1a – Reimagining Anti-Racist Social Work – Call for Abstracts (Season 10, Episode 1)
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This isn’t reform, it reimagination. Season 10 begins with a call for radical, anti-racist visions for social work.
In this episode, we launch a call for abstracts for the upcoming British Journal of Social Work special issue: “Reimagining Anti-Racist Social Work – Rooted in Care, Resistance and Solidarity” led by the Anti-Racist Movement.
We explore:
- The purpose and vision of the special issue
- Who we want to hear from (spoiler: it’s not just academics)
- How to submit your abstract
Deadline: Friday 9th May 2025
Submission details, just click: https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/pages/social-work-special-issue-2026.
Join us as we kick off a new season rooted in justice, imagination, and action.
9a EDI Under Pressure: Bias, Backlash & Breaking Barriers
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Welcome to today’s episode – the last for series 9 – where we dive deep into the complexities of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Members of the core collective unpack the challenges of implementing and measuring EDI efforts and explore the growing hostility toward EDI, the intricacies of intersectionality, and the global state of anti-racism work.
Amid these critical discussions, we also find moments of joy, and as we wrap up, we reflect on the importance of remembering history, staying vigilant, and leading with compassion—core values that lie at the heart of social work.
Join us for an insightful and uplifting conversation that challenges, informs, and inspires
8a Intentions in Motion: Reflecting on 2024, Focusing on 2025
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Happy New Year to you ALL.
Welcome to Bridging the Years, the first episode of ARMOUR or OURARM for 2025. As we step into this new year, we pause to reflect on the lessons, triumphs, and growth of 2024. What did the past year teach us? How did it shape who we are today? More importantly, we’ll set our sights on the year ahead—exploring the power of intention and the possibilities it holds.
This year, we’re inviting the entire ARM collective to join us in a special way: by choosing and sharing one word that captures their intention for 2025. Whether it’s ‘growth,’ ‘balance,’ ‘resilience,’ or something deeply personal, we believe these words have the power to inspire and guide us as a community.
So, settle in as we take a thoughtful journey through reflection, intention, and the collective wisdom of the Anti-Racist Movement.
Let’s start 2025 with clarity and connection.”
7b Breaking the Silence: ADHD, Leadership and the Black Woman’s Experiences – Shantel and Laurelle
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In this deeply moving season finale of ARM-OUR, Laurelle and I hold nothing back as we delve into the intricate intersection of neurodiversity, leadership, and identity. As Black women navigating the dual worlds of executive leadership and ADHD (and dyslexia), we explore the layers of complexity, resilience, and vulnerability that come with breaking stereotypes and challenging expectations. This conversation is a raw, honest reflection on the highs and lows of our journeys—offering insights, solidarity, and a reminder that we’re never alone in the struggle or the triumph.
Laurelle Brown is CEO of the award winning Laurelle Brown Training and Consultancy which helps systems, leadership & practice work better for racialised children; Co-founder of Kijiji -The community for Black safeguarding children professionals and a proud ADHD-er.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a joyful and prosperous 2025!!! We appreciate all your support thus far!!!
7a Championing Change: A Conversation with Dr. Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE
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Welcome to this special episode, where we have the privilege of sitting down with the extraordinary Dr. Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE. With decades of experience in social work and child protection, Dr. Barnett-Jones has dedicated her life to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families. A trailblazer in her field, she has not only transformed social work practice but has also influenced policy at a national level.
In this candid and inspiring conversation, we delve into her personal journey, exploring the experiences that shaped her passion for social justice. From her early days as a frontline social worker to receiving her MBE for her contributions to the profession, Dr. Barnett-Jones shares invaluable insights into the challenges and triumphs of her career.
Whether you’re a social work practitioner, an advocate for change, or simply curious about the human stories behind this vital profession, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the life and work of one of the most respected voices in the field.
Join us as we celebrate resilience, compassion, and the profound impact of a life devoted to serving others.
NB: This episode was recorded over the summer and was the 1st in a series of 1-2-1 conversations with key players doing great work in the space.
