The New Futures Project as a Social Work placement opportunity and learning experience.

The New Futures Project supports women and young people:

We work with vulnerable women and young people at risk of or experiencing sexual abuse and exploitation. This can include women who are seeking asylum, women experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse, families in poverty and those with complex needs. We support a diverse range of women to make positive changes, feel empowered, reduce risk, and promote wellbeing. We offer students an opportunity to work in a non-statutory social work environment and to gain an in depth insight into working with women and young people. Students are able to develop an understanding of how to work holistically to promote wellbeing, reduce risk and support individuals to feel empowered.

Feedback from students.

How would you describe your placement at The New Futures Project?

‘It was a good experience and I enjoyed it to the last day…it was a huge experience which allowed me to apply child protection, mental health and adult safeguarding knowledge acquired during lectures and placement training. It helped me to appreciate the social service system and multi-agency approach in practice.’

‘The best placement…I had been asking/hoping for this placement setting since starting my course and I am so lucky to have been able to get it as it was more than what I could have hoped for in a placement. This placement not only changed and improved my outlook on certain sectors of the world, and my appreciation of non-statutory social work increasing, but it also improved and supported many aspects of my personal life and the type of person I aspire to be. If I could redo this placement from the beginning, I would – it has been an amazing learning experience, as well as getting to know and building relationships with the best colleagues.’

‘The placement was extremely informative and surprisingly interactive and supportive giving that we were remote working. I did not know what to expect initially as I had not worked with the service-user group that the project support before, nor had I worked from home before. However, the experience was invaluable in many ways including research and developing our knowledge in multiple areas and receiving second to none supervision and support throughout.’