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Anti-racism action plan launched

What we are going to do to make social work actively anti-racist

Racism has a life-threatening effect on minority ethnic communities across Scotland, and this has been the case for generations. We believe that the only way we can make a meaningful and lasting difference is to work together to dismantle racism in all its forms.

In November 2024, the Social Work Anti-Racism Oversight Group published its Statement of Intent, committing its members to creating a social work profession characterised by respect, dignity, and opportunity for those who choose to train and practice as social workers, for those who lead and shape social work services, and for all of us who need support.

The Statement of Intent recognised that no single organisation could achieve these commitments alone; collaboration, therefore, is essential if we are to remove racism and discrimination from social work in Scotland once and for all.

Additionally, the Statement of Intent commits the Oversight Group to overseeing three key deliverables: the first National Survey on Racism in Social Work in Scotland; the development of a repository of anti-racism resources; and the publication of this Anti-Racism Action Plan for the Scottish Social Work Sector. These commitments are now being fulfilled, beginning with the launch of this Action Plan, and soon to be followed by publication of the survey findings and the collection of anti-racism practice tools.

This Action Plan is the result of significant commitment from members of the Oversight Group who generously contributed their time and expertise to its development. It arises from an explicit commitment to end racism in Scotland by partner organisations, including the Scottish Government, COSLA, the Scottish Association of Social Work, and Social Work Scotland.'

This work aligns with the Scottish Government’s broader commitment to transforming public services and delivering on our national outcomes, particularly those focused on human rights, equality, and wellbeing. The creation of the National Social Work Agency and the development of the Scottish Social Work Partnership are momentous milestones and aim to strengthen the social work profession through a renewed and deliberate focus on workforce development, education, public protection, and collaborative leadership across the sector.

We have a clear and shared direction. The challenge ahead is to turn our collaborative Action Plan into targeted interventions that are visible, measurable, and felt by people across Scotland. Now, the sector must prepare for the next phase: putting this plan into action. This means agreeing how we deliver the Plan, how we are held accountable for its outcomes, and how we make its ambitions a lived reality.

To support this, we will establish an Implementation Group to deliver the Action Plan’s outcomes. The group’s priority will be to develop toolkits to support organisations and individuals across the sector to embed anti-racist practice in a meaningful and sustainable way.

Racism has no place in Scottish society, and it has no place in social work. Together, we can and must build a profession, and a country, where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

Iona Colvin, Chief Social Work Adviser to the Scottish Government

Alison Bavidge, National Director, Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW)

Click to read the full action plan: Anti-racism action plan launched

SASW is proud to have been instrumental in this action plan with the Scottish Government and a range of fantastic individuals who have given their time to this work.  We will continue to engage with Government and social work employers on the inclusivity of working environments, ensuring that the people of Scotland get the standard of support they deserve and social workers are able to deliver that safely.  Together, we can build a social work profession that truly reflects our core values of fairness, dignity, and respect. 

Alison Bavidge.
Article type
News
Date
12 August 2025

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