Categories Campaign of the WeekRecentWork

Social workers set for campaign boost

The Social Workers Union (SWU) has launched a unique partnership to help its members engage in activism and campaigning for the next 12 months.

A new campaign fund from the SWU has been created which members of the trade union will be able to draw down from in order to access professional support for issues and causes they’re passionate about.

The SWU, with help from social enterprise Campaign Collective, will now be able to better respond to the regular requests they receive from their members to deliver impactful campaigns on a range of issues. 

The partnership builds on previous activity delivered by Campaign Collective on behalf of SWU, such as public affairs activity on working conditions and media work around the impact of lockdown on social workers.

A SWU Campaign Group will be formed soon, to review and approve campaign proposals. Campaigns are likely to cover issues such as disability rights, adoption, supporting refugees and tackling poverty. 

John McGowan, SWU General Secretary, said, 

The challenges facing social workers and the people they work with are urgent and pressing. Yet too often the media and politicians fail to recognise the issues social workers face on the frontline. We hope this campaign fund will start to address this imbalance and ensure the voices of the vulnerable and of social workers are better heard.

This is a terrific way for SWU to support member-led campaigns. Our members are passionate about their union being actively involved in campaigning, and this rekindled partnership with Campaign Collective will help us be even more engaged in activism and continue to make a positive impact. This also builds on our present funding of the Austerity Action Group.

With over 14,000 members, the SWU fund and partnership with Campaign Collective will be a platform for social workers to feel seen and heard, with social workers being at the root of every campaign.

Image: Shutterstock

simon@simonfrancis.org

Founder Member of Campaign Collective, chair of the Public Relations & Communications Association Charity and Not-For-Profit Group. Write mainly about charity, public sector and social enterprise campaigns.