6a Dear Daughter … An exploration of the experiences of African-Caribbean women as mothers in the UK.
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Welcome to another episode of ARM-OUR or OUR-ARM, the podcast hosted by me, Shantel Thomas, founder of the Anti-Racist Movement (A.R.M.). Today, we have a special one-on-one conversation with Shirleecia Ward—a remarkable woman with an incredible story and purpose. Shirleecia is an African-Caribbean mother of two daughters, a dedicated researcher, and a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University.
Her passion lies in amplifying the voices of Black women and ensuring that their lived experiences are represented in academic literature. Shirleecia’s groundbreaking research focuses on giving Black mothers the space to share their personal stories about raising children in a racialised society.
In this episode, we’ll explore her work, which delves into the hopes, concerns, and wisdom these mothers have for their children. We’ll also discuss how her research aims to bridge the gap between personal experiences and professional practices by sharing these valuable insights with communities and practitioners who work with children and families.
Get ready for a heartfelt and enlightening conversation with Shirleecia Ward—this is one you won’t want to miss!
NB: This is one of three episodes recorded during the summer 2024.
Weekes, A.P., Ward, S. and Mguni, M. (2024) “Beyond tokenism: activism, resistance and rebellion,” Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-
5a Building on Legacy: Black History Month and the ICU Conference Preview
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Recorded at the end of October 2024, this episode again features some of the core members of A.R.M talking about their individual and collective contributions to social activism over the past months. This years theme for Black History Month is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ and we reflect on the milestones and resilience that has shaped History and our ongoing fight for racial justice. We also look ahead to the upcoming ICU or ‘I See You’ Conference and 2nd Anniversary Celebrations for the Anti-Racist Movement in an attempt in ‘write our own story’. Join us as we discuss how this event aims to challenge us, push the conversations forward, inspire change and build on the legacy of those that have gone before us.
4a C-Our-Rage -“Courageous Voices: Leading the Anti-Racist Movement”
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In this episode – C-our-rage or See Our Rage – we focus on the interplay between courage and anger in light of the “Race Riots” of August 2024. Courage is the 4th of 4 core values of A.R.M and we explore how our collective anger against injustice becomes a source of strength, fueling our courage to confront racism head-on. We’ll examine the balance between rage, resilience and vulnerability, and how these emotions are essential to sustaining the fight for justice. Take a listen and leave a comment.
3a Compassion as the Core: Building Anti-Racist Communities
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Welcome to ARM-OUR, the podcast from the Anti-Racist Movement (ARM). In this episode, we continue to delve into our core values, with today’s focus being ‘Compassion as the Core’. We explore how empathy and understanding are essential in the fight against racism and discuss how compassion shows up across the life span. A key focus is on self-compassion, both inside and outside of social work. Step into our world, and we’ll meet you there and lets embark on this journey of compassion and action together.
2a Rest and Connection: The Heartbeat of Social Work
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In this episode, we delve into the heart of social work, focusing on the vital role of connection. We explore how taking the time to rest and rejuvenate can actually strengthen the bonds we build with those we work for and with. We share practical strategies, powerful stories from the field, and discuss the intersection of rest, connection, and social justice. Join us as we reflect on how rest not only nurtures us as individuals but also empowers us to forge stronger, more meaningful connections in our work. Let’s discover together how embracing rest can be a radical act of resistance and a cornerstone of effective social work.
1 Meet the Team – Courageous Connections: Nurturing Compassion in Our Community
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In this inaugural episode of ARM-OUR, you’ll have the chance to meet the six powerful women who form the nucleus of our community. Each of us bring a unique perspective, passion, and wealth of experience to our collective resistance. Focussing on one of the 4Cs that make up our values (Courage, Compassion, Connection and Community), we discuss our personal and professional journeys, reflecting on the role of self-awareness, intentionality, and supportive individuals in shaping our paths.
10a Recognition and respect
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In this final episode about sustaining yourself as a social worker, we explore the need for recognition and respect for social work. This enables good working conditions and supports social workers to offer trusted expertise to children, adults and families.
