Social work students from Wales will be able to apply for funding for their studies from next year in the hope that this will attract more people to the profession. The announcement follows a review into the current funding scheme, which formed part of the reform of social work training in Wales.From 2004 payments of two and a half thousand pounds a year will be available for students. They will also have the chance to have their fees paid, up to a maximum of eleven hundred pounds if they cannot claim them from elsewhere. Students will also be able to claim travelling expenses, as is the case at the moment.
Announcing the funding, Welsh assembly Minister Jane Hutt said, ” Social work is important and valuable work and we want to do all we can to support and encourage people to enter the profession.” The new funding will coincide with the introduction of new degree level training.
Students on post graduate social work courses already receive bursary funding but from next year students starting on the undergraduate Diploma in Social Work and those currently on non-graduate courses will also be eligible to apply for non-means tested funding.