BASW NI’s ongoing engagement with student social workers has highlighted the extent to which they are struggling financially.
Student social workers have borne the brunt of the spiralling cost of living while receiving a bursary—the Social Work Student Incentive Scheme—which has remained unchanged in its level of support since at least 2008. This is despite recent increases in the support provided to student nurses and allied health professionals, representing a lack of parity between student social workers and their healthcare colleagues.
In early 2024, BASW NI, in partnership with the Social Workers Union (SWU), undertook research to quantify the extent to which students are feeling the pressure financially. We surveyed 302 students about their experiences and the results are deeply troubling.
All those who participated in the survey explained their standard of living has been negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. Three-quarters (73%) are unable to make ends meet or are struggling to do so and those who have caring responsibilities in addition to their social work studies are suffering most acutely.
Four in ten (41%) indicated the increased cost of living has had a significant negative impact on their mental health and 37% stated it has had a moderate negative impact.
Two thirds (66%) indicated that they find it difficult to focus on their studies because of worries associated with the cost of living. Over half (53%) spend less time on their studies than they would like to because of time spent working to earn money.
Perhaps most concerning, the situation is so severe that almost a quarter (23%) are considering leaving their studies because of the financial pressures they are facing.
BASW NI and SWU have called 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.
We have also called for an increase in the Student Incentive Scheme travel cost allowance from £500 to £1,000 per year, again with a commitment from the Department of Health to review and uplift the allowance in line with inflation.
You can read the full research findings in our report Campaign to Increase the Social Work Student Inventive Scheme: The Case for Change.
Prior to the report’s publication the preliminary findings and recommendations were discussed with Robin Swann MLA, Minister for Health, during a meeting with former BASW NI Chair, Orlaith McGibbon. The published report was shared with the Minister who was shortly after replaced by Mike Nesbitt MLA. A subsequent meeting with Minister Nesbitt has been requested to discuss the implications of his decision not to enhance financial support for social workers, the reason for which the Minister cited as the constraints of the current budget allocation to his department.
In October, focus group research was conducted, exploring in-depth the experience of social work students studying in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. The findings of this research will be made available in due course.
BASW NI also intends to produce a short film depicting the students’ experiences. It is scheduled for publication in Spring 2025.