9a Sustainable self-care
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We continue our series on sustainable social work by looking at how social workers can practise authentic self-care. We discuss how self-care is really a shared endeavour with peers, and the importance of seeing it as activism for good social work. We are excited to be joined by Shantel Thomas and Sylvia Smith, who will be taking over as hosts in April.
8a Organisational support
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We continue our series on sustainable social work by looking at how organisations provide relational support to enable social workers to thrive. We discuss how everyone can work together with a shared purpose. And we consider the importance of building a sense of belonging and equity within the organisation.
7a Managerial support
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We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing how good managerial support can help social workers to thrive. We look at how to build relationships of trust, including through the use of intersectionality.
6a Supervision for wellbeing
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We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing the vital topic of supervision. We talk about why it matters, and how to secure sound professional supervision to enable you to practice well and to thrive.
5a Profession-wide support
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We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing the importance of wider support from the social work profession. We talk about how being part of a national and global community of social workers inspires us, encourages us and makes us think about what we stand for.
4a Peer support
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We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing the importance of peer support. We look at how this helps social workers to manage stress, develop practice and be inspired.
3a Professional development
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We continue our series on sustainable social work by exploring how professional development helps us to thrive as social workers. We talk about how learning can bring joy and growth, and how to get the most out of continual professional development.
2b Helpful Social Work auf Deutsch
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Heute ist der Podcast auf Deutsch. Ich spreche über die Soziale Arbeit in Großbritannien. Ich erkläre, wie sie funktioniert, und rede über die Schwierigkeiten und das Potenzial für die Zukunft. Ich hoffe, dass deutschsprachige Zuhörer diesen Podcast interessant finden.
2a Empowering ourselves
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The second podcast in our series on sustainable social work explores how we can empower ourselves as social workers. We look at the importance of taking control and influencing our working environment, and how we can ally with others in our profession to call for the support we need to be able to practise well.
1a Sustainable social work
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In our first podcast of Series 8, we give an overview of how we look after ourselves, keep going and thrive in this vital work. We explore evidence of the pressures on social workers and consider a framework to help us maintain ourselves in this tricky context.
6b Review of the year
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At the end of each series, we do a review of the year. We look back at the events and themes, and take stock of what is happening in social work.
Series 8 Introduction
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Series 8 runs from 2023 to 2024. In this series we explore how we can keep doing social work in tricky contexts. In each podcast, we look at a difference aspect of the evidence about what helps social workers to thrive.
1b What does helpful social work mean to you?
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In this podcast we talk to Paul Bridgewater about the experience of being a social worker in a range of communities, including on small islands. Paul talks about how a social worker can get to know a context and people, and build a relationship that offers a way to help someone make sense of their experiences and uphold their rights.
6a Doing nothing
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We continue our exploration of the use of self in social work. In this final episode, we talk about the situations and moments when we need to be still and do nothing. We consider the importance of stillness, silence and waiting. And how we can create space for people when they need this.
5b What does helpful social work mean to you?
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In this podcast, we talk with John Scadden about what helpful social work means to him. John talks about how you can make a difference through being the person who doesn’t give up and who inspires hope.
5a Neurodiversity
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We continue our exploration of the use of self in social work. In this episode we talk about neurodiversity in social work, and the importance of acknowledging and learning about diverse ways of experiencing the world. And, particularly, the importance of hearing the growing voice of the neurodivergent community, including in social work.
4b What does helpful social work mean to you?
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In this podcast, we talk with Gladys Mante-Nyadu about what helpful social work means to her. Gladys talks about meaningful relationships that allow people the space to be heard and to explore worries, and the importance of honest conversations.
4a Taste and smell
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We continue our exploration of the use of self in social work by looking at the entwined senses of taste and smell. Though often overlooked in practice, these strongly influence our perceptions and our emotions. In this podcast, we explore how social workers can notice and respond to taste and smell, and all that they evoke.
3a Touch
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We continue our exploration of the use of self in social work. In this podcast, we look at how touch impacts on social work practice. We discuss the meaning of touch and consider the importance of being aware of the space we inhabit.
