Social work students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds could soon receive more targeted financial support, as the UK government launches a new consultation aimed at reshaping how bursaries are allocated across the sector.
Announced today, the consultation will gather views from universities, students, frontline social workers, local authorities and NHS trusts on how best to improve the Social Work Bursary and the Education Support Grant. Together, the two schemes provide £50 million a year and have supported aspiring social workers since 2003, yet recent figures show that funding is not reaching everyone it was designed to help.
In the 2024–25 academic year alone, around 1,500 Social Work Bursaries went unclaimed out of approximately 4,000 available. Ministers say this highlights a need to remove barriers, simplify access and ensure support is better targeted at those most likely to be deterred by financial pressures.
For many families within the UK’s diaspora communities, where social work is often seen as a respected and community-focused profession, cost remains a major obstacle. The proposed changes aim to make social work education more accessible to students from working-class and migrant backgrounds, who are often overrepresented among those providing care but underrepresented in professional pathways.
Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said social workers play a vital role in supporting the most vulnerable people in society and stressed the importance of backing those training for the profession. He said the consultation would ensure support reaches the students who need it most, helping to build a stronger, more compassionate workforce for the future.
The review also sits within a wider reform of adult social care. The government has committed to transforming care careers through measures such as a Fair Pay Agreement, a universal career structure and improved training and qualifications, all part of the long-term plan to build a National Care Service.
Chief Social Worker for Adults Sarah McClinton and Chief Social Worker for Children and Families Isabelle Trowler described the consultation as a crucial opportunity to hear directly from students and employers. They said understanding how financial support can best be used will help attract high-quality candidates and support them into long, rewarding careers in social work.
Currently, undergraduate social work students can receive around £4,900 through the Social Work Bursary, while postgraduates may receive about £11,300. The Education Support Grant helps cover the costs of practice placements, where students gain essential real-world experience. Unlike student loans, these bursaries and grants do not need to be repaid, making them particularly valuable for students from low-income households.
As the government shifts more care out of hospitals and into communities under its 10 Year Health Plan, social workers are expected to play a central role within neighbourhood health services. Ensuring a diverse and well-supported pipeline of future professionals is seen as critical to meeting rising demand.
The consultation will run for eight weeks and closes on 7 April 2026. Responses can be submitted online via GOV.UK. Chijos News will continue to follow developments closely, with a focus on how these reforms impact diaspora communities, access to education and the future of care work in the UK.
