Promoting the dignity and worth of peoples: World social work day at the School of Social Sciences

Tuesday 17 March marked a celebration of social work across the world. The School of Social Sciences hosted the Wales event.

For the past four years the School has jointly hosted the national event in conjunction with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Cymru. The focus of this year's event was: Promoting the dignity and worth of peoples.

The theme relates to the second pillar of the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, focusing the joint work of the International Federation of Social Workers, the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Council on Social Welfare.

Social work students from Cardiff University, Swansea University, Cardiff Metropolitan and University of South Wales attended the event at the School's prestigious Glamorgan building to listen to a range of speakers, including Professor Sally Holland, Dr Neil Thompson, Jeff Norman (talking about people trafficking) and Dr Dalija Snieskiene from Lithuania.

Rhian Huws Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Care Council for Wales, opened the conference and spoke about the new Social Services and Wellbeing Act Wales (2014). Dundee University also participated through a live link up.

Dr Alyson Rees, Senior Lecturer and School representative who organised the event, said: "It was a great celebration which was well attended. The speakers covered some vital aspects of current social work principles and practice. The students very much enjoyed the live link up with social work students from Scotland and were great ambassadors for Cardiff University. We hope to continue with the event in the coming years".

World Social Work Day is an annual event championed by the Institute for Social Work. BASW is the largest professional association for social work in the UK, promoting the best possible social work services for all people who may need them, while also securing the wellbeing of social workers.