2b What does helpful social work mean to you?
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In this podcast, we talk with Monalesia Earle about what helpful social work means to her. Monalesia highlights the relational partnership that enables people to tell and to change the arc of their stories. And the importance of giving up power in order to empower people whose voices are unheard.
2a Observation
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We continue our exploration of the use of self in social work. In this podcast, we consider observation. We discuss the purpose, ethics and practice of noticing what is around us, and how we impact on what we observe.
1a Listening and speaking
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Throughout Series 7 we are exploring some of the central elements of social work practice and use of self. In this opening podcast, we explore listening and speaking. We consider the expertise that lies behind sensitive and thoughtful communication.
10b Review of the year
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Our traditional end of series podcast is the review of the year. This review comes slightly later than usual so covers April 2021 to August 2022. We discuss some of the main events and themes, and consider the implications for social work.
10a Gender identity
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In this last episode of the series, we look at the Equality Act protected characteristic of gender reassignment, and consider how social workers promote equality and challenge discrimination relating to gender identity.
9a Pregnancy and parenthood
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In this podcast, we consider how social workers promote equality and challenge discrimination relating to pregnancy and parenthood. We look at why the Equality Act has a protected characteristic of pregnancy and maternity, and consider how social workers empower people during pregnancy and as new parents.
Equality – Marriage and civil partnership
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In this podcast, we consider how social workers promote equality and challenge discrimination relating to people’s relationships. We look at rights and social work ethics, and consider how we can actively promote choice and respect.
7a Equality – Sexual orientation
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In this podcast, we consider how social workers promote equality and challenge discrimination relating to sexual orientation. We consider the importance of sexual identity, and look at how we can actively support people to be able to access and live out their rights.
6a Equality – Sex
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In this podcast, we consider how social workers can challenge discrimination on the grounds of sex. We consider the impact of sex on experiences and how this intersects with other aspects of identity. We explore the importance for everyone of calling out sexism and upholding rights.
5a Equality – Religion and belief
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In this podcast, we consider how social workers engage with religion and belief. We discuss how our personal and professional values interact and how we engage with other people’s beliefs. We also look at how social workers can help to overcome discrimination in this area.
4b Working from home
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In this podcast we talk about the impact for social workers of working from home. We consider the benefits and drawbacks around connection, accessibility and time, and we look at what the future might hold.
4a Equality – Race and ethnicity
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In this podcast, we consider oppression relating to race and ethnicity, the importance of anti-racism in social work, and how social workers can enhance their role in challenging racism.
3a Equality – Disability
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In this podcast, we consider the social model of disability and how social workers can work alongside people with disabilities to challenge and overcome barriers to inclusion.
2a Equality – Age
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In this podcast, we explore the evidence of inequality relating to age and how age is considered in social work practice. We consider how social workers can change the narrative around age and challenge ageism.
1a Social work and equality
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Throughout Series 6 we are looking at equality and anti-oppressive practice. In this podcast we revisit the ethics and social work role around fighting discrimination, and the theories that support this.
10b Review of the year
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The last podcast of our series is always the review of the year. We look back on twelve months dominated by the Covid 19 pandemic and consider the impact this has had on social workers and our practice. We look at what has been helpful and hopeful, and how we can build on this for the year ahead.
10a Professional leadership
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Our next podcast looking at the ingredients of a social worker explores the Professional leadership domain of the Professional Capabilities Framework. We consider how social workers can act as leaders and role models wherever they are situated, and the importance of collaborative leadership. We also consider how social workers challenge and shape social work for the future.
9a Contexts and organisations
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Our next podcast looking at the ingredients of a social worker explores the Contexts and organisations domain of the Professional Capabilities Framework. We look at how we understand our context and respond to our environment. And we explore how social workers act, collaborate and ally to change the social and political context.
8a Professionalism
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Our next podcast looking at the ingredients of a social worker explores the Professionalism domain of the Professional Capabilities Framework. We explore how social workers align personal and professional integrity, and how we maintain our motivation and commitment to social work.