Shantel Thomas shortlisted for Social Justice Advocate Award

The Social Worker of the Year Awards has announced its finalists for this year, and the Anti-Racist Movement (A.R.M), founded and led by Shantel Thomas, has been named as a finalist for the prestigious Social Justice Advocate Award. Thomas, who is the course lead for our Master’s degree in Social work (M23) and clinical professional lead for social work, has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to social justice and advocacy.

A.R.M serves as a sacred space for Black women to heal, grow and thrive, providing a supportive environment where they can nurture themselves and each other. The movement embodies the philosophy of creating “communities of resistance”, echoing the words of bell hooks: “One of the most important ways we sustain ourselves is by building communities of resistance – places where we know we are not alone.”

As an independent initiative, A.R.M is described by Shantel as “a space where we do not apologize, explain, or make excuses for who we are. ”The movement is deeply rooted in action and self-reliance, inspired by the powerful words of Audre Lorde: “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.”

The Social Worker of the Year Awards is the only major national awards event dedicated to social work in England, attracting hundreds of entries annually. The finalists, including Shantel and A.R.M, were selected by panels of independent judges, comprising previous award winners, social workers, industry leaders, and individuals with lived experience of social work. The awards recognize extraordinary practice across 18 categories, including two new additions for 2024: the Technology Enabled Lives and Practice Award and the Practitioner-Led Research Award.

Mark Freestone, our Chief Education and Training Officer, said: “Shantel was drawn to the profession of social work because of her commitment to, and passion for, social justice. She is a shining example of the transformative role social workers play in driving positive change and creating communities that thrive on mutual respect and sustainability. Shantel is certainly deserving of this award”

Peter Hay CBE, Chair of the Social Work Awards, expressed his admiration for the finalists: “This year we received hundreds of entries, which goes to show how passionate organizations and individuals are to shine a light on the inspirational achievements of an often-overlooked profession. We would like to thank all those who took the time to nominate a friend, colleague, or team for an award this year. To our finalists, we’d like to say congratulations! Being nominated for a national award, whilst supporting others during very challenging times in a year of big changes, is a remarkable achievement of which you should be very proud.”

The winners will be announced at a special event in London this November, where the finalists will gather to celebrate their achievements and find out who will take home the coveted awards.

For more information about the awards, visit www.socialworkawards.com.