Why they do it: a study into the motivations of social workers volunteering with migrants for Social Workers Without Borders

Abstract

In response to the increase in international migration to Europe over recent years, questions have arisen on how social work practice can respond to the safeguarding risks in migrant camps at borders and to those within the UK who are denied or have restricted access to services. Social Workers Without Borders (SWWB) is a group of volunteers using their professional skills in this context. A qualitative study into the motivations of some of these social workers sought to better understand and theorise the group’s work. The research found that practitioners identified strongly with values of social justice, driving their practice within SWWB and elsewhere. Social work as a profession was conceived of as essentially political, having a role to play in making change on a societal level, along with supporting individuals. SWWB was found to provide an opportunity for participants to practice in a way which they felt was in accordance with their personal values and was effective with migrants. The organisation is described as offering an important critical space for contemporary social work practice with migrants and as a vehicle for a collective professional voice. Several participants placed their work with SWWB in the context of social work as an international profession, whose shared values have the potential to respond to the pressures of hostile immigration policies of national governments.

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