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National Safeguarding Week: Everyone's responsibility

This week's National Safeguarding Week (November 11 - 15) will be marked across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan with a programme of events toreinforce the message thatsafeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

 

With the launch of the newWales Safeguarding Procedures at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff later today (Monday), a number of events have been planned across the region throughout the week to raise awareness about safeguarding issues and people's obligations to report any concerns they have about the safety and welfare of vulnerable people in our local communities.

 

The focus of the events, organised by the Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Regional Safeguarding Boards, will be on the two themes of domestic abuse in its various forms, and exploitation, including knife crime and gang cultures.

 

A Cardiff Council spokesperson, said: "Safeguarding Week is an important opportunity to raise awareness of promoting the welfare of vulnerable people and protecting them from harm. We all have a responsibility to ensure that people in our communities are able to live safely, free from abuse and maltreatment.

 

"Knowing how to spot the signs of someone being the subject of harm or exploitation and what to do if we have concerns is essential so I'm very pleased to see such a broad range of events and activities across the region this week to help people become better informed about these issues."

 

Lance Carver, Director of Social Services at the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: "Safeguarding children and adults at risk is an important responsibility that we all share. It is not just a statutory obligation for organisations such as local councils, it is everybody's business and requires people operating in many different areas to work together.

 

"National Safeguarding Week plays an important role in highlighting this and this year it is especially important as the start of the week sees the launch of Wales' first universal guidelines for safeguarding, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures.

 

"The procedures will set out the essential roles and responsibilities for anyone working with children or adults who are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse, neglect or other kinds of harm. Along with the events planned for this week the procedures will make it clearer than ever what to do and when, something that will make a very real difference to many lives."

 

A series of crime prevention and safety awareness roadshows will be held this week including  events at  Cardiff University on Tuesday, November 12, 9.30am - 4pm;  at the Llandaff Campus of Cardiff Metropolitan University on Wednesday, November 13, 9.30am - 3.30pm and Insole Court on Thursday, November 14, 11am - 2pm. Each event will include information stands and activities to raise awareness of scams, swindles, personal safety, security of personal property, knife crime and domestic abuse.

 

Two NSPCC workshops focussing on working with children who have experienced trauma are open to practitioners and members of the public at the NSPCC offices in Cardiff on Tuesday, November 12, 1.30 - 2.30pm and 3-4pm while a young people's conference, for pupils from Years 7 to 9 from Cardiff and Vale schools, is taking place at the Motorpoint Arena on Wednesday, November 13.

A domestic abuse workshop will be held for practitioners at Barry's Memo Centre on Thursday, November 14, while older people's groups, elderly members of the community and residents of sheltered schemes will attend a presentation on county lines and cuckooing later that day.

 

The week's events conclude on Friday November 15 with a professionals conference in Barry and a Safeguarding awards evening at Whitchurch Rugby Club to recognise the contribution of all those, both professionals and volunteers, who work tirelessly to ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, of all ages, are kept safe and free from harm and exploitation.

 

For more information about the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Regional Safeguarding Board, and for the full programme of events for National Safeguarding Week, visithttps://www.cardiffandvalersb.co.uk/