From September 2003, social worker students will benefit from a new bursary scheme worth at least an average of £3,000 per year.

Health Minister Jacqui Smith announced that the bursary is part of the on going work to reform social work training and student support.

Jacqui Smith said:
"We want to see more people entering the social work profession and to encourage people into social work training. The non-means tested bursary will be paid to social work students who are not funded by their employers.

"The rates will be at least an average of £3,000 pa plus tuition fees for those students who do not receive them from LEAs or employers. This includes, a flat rate allowance of £500 per year to meet the cost of travelling to practice placements.

"The Department has done a lot of work to encourage people to consider a career in social work through its national recruitment campaign. We had an overwhelming number of people requesting information and we hope that this translates into people joining the profession."