The Ally Model -
The Ally Model emphasises social justice, inclusion, and human rights by recognising the experiences of privileged and oppressed groups and acknowledging that an individual can be in multiple groups simultaneously. There is a range of literature on Allyship but essentially three key themes emerge in how we may become allies in practice:
• Self-reflection and analysis
• Education
• Action
Social work and allyship are not distinct roles. In fact, the characteristics of allies lie at the heart of anti-oppressive social work.
Self-reflection and analysis enables social workers to identify the strengths of others from all cultures, calling upon the self-examination, critical thinking, and cultural awareness skills that form the foundation for best practice.
Education and awareness are also vital to successful allyship in social work. This in turn enables social workers to be proactive in challenging structural and procedural oppressive ways of working.
Allyship and BASW -
BASW has committed to work in partnership, solidarity and allyship with other organisations and individuals to act against social injustice. On an individual level, social workers need to combat their personal biases to become aware of how their experiences with privilege and oppression impact the way they see the world and, in turn, the people and communities with whom they work. At a broader systems level, social workers can promote policy and social justice reform.
Building on our anti-racism statement and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion position paper, BASW has begun to take action!
Courses are detailed below. For corporate/block bookings, please email ProfDE@basw.co.uk to access discounted rates.
03.10.25 Empowering Change: How Social Workers Can Better Support Child Sexual Abuse Survivors within Systemic Constraints (The Flying Child)
This session will be delivered by Child Sexual Abuse survivor and founder of The Flying Child, Sophie Olson, and consultant children’s social worker Sarah Pritchard as part of The Flying Child 'Side By Side CSA' training. They will use the powerful tool of storytelling to illustrate the child’s experience leading into the survivor’s journey, and the social harms faced. They will explore safeguarding complexities and barriers, misconceptions, and consider how professionals can advocate for the needs of the child victim/adult survivor within system and resource constraints, with compassion, empathy and courage to better protect and support victim/survivors. Delegates are empowered to commit to driving genuine, impactful change.
3rd October 2025 9.30am - 12.30pm
BASW members - £58.80 inc VAT
Corporate multi bookings - £70.80 inc VAT (contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk to arrange)
Non members - £90 inc VAT
Attracting 3hrs CPD
Learning outcomes:-
Encourage practitioner self-exploration on personal comfort levels in exploring the subject of child sexual abuse with the person they’re supporting.
Practitioners to gain a greater understanding of the support needs of the child victim and adult survivor, and to develop relational skills to identify and overcome barriers that stand in the way of providing this support.
Develop practitioners authentic and courageous relational skills through professional curiosity.
Trainer Bio:-
Sophie is a survivor activist, writer, founder and managing director of The Flying Child CIC: A nonprofit improving the awareness of child sexual abuse and the consequences of trauma. The core aim of The Flying Child is to normalise speaking about CSA in professional settings and within the survivor community. The Flying Child training brings lived experience into the heart of Education, Social Work and Healthcare. Sophie’s work aims to challenge the societal culture of silence around CSA. She has a particular interest in the non-pathologisation of trauma, and advocates for appropriate specialist therapy and support.
With first-hand experience in a system that was unable to support her with childhood trauma, her story was covered by Radio 4 in the Lights Out documentary “The Last Taboo”
She works with various research projects across Healthcare, Dentistry, Mental Health and Maternity, aiming to improve survivor access – and is co-developing The Skylark Project: a pathway of care in the NHS, specifically for survivors of sexual violence.
Sophie is a guest speaker, regular panellist and author of The Flying Child – A Cautionary Fairy Tale for Adults. In 2022 she was shortlisted for the Criminal Justice Alliance Awards 2022 Saskia Jones Award for Victims Services.
She brings her experience to improve systemic culture, influence hearts and minds, and to empower practitioners to make an individual difference to children’s lives.
Sarah Pritchard is committed to giving children a voice, ensuring their stories and needs are heard. An experienced children’s social worker supporting children and families in statutory and charitable sector, the golden thread of Sarah’s practice is to challenge injustice, creating space for safety and healing trauma. For the last ten years Sarah has been active in practice improvement through consultant and training roles, influencing multi agency approach and response to children’s experience of harm inside and outside of the home on a local, regional and national level. Always looking for an opportunity to collaborate and connect, Sarah believes in the potential of conversation. With a dynamic and practitioner perspective approach to training, Sarah is skilled in creating a safe and relational space for courageous professional curiosity. Her expertise is the field of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Delivered via MS Teams.
Corporate multi booking rates available - contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk for details.