BASW NI and the Social Workers Union (SWU) have jointly published research highlighting the dire financial circumstances of social work students. The report, Campaign to increase the Social Work Student Incentive Scheme: The case for change, outlines the findings of research conducted with 302 social work students at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University from 25 January to 19 February 2024.
Detailing deeply worrying impacts on students’ mental health, standards of living and the implications for their studies associated with the cost-of-living crisis and the inadequacy of the social work student bursary—the Student Incentive Scheme—the report makes the following two recommendations:
- BASW NI and SWU call for an increase in the Student Incentive Scheme travel cost allowance to £1,000 per year and for a commitment from the Department of Health to review and uplift the allowance in line with inflation—taking into consideration the costs of fuel, servicing, insurance, and the impacts of depreciation—on an annual basis.
- BASW NI and SWU call for an increase in the Student Incentive Scheme allowance to a minimum of £7,000 per year and for a commitment from the Department of Health to review and uplift the allowance in line with inflation on an annual basis.
You can download the report in pdf format below.