Joan Baraclough

Joan Baraclough

Joan Baraclough

Past and present Trustees of the Social Workers Benevolent Trust would like to add their tribute on recently hearing of the sad death of Joan.

Joan was BASW’s Assistant General Secretary when SWBT was created back in 1971. She became the first Secretary of the Trust for its first five years (but was not a Trustee), until Victoria Baird took over the role of secretary.

Joan maintained an ongoing interest in work of the Trust. She had an awe-inspiring memory which was demonstrated back in 2020/21 when she was able to recall past colleagues and BASW members some 60 years on from having had contact with them.

Additionally, Joan kept an archive including records of significant past meetings of the Trust such as its first meeting, attended by Sheila Himmel, Victorias Baird and Chris Andrews. She recalled that at the time the Trustees met 4 times a year with approximately 8-10 applications each meetings. It is worthy of note that the Trust now meets 6 times a year where over 70 applications have to be considered.

Joan was a trail blazer in the formulation and development of the Trust. There is therefore a link between those early days and the ongoing work of the Trust and its Trustees. The Trust owes her a considerable debt for all her early input and inevitably needs new Trustees to ensure its continued significant momentum.

Julian Levitt

Retired Trustee