Social workers and allied professions have a long history of working in coastal communities and with seafarers.
Social work in these contexts can include responding to specific needs, such as supporting communities in the aftermath of catastrophic flooding, a role which is likely to increase with the ongoing impact of climate change. Coastal communities also sometimes face particular social problems with ageing populations, homelessness, sexual exploitation and trafficking that may be experienced differently to inland communities.
However, unlike other fields of social work, the link between social work, the sea, and coastal communities has been under-explored in the literature and in practice.
This symposium brought together academics, researchers, policymakers, students, practitioners and service users for a two day event in Britain's ocean city to network, present new findings, and learn about the challenges and strengths of social work and social care in coastal settings.
The symposium was aimed at anyone with an interest in social work or social care.
