Leaders from across South Yorkshire come together to celebrate Safeguarding Awareness Week

To mark the start of Safeguarding Awareness Week, leaders from across South Yorkshire came together to discuss how we can keep adults and children in the region safe.

Held at the Northern College, the event looked at how we can work together to address shared safeguarding challenges.

Local experts explored how partners from across the region can:

  • Support adults struggling with self-neglect and hoarding.
  • Help young people develop the skills they need to become resilient adults.
  • Minimise the impact of gangs and county lines on children, young people and adults with vulnerabilities.

Joined by our regional Safeguarding Adults Board and Safeguarding Children’s Partnership members, we shared the great work already happening in the region. We also explored local and regional solutions to some of the challenges identified by the speakers.

The event was attended by Sarah Poolman, Assistant Chief Constable for South Yorkshire Police, and Bob Dyson, the Independent Chair of Barnsley’s Safeguarding Adults Board and Safeguarding Children’s Partnership.

This event is one of the many planned for this year’s South Yorkshire Safeguarding Awareness Week (15-19 November).

As part of the week, there are a range of free in-person and virtual events planned around:

  • Mental health and wellbeing.
  • Safety within the family and the home.
  • Looking out for your community.
  • What to do if you are worried about yourself or others.

Anne Marie Lubanski, Rotherham Council’s Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health, said: “We are committed to safeguarding and it is fantastic to be able to come together with partners across the region again to share best practice and ensure we are doing all we can to keep children and adults safe. We want everyone to be able to live their life free from harm, and events like these are critical to ensuring we continue to do everything we can to make the region a safer place.”

Councillor Jenny Platts, Barnsley Council Cabinet Spokesperson for Adults and Communities, said: “We believe everyone has a right to feel safe and live without fear of abuse, neglect or exploitation. I’m therefore delighted that we kicked off our Safeguarding Awareness Week activities by coming together with leaders from across South Yorkshire to discuss how we can work together to help keep adults safe.”

Councillor Trevor Cave, Barnsley Council Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said: “By working with partners from across South Yorkshire, we can help make sure Barnsley is a safe place for children and young people to grow up in. This event was a great way to kickstart Safeguarding Awareness Week, giving us a chance to think about how we can tackle shared challenges while celebrating great work already taking place.”

The week is part of an ongoing commitment that safeguarding adults and children is everybody’s business. During the week, partners will be raising awareness of what safeguarding means, the issues that can arise and the support available locally.

For more information on safeguarding adults and children in Rotherham, including the support available locally and how to report any concerns:

Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership

Published: 17th November 2021