SWBT
Social Workers’ Benevolent Trust – Charity No. 262889
Giving financial help to people who are or have been engaged in professional social work.
About the Trust
The Social Workers’ Benevolent Trust was established in 1971 on the initiative of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) to offer help to social workers experiencing financial difficulties because of sickness, bereavement, family difficulties, increasing frailty or sudden catastrophe.
It is a small charity with limited funds. The Trustees meet six times a year to consider requests for assistance from social workers in need.
On average approximately 65 applications are considered and grants totalling £20,000 are distributed each year. These are to meet specific debts and needs of social workers in hardship.
Who can apply?
The Trust welcomes enquiries and applications from social workers who hold a professional social work qualification, or their dependents, in the UK.
Applications may also be considered from people who do not hold social work qualifications, depending upon the nature and length of their employment (a job description would be required).
Any applicant who does not hold a recognised social work qualification would usually need to have been employed in a post where they held case responsibility, where this would normally have required this qualification.
All applications are dealt with in confidence at the Trustees’ bi-monthly meetings.
What we can consider
We provide grants for specific small debts or purchases which the applicant feels will make a tangible benefit. We do not usually make regular payments.
The Trustees do not normally make grants for costs associated with:
- supplementing income to cover daily living costs
- social work training
- costs of private health care
- costs of private education
- costs of private social care
- At present the maximum grant that we can make is £500.
How to apply
Applications for grants should be made on forms that you can download below:
Application form
Notes for application form
SWBT leaflet
Please return forms to SWBT, 16 Kent St, Birmingham, B5 6RD.
If you would like to contact SWBT for further information, please email the Honorary Secretary at swbt@basw.co.uk.
How you can help
The Trust is heavily dependent on donations to meet this level of demand. We welcome donations (particularly with Gift Aid) and legacies.
Please contact the Honorary Secretary at swbt@basw.co.uk for details
