Over the years, I’ve had hundreds of interactions with social workers. These experiences, while varied, have given me a unique perspective on the strengths and limitations of social work practice—particularly when it comes to addressing the needs of Disabled people like myself. One area that seems to be consistently overlooked is physical activity. While social workers are often focused on important issues like access to care, housing and financial support, the role of physical activity in improving the quality of life is rarely discussed.
For many of us, physical activity isn't just about health; it’s about well-being, connection, and dignity. There were countless moments in my journey when I felt that conversations around physical activity—what it means for me, what’s possible, and how it can enhance my life—were simply not happening. Yet we all know the importance of staying active. It helps improve not only our physical health but also our mental, emotional, and even social well-being. For Disabled people, the benefits of movement go far beyond fitness—it’s about maintaining autonomy, reducing isolation, and fostering a sense of participation in the world around us.
Despite these benefits, many Disabled people face barriers to being active, whether due to a lack of suitable support, resources, or even encouragement. Social work as a profession can play a pivotal role in breaking down these barriers. However, for this to happen, there needs to be a fundamental shift in how social workers view physical activity as part of their practice. This is where the Moving Social Work programme comes in.
The Moving Social Work Programme: A Step Toward Change
Launched in November 2020, the Moving Social Work programme is an initiative designed to transform how social workers support Disabled people to stay active. It recognises that physical activity is not a luxury or an optional extra; it is a fundamental part of living a full life. The programme aims to educate and equip social workers with the tools they need to have meaningful conversations about physical activity with Disabled individuals and to help create pathways that encourage movement in ways that are safe, enjoyable, and achievable for everyone.
What makes the Moving Social Work programme so unique is that it is entirely co-produced. This means that Disabled people like me, along with social workers, carers, lecturers, and students, have all contributed to the creation of the resources. Our voices and experiences are shaping the materials that will be used to train social workers, ensuring that they are not only practical but also rooted in real-life challenges and opportunities. This collaborative approach is vital because it ensures that the solutions proposed by the programme are truly reflective of the needs and desires of Disabled people.
The project is structured in phases, with the first phase focused on developing resources and tools. Considerable work was undertaken and completed in Phase 1. Phase 2, which began in January 2024, was built upon the learning, development and evidence of the previous years. Furthermore, phase 2 is focused on rolling out these resources in universities and local authorities. This phase will also involve testing the effectiveness of the materials, gathering data from practitioners and Disabled people alike. The goal is to create a national training programme that can be embedded into social work education and continued professional development (CPD) across the country.
Barriers to Physical Activity for Disabled People
For Disabled people, staying active is often fraught with challenges. One of the most significant barriers is a lack of awareness amongst social workers about the importance of physical activity. Too often, the focus is solely on managing immediate needs, while long-term health and well-being, including physical activity, are sidelined.
Additionally, there are practical barriers such as inaccessible environments, lack of adaptive equipment or limited availability of community-based activities that are inclusive of Disabled individuals.
This is why the work being done by Disability Rights UK through the Moving Social Work programme is so important. By co-producing these resources, they are ensuring that social workers gain a deeper understanding of the importance of physical activity for Disabled people. It encourages them to recognize that being active isn’t just about physical health—it’s about improving mental health, reducing loneliness and helping Disabled people stay connected to our communities.
Shifting the Narrative: From Care to Well-Being
As someone who has shared my experiences within this programme, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that thoughtful, inclusive conversations about physical activity can have. When social workers are trained to understand and promote the benefits of movement, they are better able to help Disabled people lead more fulfilling lives. This programme shifts the narrative away from simply managing care and toward supporting holistic well-being.
It’s inspiring to see how the Moving Social Work programme is already making waves in the social work community.
By integrating these resources into social work education and practice, we are taking significant steps toward ensuring that Disabled people receive the support they need to stay active. And staying active, in turn, helps us stay connected, engaged, and healthy—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Social Work and Physical Activity
The next twelve months of the programme will focus on testing the resources in real-world settings and gathering feedback to refine the tools. The re-formation of the Advisory Board will ensure that the project remains aligned with national developments and that it can respond to emerging needs in social work education. This continued evolution will allow the programme to keep pace with changes in policy and innovation, ensuring that the resources remain relevant and effective.
At its core, the Moving Social Work programme is about more than just promoting physical activity. It’s about ensuring that social workers have the knowledge and skills they need to support the whole person—body, mind, and soul. It’s about recognizing that physical activity is a human right and that Disabled people deserve the same opportunities as everyone else to live active, connected, and fulfilling lives.
By raising awareness and providing the right tools, this programme offers the potential to transform social work practice for the better. In September, I had the privilege of sharing my lived experience at an event held by DRUK and Durham Universities. This event brought together key stakeholders from health and social care, the physical activity sector, and organisations representing Disabled people. The goal was to rethink and reshape how Disabled individuals are fully included in physical activities, so that there can be more inclusive environments, and ultimately people achieve better outcomes. For me, and for many others like me, this is a long-overdue and much-welcomed change. It is my hope that through Moving Social Work, we can create a future where every Disabled person has the support they need to stay active and engaged, and where social workers are empowered to make that happen.
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