Launch of BASW England Three Counties Branch (formerly Worcestershire Branch)

The Three Midlands Counties Branch (formerly the Worcestershire Branch) has been in operation since 2018. The branch has held hybrid monthly meetings on locally identified topics of interest, contributed to BASW policy and organised events within the community. These have included raising funds for a colleague’s seriously ill son and cooking for local homeless people, all of which help to promote positive messages about our profession. The branch also has its own budget to help members access activities, study opportunities and conferences that promote social work values and knowledge.

We have recognised that BASW members often move between jobs across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and that there would be benefits to expanding the branch’s geographical area to include these neighbouring counties, hence the change of branch name.

We are looking to launch the new branch on 14 October 2026, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm (via Microsoft Teams) and hope that senior managers across the three counties would encourage their staff to attend.

Our mission is a collaborative one: to work with social workers across the region to support a stable, knowledgeable and connected social work workforce across the three counties, including managers, practitioners, students and newly qualified social workers.

Our launch event will showcase the work of the branch since its establishment and provide insights into members’ experiences. We are open to suggestions about particular areas of focus for future events and will also be exploring these with members to identify their priorities and ideas. Recent events have focused on artificial intelligence, the experiences of international students, neurodiversity, Gypsy, Roma Traveller experiences and CAFCASS.

We hope to see you there!