Glasvegas play surprise gig at social work awards

James and Rab Allan from the Glaswegian act Glasvegas put in a surprise performance last night at the Scottish Association of Social Work’s (SASW) annual awards ceremony.

The band answered a plea by SASW Manager Trisha Hall when her original booking fell through. Trisha said: “I was blown away by their willingness to come and play for us, and give social work in Scotland, and the people nominated for the awards this kind of fantastic support and exposure. It has meant a great deal to us, and ensured an absolutely unforgettable evening.”

The band played an acoustic set of four songs including ‘Geraldine’, the song written in praise of the social work profession.

The awards, which marked Scotland’s celebration of World Social Work Day, were held at the newly refurbished ballroom within the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.

The awards this year for Lecturer, Practice Teacher and Social Worker of the Year were awarded respectively by Raymond Taylor, Senior Lecturer at University of Strathclyde and longstanding BASW member, Moira Dunworth of the Scottish Organisation of Practice Teachers, and Alan Baird, Chief Social Work Adviser to the Scottish Government.

The winners this year were:

• Social Work Lecturer of the Year 2014:
  Alyson Leslie, University of Dundee
• Practice Teacher of the Year:
  Winner: Moira Harris, Social Worker/Practice Teacher, Dumfries and Galloway
  Highly Commended: Sheila Cooper, Circle Project, Edinburgh
• Social Worker of the Year (joint winners):
  Kendal Power, Social Worker Glen Isla Project, Criminal Justice, Angus Council
  Brenda Skeffington, Social Worker Youth Justice Services, South Lanarkshire Council

Ms Fiona McLeod MSP, Minister for Children and Young People handed out the trophies and addressed the audience.