Latest News
Wednesday 9th September 2026
Start time: 14:00 BST/ 15:00 CEST Duration: 90 - 120 minutes
Title: launch of the Environmental Social Work and Disaster Risk Reduction
Register: https://forms.gle/5BgHpEDV8ZuprAtb9
Invitation to the launch of the Environmental Social Work and Disaster Risk Reduction
and Adaption Special Interest Group, affiliated with the European Social Work Research Association.
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Environmental Social Work and Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaption Special Interest Group (SIG), affiliated with the European Social Work Research Association (ESWRA).
The SIG brings together researchers, practitioners, practice educators and scholars interested in environmental social work. Including sustainability, disaster risk reduction, adaptation and social transformation. Our aim is to foster collaboration, promote
knowledge exchange and strengthen the links between research, education and practice to support social work responses to environmental challenges.
Our inaugural online session takes place on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 2:00 PM BST (UK) /3pm SAST (South Africa)/ 3pm CEST (Austria).
The event will feature guest speakers with expertise in environmental social work and disaster risk reduction, followed by discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing the profession. We warmly welcome participation from colleagues across research education and practice.
We look forward to welcoming you to our inaugural meeting. Further information, including Zoom link, will be circulated in advance of the session.
Conveners:
Iris Altenberger: iris.altenberger@mci.edu
Geraldine Graham: Geraldine.Graham@uws.ac.uk Issie Jacobs: Issie.Jacobs@nwu.ac.za
Karen Meixner: karen.meixner@fh-joanneum.at
Zoom Link
Topic: ESWRA Seminar 9th September
Time: Sep 9, 2026 14:00 London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83628628351?pwd=voPrnPQiHZ1RcbbidpoGlzQQ5fIbq4.1
Solidarities and Social Work SIG
Title: Reimagining Solidarity: Social Work in a Fragmented 21st-Century World
Speaker Dr. Poppy Masinga - Research Gate
Date: Wednesday 14th October 2026
Start time: 14:15 BST/ 15:45 CEST
Duration: 90 minutes
Register: https://forms.gle/htsakPbaEyN3cUQD6
Abstract: Reimagining Solidarity: Social Work in a Fragmented 21st-Century World
Solidarity has long been embedded in the values and aspirations of social work, reflected in its commitment to social justice, collective responsibility and respect for human dignity. Yet, in the 21st century, solidarity is being tested by widening inequalities, forced migration and displacement, armed conflict, climate and environmental crises, declining trust in institutions, individualisation, and growing social and political polarisation. These conditions invite social work to reconsider what solidarity means, whose interests it serves, and how it can be translated from professional aspiration into everyday practice.
This lecture critically explores solidarity as both an ethical principle and a practice of collective responsibility. It considers whether contemporary social work has become increasingly individualised and service-oriented at the expense of its historical commitment to collective action and structural change. Drawing on African relational philosophies, including Ubuntu, alongside broader international perspectives on solidarity, the lecture examines possibilities for reconnecting individual well-being with community, social and ecological well-being.
The lecture argues for a renewed conception of solidarity that moves beyond expressions of compassion towards shared responsibility, reciprocity, collective agency and action against structural injustice. It invites social work researchers, educators and practitioners to consider how solidarity might be reimagined across communities, generations, professions and borders, and how social work can contribute to rebuilding social bonds in an increasingly fragmented world.
|2026-09-01|2|0|§465|ESWRA Early Career Researcher / PhD Network|World Cafe - Wednesday 2nd September 2026
The ECR / PhD network has been longstanding as a special interest group in ESWRA, meeting virtually throughout the year and in person at the annual conference. This year, myself and fellow researcher Stephen Bahooshy (Camden) have been recently elected as convenors of this network.
The ECR / PhD Network provides a supportive and inclusive space for early career researchers and doctoral candidates to connect, share experiences and support one another throughout their research journeys. Our aim is to foster collegiality, professional development and meaningful peer engagement across the ESWRA community.
We are committed to building a network that is shaped by and for its members. Whether you're looking for peer support, networking opportunities, research collaborations, professional development, or simply a space to connect with others on a similar journey, we'd love to hear your thoughts.
With this in mind, one of our immediate priorities is the relaunch of the World Café, a collaborative forum where members can exchange ideas, share knowledge, and help shape the future direction of the network. The first date has been scheduled for 2nd September 2026! Meeting details in attached flyer.
There is also a link to complete a short survey which allows members to tell us what they’d like to see from the ECR / PhD Network in the months ahead. Together, we can create a vibrant, supportive and engaging community for early career researchers and doctoral candidates.
We warmly encourage colleagues to share information about the network with doctoral students and emerging researchers within their institutions. We look forward to connecting with members across ESWRA and welcome anyone interested in becoming involved.
