We are delighted to share the news that our trustee, Rebecca Stephens, has won a prestigious national award for her outstanding contribution to the social work profession.
‘Amazing Social Workers’ is a campaign championing the exceptional work happening across the UK social work profession. It is run by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), the UK’s largest professional body for social work.
The awards aim to highlight the achievements of individuals and teams in the social work profession, whilst also raising the profile and public understanding of the critical role of social work in our communities.
As well as being Associate Professor of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex, Rebecca is the pioneer of veterinary social work in the UK. Her work and research explore the vital role pets play in people’s lives and how animal welfare and human-animal interactions can alert social workers to child and domestic abuse. Her work offers guidance on how social workers can collaborate with veterinary teams and animal welfare organisations.
The British Association of Social Worker judges praised Rebecca saying: “As the first Veterinary Social Worker in the UK, Rebecca has shown tenacity and perseverance in pioneering this new specialism, which will significantly support and strengthen the ability of the human and animal sectors to work together effectively, changing the landscape of the fields forever and for the better.”
Rebecca said: “My research and work have shown me that meaningful change doesn’t start with certainty but with curiosity, commitment, and the courage to create space for something new. For me, this recognition isn’t just about receiving an award; it’s about gaining a new platform to convey an important message: that human and animal welfare are interconnected, so when we protect animals, we protect people too.”
Over 300 individuals and teams were nominated by their colleagues this year, including frontline practitioners, students, managers, leaders, educators and newly qualified social workers. We are thrilled to hear that Rebecca’s work has been rightly recognised – well done, Rebecca!
For more information, please visit the University of Sussex’s full press release here, and the BASW Amazing Social Workers 2026 page here.
