The Latest Bulletin

Social work by its very nature is challenging and demanding work. But, in the current social, economic and political climate, it can prove extraordinarily difficult to keep your head above water. Written by two highly experienced social work professionals, this important book explores the significance of that context, offers guidance on how to survive despite it and even to aim for thriving within it. There are no easy answers, but there is much we can do to make sure that we are able to fulfil the potential and value of social work as a force for making our society a humane one without sacrificing our own health and well-being. Available for purchase here or here

The idea of cultural sensitivity is now a well-established one, but my experience has taught me that many people do not fully understand the implications of that. For example, many times I have come across people who assume that it applies only when dealing with somebody whose skin colour is different from one’s own. In reality, it is much more complex than this, as there will generally be cultural differences that relate to class, region, profession or vocation, linguistic group and so on. Culture is a much broader and more inclusive concept than it is generally given credit for. Our own cultural backgrounds and experiences will have been a profound influence on who we are (our identity), our sense of…

Small-scale studies in recent years have uncovered a strong appetite from students of all backgrounds for history teaching that reflects a broader range of voices. Now, young campaigners such as The Black Curriculum, Re:rooted and Fill in the Blanks are leading the charge. Click here to read more

Only by greatly strengthening the prevention of poverty can we start to achieve the wider and stable state of social security required to provide a secure future for children and families. Yet prevention has been so neglected that it has dropped down the list of policy priorities – or market-focused policymakers have pushed it down as part of their rejection of planning. This paper sets out the case for preventing poverty with some specific proposals and then discusses where the money to pay for them might come from. It draws on the ‘wider aims’ of "Into the twenty-first century: the development of social security", one of the best reports ever produced by the International Labour Office (1984). Click here to…

100 civil society groups, Windrush survivors and religious organisations have come together to demand safe and legal routes now, in response to the government's dangerous rhetoric surrounding recent Channel crossings. The fact is that people seeking protection in the UK can only do so once they reach UK soil. The lack of safe and legal routes by which to reach the UK means that people are pushed into the hands of people smugglers and forced to take dangerous journeys to claim asylum here. In its response to Channel crossings, the government has so far sought to abdicate all responsibility. We've been here before - if the Home Office is truly serious about learning the lessons of Windrush, they need to…

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Social work by its very nature is challenging and demanding work. But, in the current social, economic and political climate, it can prove extraordinarily difficult to keep your head above water. Written by two highly experienced social work professionals, this important book explores the significance of that context, offers guidance on how to survive despite it and even to aim for thriving within it. There are no easy answers, but there is much we can do to make sure that we are able to fulfil the potential and value of social work as a force for making our society a humane one without sacrificing our own health and well-being. Available for purchase here or here

There tends to be a strong emphasis these days on ‘positive thinking’ and optimism. While there is much to be said for the benefits of such an approach, we also need to be aware of some of the dangers associated with it. One is for problems to be swept under the carpet in our desire to focus on the positive elements of a situation and thereby de-emphasize the negative or problematic aspects. What can be much more fruitful is to ensure that we acknowledge the problems we come across, but then adopt a positive approach by focusing on solutions. This is a matter of finding a constructive balance. On the one hand, it is dangerous to ignore problems in some…

Warmest greetings to One and All. I just wanted to share a few words of gratitude and introduce what I hope will be a helpful resource to your thinking, feeling and practice about the centrality of spirituality in our individual and collective lives. As many of you are aware, I have been championing the inclusion of spirituality in the social work (and related) professions, and challenging the education, training and practice arenas to embrace this legitimate, nascent but often neglected and 'tabooised' theme. Indeed, I passionately contend that spirituality represents something of a zeitgeist for the 21st Century! So a BIG thank you to all who have helped me in a myriad of ways; through your personal and professional encouragement,…

If you’re looking for inspiration and practical actions that are good for you and the environment, you’ve come to the right place. We believe that to create positive environmental change at the scale and speed needed, we need to get everyone on board. That's why since 2014, we've been designing campaigns that inspire ways of living that are good for the environment. We disrupt the status quo to raise awareness, nudge behaviours and shape systems. We do this with knowledge and playfulness, and we won’t make you feel bad. We concentrate on things you're passionate about and are relevant day-to-day, like fashion, food, the homes we live in and the spaces around us. We keep things simple, offering practical and realistic solutions that…