
  3. Commit to the policy of a Citizens Basic Income or other means of effective and dignified financial support from the state
  4. Talk to people with lived experience of poverty and involve them in policy developments to better understand the hardships they face so you can deliver more effective solutions at both national and local level
  5. Sponsor a cross-party group for social work at the Scottish Parliament (SASW will offer the secretariat for this group)
  6. Involve the social work profession at all levels in all reviews and developments of social services in Scotland
  7. Commit to fully and consistently implementing Scotland’s Self-Directed Support (SDS) legislation

     - ENDS –

Notes to Editors:

  • The Scottish association of social work, part of BASW UK, is the largest professional association for social workers in Scotland, more can be found, here:
  • You can read the full Manifesto, here