Social Work Awards announces virtual event
Social Work Awards, the charity behind the annual Social Worker of the Year Awards ceremony, has announced that it will be hosting a live virtual event for social workers on Thursday 26 November.
Taking place from 4pm to 5pm, the special ‘Thank You Social Workers’ event will reflect on the unique challenges and give recognition to the bravery and dedication of social workers throughout Covid-19. It will feature inspiring messages from celebrities, interviews filmed with frontline social work practitioners and first-hand stories told by young people and adults who have been supported by social workers during the pandemic.
Tickets will be free of charge and pre-registration (which will be essential) will open from Monday 19 October. Social workers are invited to contribute to the event through sharing their own stories and experiences of working during these challenging times.
Peter Hay CBE, Chair of the Social Work Awards, said: “Frontline key workers have had very well-deserved public demonstrations of appreciation this year. Social Workers have been striving to provide continuity of care while supporting families and the most vulnerable people in our communities in a time which has devastated many, and they deserve public thanks and recognition for what they do.
“This will be an uplifting event which brings social workers together so we can say a collective thank you, and we hope that many local authorities and other social worker employers will want to join with us in showing their appreciation. As well as sharing inspiring stories and thank you messages, the event will be a catalyst to achieve greater public awareness and understanding of the superb work which happens every day.”
A range of organisations have already signed up to support the special event. They include Title Sponsor, Sanctuary Personnel, and Corporate Sponsors: the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), Essex County Council, Sunderland City Council, Children’s Social Work Matters and S12 Solutions.
Meanwhile Unison, Devon County Council and London Borough of Waltham Forest are on board as Programme Sponsors, Hampshire County Council is a Story Sponsor, and Leicester City Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council are Goody Bag sponsors. Some sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Councils have been offered a way to provide a recognition pack to their social workers and an additional 200 social workers who register will receive a free goody bag, which will include treats to enjoy during the event and an official programme which commemorates the year through stories.
To learn more about the event and share your story, visit https://www.socialworkawards.com/thankyou. To find out more about the remaining sponsorship opportunities please email awards@socialworkawards.com