The Social Workers’ Educational Trust aims to assist qualified social workers to develop their knowledge and skills, encourage research into social work practice and education, and educate the public in the nature of social work.
We provide grants of up to £500 to individuals and up to £1000 to assist team learning. The Trustees consider grant applications at three meetings each year (usually February, June and October). We also award three annual scholarships of £3,000 each (usually in June). Applicants need to complete a simple application form if they wish to be considered for a grant or scholarship.
The Trust was established as an independent charity in 1972 on the initiative of the British Association of Social Workers. It is a registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity number 313789) and operates throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It remains independent of BASW, with its own Trustees.
Meeting dates and submission deadlines for 2026
⭐Please ensure you read the information on this website about applying. FAQs and the Guidance relevant to the type of application you are making are particularly important.⭐
Meeting dates:
The cut-off date for submitting applications to the SWET trustee meeting scheduled for 23rd February has now passed (decision letters will be posted out by the end of March). Please see the dates below for future meetings and relevant submission deadlines.
Friday 12th June 2026 – deadline for submitting applications 11.59pm, Thursday 14th May 2026
This meeting for considering individual, team and scholarship applications
Friday 23rd October 2026 – deadline for submitting applications 11.59pm Thursday 24th September 2026
This meeting for considering individual grant and team grant applications only.
✴️Please note the deadline dates. Submissions received after this date will not be considered at the associated meeting✴️
Important!
Please, if possible, send in your funding applications by email – it’s quicker and safer than posting it!
Send to swet@basw.co.uk
Information Leaflet
The Advancement of Social Work
Studies in Social Work to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Social Workers’ Educational Trust 1972-2022
Edited by David Pitcher and Beverley Burke, this collection of essays will be of interest to everyone involved in social work practice and education, from those considering it as a profession to students, experienced workers, academics and everyone seeking to know what contemporary social work is about.
Governance
- About the Trustees
- Complaints procedure
- Annual Reports and Financial Statements
- Registration information with the Charity Commission for England and Wales
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement for Social Workers Educational Trust (SWET) Applications
Professional Development Courses with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
BASW provides funding to SWET every year so we can operate and support you. Training can be provided by all sorts of different organisations of course, but BASW has an expansive schedule of training for all levels of the profession, including students and NQSWs. Find out more HERE