For more information download the flyer: PhD early research.png
|2026-08-06|3|0|https://eswra1-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/eswra1_eswra1_onmicrosoft_com/IQA89rEpjCTpRJ_ezDmRkVtxAd03WNkS7b3cqz3LQtpM_Hw?e=zfUe2H§463|ESWR Journal|The 2025 Journal Impact Factors were released recently and ESWR has been awarded its first Impact Factor of 1.1. This is a very healthy opening Impact Factor and places the journal in the third quartile for Social Work.
ESWR has also been awarded a Journal Citation Indicator of 0.88. This is a field-normalized metric that places ESWR in the second quartile of the JCI rankings in Social Work.
These are great first results that show the high quality and relevance of the articles ESWR publishes, and the commitment of our editors, contributors and reviewers!
|2026-06-25|3|0|§461|CfP Second International Child and Family Conference 14-16 June 2027|I am pleased to share the Call for Papers for the Second International Child and Family Conference, which will take place at the University of Bristol, UK, from 14 - 16 June 2027.
Following the success of our inaugural conference, this second international event will bring together academics, PhD students, practitioners, and policymakers from across the world to explore the impact of global, national, and local complexities on children and families. We are delighted that three influential figures in the academic and practice fields will be delivering the keynotes at the conference. These are:
- Dr. Didier Reynaert: Lecturer in Social Work, and Senior Researcher at the EQUALITY//ResearchCollective of HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Belgium
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Ms. Nandana Reddy: Founder of The Concerned for Working Children (CWC), India
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Professor Janet Boddy: Professor of Child, Youth and Family Studies and Head of the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex, UK
We welcome submissions for:
- Individual papers
- Posters
- Panels
- Roundtables
- Workshops
The conference is interdisciplinary in scope and includes themes such as:
- Children’s rights and child protection
- Family life and inequalities
- Migration
- Digital technologies
- Climate and environmental change
- Gender and sexuality
- Care, wellbeing, and social policy
- Innovative methodologies in childhood and family research
Abstract submission deadline: 9 October 2026
Conference dates: 14-16 June 2027
Conference website: https://cfrc.bristol.ac.uk/
Submission link: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/82340/submitter
Please see the attached flyer for further details, and I would be very grateful if you could share this call within the European Social Work Research Association.
If you have any questions, please contact: icf-conference@bristol.ac.uk
Best wishes,
Dr. Afua Twum-Danso Imoh (She/Her)
Associate Professor in Global Childhoods and Welfare
Branch Equalities Officer, University and College Union - UCU (University of Bristol Branch)
School for Policy Studies,
Faculty of Arts, Law & Social Sciences
|2026-06-01|1|0|§460|ESWR journal ECSWR 2025|ESWR 4.2 is due to publish in June 2026, which presents selected articles from ECSWR 2025 (Munich) on the theme of ‘Embracing Democracy in Social Work’. Sign up here to receive an email alert of the Table of Contents when this issue is released.
The European Social Work Research Editors’ Choice Collection is currently available, giving readers free access to our journal editors’ top articles from recent issues. These are free to read until 31 August 2026, please do share this work with any colleagues who might find it of interest.
|2026-05-13|1|0|§452|ESWRA Board statement on policy in relation to Israel and Palestine|ESWRA Board statement on policy in relation to Israel and Palestine
The Board of the European Social Work Research Association (ESWRA) has received an appeal from a group of members calling for Israeli scholars to be excluded from participation in the Association’s conference activities. This raises important principal issues regarding ESWRA’s approach to world affairs and conflict where there might be a diversity of views among our members. This statement sets out ESWRA’s position in relation to Israel–Palestine, building on our 2023 statement and restating the Association’s core principles.
The Board unequivocally condemns the horrific violence inflicted upon civilians in both Israel and Palestine. We recognize the profound suffering, fear, and loss experienced by individuals and families on all sides of this conflict. We are deeply concerned by the scale and intensity of harm, particularly the significant impact on Palestinian civilians resulting from ongoing military actions. This situation constitutes a serious threat to universal human rights and is of grave concern to social workers committed to the protection of all oppressed and marginalised populations.
ESWRA’s vision is to promote just and equitable societies through social work research, pursued through its conferences, special interest groups, publications, and online activities. To fulfil this mission, the Association depends on the contributions of members across national, political, and cultural contexts. The Board therefore does not support banning individuals from ESWRA activities on the basis of nationality or institutional location. Especially in times of heightened polarisation, upholding individual academic freedom is essential. ESWRA maintains that academic exchange grounded in rigorous research can foster critical understanding and shared knowledge.
At the same time, the Board recognises that academic dialogue is shaped by structural inequalities. ESWRA therefore has a responsibility to actively support the participation of scholars from oppressed and marginalised communities and will use its structures and activities to facilitate this.
