How to Apply

Older woman thinking

If you are experiencing financial hardship and want to speak to someone to see whether the Fund can help please follow the instructions below.

Who can apply for an SWBT Grant?

The Trust welcomes applications from Social Workers who hold a professional Social Work qualification, from within the UK.

It also, where appropriate, considers applications from dependants of qualified social workers following their (Social Worker) relatives’ bereavement; or their relatives’ incapacity which prevents them from personally applying.

Rarely, and in very exceptional circumstances are applications considered from people who do not hold a professional qualification. This would normally be from those who worked in a Social Worker role prior to qualification being the requirement. Eligibility would depend on the nature and length of employment and we would need to see a job description to determine if they were in a post that would today require a social work qualification.

How to Apply for an SWBT Grant

We suggest you read the Essential Notes for Applicants and then complete the Application Form and send it to us before the cut-off date.

We would also appreciate it if you would also complete our Equality & Diversity form. This is a voluntary form but it can help us with fund raising.

The Trustees will review your application at the Trustees bi-monthly meeting where it will be approved or rejected.

You can send your application form to us by email or post your Application Form via the postal service. The email address and postal address you need are on the Application Form.

Wherever possible please complete the Application Form on line. It is important to note that no applicant will be disadvantaged should they not be able to complete the Application Form on line.

Steps to Follow

Read the Essential Notes for Applicants
Complete the Application Form
Send the completed Application Form to us before the cut-off date
Complete the Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form (optional)

Essential Notes for Applicants

It is essential that you read the “Essential Notes for Applicants” before completing the Application Form.

Please read it.

We have had to reject applications because the Application Form has not been completed correctly and this makes you and us unhappy.

So please read it and use it as a guide to complete your Application Form.

Where to find the Application Forms

The Application Forms

The important Application Form can be downloaded by clicking these links:

Please click on the above links to start the download of the required form to your device. Select to ‘Download file’ rather than open or view the document.

The Essential Notes for Applicants

The Essential Notes for Applicants can be viewed by clicking the link below:

The Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form

The Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form can be viewed by clicking the link below.

* For Google Chrome browsers: if you are having difficulty downloading the MS Word version of the application form using the Google Chrome browser, it may be due to the ‘Safe Browsing with Enhanced Protection‘ settings on your device. For more information, see Google Chrome blocks some downloads. A workaround is to place your cursor over the application form link above, click your right mouse button and then click ‘save link as…’. You will then be able to save and download the file to your device after accepting the ‘Keep’ option.

Alternative and accessible formats

If you experience or anticipate any barriers with our application process, require help to make an application, or accessing our information, please telephone BASW on 07702 517 555 for advice.

Upcoming Funding Programmes

The Trustees meet approximately every two months to consider applications for grants.

The cut off dates for 2024 have now been set and may be found by viewing our Trustee Meetings for 2024 – SWBT page.

Closing date for applications

The trustees consider grants at their bi-monthly meetings, and applicants need to complete an application form if they wish to be considered for a grant.

We would prefer to receive your application well before the cut off date so we can fully consider your application.

In exceptional circumstances applications received after the cut off time, but deemed urgent by the Chair, may be considered.

How do I find out my application is successful?

The Applications Secretary will contact you soon after the Trustee meeting.

You will be sent a letter in the post confirming the result of your application.

The confirmation will be sent out approximately 2 weeks following the trustee bi-monthly meeting. It takes us this time to process the application results and grants.

Unless you have not heard from the trust for 2 weeks following the closing date, please do not make contact as Trustees need time to consider the applications, before letters can be put into the post.

How many times can you make an application?

Applicants will not normally be considered for a grant if they have received help from the Trust within the last 12 months.