SWAN in Bristol and the South West

Looking towards autumn 2011, Bristol SWAN is looking to develop its role raising the profile of radical social work and continuing its ongoing work with local alliances, particularly welfare claimants and disability groups in Bristol.

We had an eventful summer. As Bristol City Council unveiled devastating cuts to local care homes and day centres, the scandals at Winterbourne View placed the city at centre-stage of national debate. In response, SWAN members supported the work of local anti-cuts and service user groups alongside ongoing work to raise our profile and engage with the concerns of local practitioners.

In June 2011, we held a meeting ‘Social Work in Crisis, Re-imagining Social Work’ with speakers from Bristol Older People’s Forum, the local UNISON branch and the SWAN steering committee.  We agreed several action points from the meeting and have since formed a local SWAN committee in recognition of the growing number of members in the area.

Bristol SWAN is currently organising a book launch for ‘Social Work In Extremis’ in November.  We are also planning a workshop on radical social work and mental health in the New Year.  We will be at the ‘Hardest Hit’ rally in Bristol city centre on 22nd October 2011, supporting those people affected by cuts to disability and ill health benefits and services.

For further information and to contact Bristol SWAN click here.

SWAN also has a South West England group based in the Bath area. For further information and to contact South West SWAN click here.