Distinguished social work lecture to examine the plight of Samos refugees
By Education & Training, , , , , ,

The plight of refugees arriving on the Greek Island of Samos will be told through first-hand experience in the latest distinguished lecture delivered by the Department of Social Work, Care and Justice.

Chris Jones, former Professor of Social Work at the University of Liverpool, and now a resident of Samos, will present Refugees and social work: sharing experiences from Samos Island in a free public lecture on Wednesday 22nd February.

Living on the island meant that when tens of thousands of refugees arrived in Samos in 2015, Professor Jones was on the front line hearing and witnessing the day-to-day struggles of the refugees.

The lecture will argue that in varied ways and with diverse impacts, social work is both effective and vibrant. It will explore how social work of the people, not the state or privatised welfare agencies now flourishes in many north European states, offering inspiration and valuable insights into the possibilities of social work.

Professor Jones said: “Until the arrival of big NGOs such as Medicin Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Save the Children in the autumn of 2015, all the basic welfare and humanitarian needs [in Samos] were met by the locals and a significant number of tourists. Through their efforts, lives were saved, thousands of refugees were fed and clothed, and not least offered solidarity, which was vital to their wellbeing.”

The lectures delivered as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series aim to force us to confront social work’s current limits and consider future possibilities. Topics under the microscope will include social work provision for children, adults and refugees; mental health; learning disabilities; social work practice; oppression and social work education.

All lectures will take place at 5.30pm in the EDEN Lecture Theatre, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool L16 9JD. Refreshments will be served at 5pm.

The lectures are free and open to all.