The Board affirms that sustained dialogue, critical scholarship, and a firm commitment to human rights are essential to addressing injustice and advancing the values that underpin social work research.
|2026-04-08|1|0|§449|Special Issue Call for Papers - European Social Work Research|Deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 May 2026
This special issue will showcase stimulating, quality papers presented at the European Conference on Social Work Research held from 15-17 April 2026 in Aberdeen, Scotland
Proposals are invited from all who presented at the conference. The European Social Work Research journal provides an international forum for the
publication of high-quality contributions relating to all aspects of social work research and drawing on diverse research methodologies, ideas and knowledge. This peer-reviewed journal is published through a partnership between the European Social Work Research Association and Policy Press.
This special issue will focus on one or more of the eight conference subthemes with a connection to the main conference theme: ‘Social Work and Interdisciplinary Research: researching and facilitating evidence informed practice and policy'
The eight subthemes are:
- Challenges and opportunities for social work research, practice, policy or education in contemporary contexts
- Social work research, policy, practice or education across national, social, cultural, disciplinary and professional boundaries
- Exploring the impact and effectiveness of social work practice
- Social work history and identity as a profession and discipline
- Linking the industry 4.0 and digital welfare state
- Theorizing social work and/or social work research
- Linking social work research and practice, including the co-creation of knowledge
- Methodological development, innovation, technologies and capacity building in social work research
Please see the conference website for further description of the conference themes https://www.ecswr2026.org/call-for-abstracts . We welcome in particular research that uses innovative methods or applies theory in new ways.
The special issue, like all issues of the journal, includes a ‘Reflection, Exchange and Dialogue’ section, which provides a dedicated space for shorter contributions that focus on issues that are important and topical for social work research. These contributions will be critical and discursive and are intended to stimulate further inclusive discussion and debate. Further details are available here
Abstracts should be submitted by email to eswr-journal@bristol.ac.uk no later than 15 May 2026 with a maximum length of 500 words. Please note that papers must not be submitted to, or under consideration with, another journal. All research articles will undergo the journal’s standard double-anonymous peer review process, and accepted papers will be published in the journal, either in the special issue or in subsequent issues.
Authors will be notified of acceptance of their abstract 19 June 2026, and the deadline for submission of the full paper online via Editorial Manager is 1 September 2026. Publication date of the special issue is scheduled for June 2027. For further information please contact one of the special issue editors:
Lars Uggerhøj, Professor, Dr., Aalborg University, Denmark
Richard Ingram, Professor, Dr., Dundee University, Scotland, UK
Gary Spolander, Professor, Dr., Robert Gordon University, Scotland, UK
|2026-03-23|1|0|§448|European Social Work Research journal|
Dear ESWRA members
European Social Work Research journal is now in its fourth year. It is the only Europe-wide journal to focus uniquely on social work research, advancing scholarship and debate by connecting empirical research with theoretical understandings that may inform, and be informed by, social work. It publishes many excellent papers from the annual ESWRA conference, was read in over 125 countries last year, and is expecting its first Impact Factor this summer.
As it is the flagship journal of the European Social Work Research Association, we are asking members to support the journal by expanding its readership through university subscriptions. We would like to urge you to contact your librarians and request that they subscribe to the journal. Subscriptions are essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the journal, especially in the current academic climate. They enable more people to access the journal, which increases the usage, citations and the reach of the important work that ESWR publishes.
ESWR is published by Bristol University Press (of which Policy Press is an imprint), an independent, non-profit university press with a social mission. If you are happy to help, they have supplied some suggested wording which you can pass to your librarian. Recommendations are usually more successful if they are supported by information about any projects or courses (especially teaching) that would benefit from a subscription. Download a template for contacting your librarian here https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asset/13160/recommend-eswr-to-library.docx.
Thank you for taking the time to support the journal and our research community.
Karen Winter, Chair, ESWRA
|2026-03-03|6|0|§447|ESWR journal February articles|ESWR have published five new research articles in February 2026, including two open access articles, all available at European Social Work Research | Bristol University Press.
Challenges and opportunities for social work practice research in addressing epistemic injustice
Authors: Catrine Torbjørnsen Halås , Bas van Lanen , Sui Ting Kong , Elke Plovie , Silvia Fargion, and Martine Ganzevles
Authors: Leigh Ann Loebs and Katarina Grim
Authors: Jan Wienforth and Ursula Unterkofler
Authors: Lesley Deacon , Dean Stamp, Mel Cawkwell, Carrie Phillips, Alex Cuthbertson, Paige Thomason, Zeta Bikova, and Suzie Keyes
What do the public think about artificial intelligence note-taking tools in social care?
Authors: Jed Meers , Eppie Leishman, Izzie Salter, Simon Halliday, and Joe Tomlinson
|2026-02-26|6|0|{{ news[1] }}
