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A host of awareness raising events are taking place throughout the week, and people are being encouraged to Stand Up and Speak Out if they have any concerns at all that someone is being abused.
Activities include a pop-up shop offering advice and information in the Mander Centre - next to The Works - on Monday and Wednesday, 11 and 13 June, from 10am to 5pm. Members of the safeguarding teams from Safeguarding Board partners will be on hand to speak to shoppers and also talk to people on a one to one basis about any concerns they may have.
Loudmouth Theatre Company will be presenting 2 plays at The Way Youth Zone on School Street; Helping Hands, focusing on the risks children face from grooming and exploitation, on Tuesday 12 June, and Working for Marcus, highlighting the risks of sexual exploitation to young people, on Friday 15 June.
In addition, safeguarding training is being delivered to faith groups throughout the week, while a major conference will be taking place on Thursday 14 June involving over 100 frontline staff from all members of Wolverhampton's Safeguarding Boards - including the City of Wolverhampton Council, West Midlands Police, Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum and health partners - to discuss what can be learned from domestic homicide and serious case reviews.
Linda Sanders, Independent Chair of Wolverhampton's Safeguarding Adults and Children's Boards, said: "Safeguarding is everyone's business, and Safeguarding Week is an opportunity to highlight the role we all have to play in helping keep vulnerable people safe in Wolverhampton.
"This includes the role of everyone who lives and works in the City raising concerns they have, as well as the work of Wolverhampton's Adults' and Children's Safeguarding Board partners who have close working relationships and a strong commitment to working together to keep vulnerable people in our City safe from abuse and neglect."
Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Our teams work very hard protecting children and young people, the elderly and people with disabilities who are at risk of abuse - but they also need the help of the public to identify people who are most at risk."
Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, Cabinet Member for Adults, added: "We want people to Stand Up and Speak Out - to know what to look out for, and know how they can go about reporting any concerns they may have - so that agencies can provide the right support at the right time."
Abuse is mistreatment by any other person which violates the victim's human and civil right. It can happen anywhere - at home or in residential care, hospital, in the workplace, at a day centre or educational establishment, in supported housing or in the street - and can include physical or sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, financial abuse like theft or fraud, exploitation and neglect.
Anyone who is concerned that someone they know is either being abused, or may be at risk of abuse, is asked to call the City of Wolverhampton Council in confidence as soon as possible. For concerns relating to children and young people, please call 01902 555392, while if the concerns relate to adults, please call 01902 551199. Out of hours, call 01902 552999. In an emergency, always dial 999.
For more information about the work of the Safeguarding Boards, please visit Type=links;Linkid=7040;Title=Wolverhampton Safeguarding;Target=_blank;.
- released: Thursday 7 June, 2018