We’re joining organisations across South Yorkshire this week in celebrating Safeguarding Awareness Week, taking place from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 November. 

Our Safeguarding Adults Board and Safeguarding Children’s Partnership have been busy organising lots of great ways for you to learn more about keeping our communities safe. 

Throughout the week, we’re taking over the atrium of Barnsley Market with a series of information stalls designed to help you learn more about the support available locally. 

Our teams in Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Communities will be joined by a wide range of partners who help to keep our communities safe, including: 

• Barnados. 
• Barnsley Carers Service. 
• Barnsley College. 
• Berneslai Homes. 
• Compass Be’s mental health support team. 
• Healthwatch Barnsley. 
• IDAS, which supports people affected by domestic abuse. 
• Local NHS services. 
• PAPYRUS, which supports people affected by suicide. 
• Recovery Steps, our commissioned drug and alcohol support service. 
• South Yorkshire Police. 

Whether you want to learn about our D’Clutter Club or the support available to help adults, children and young people, pop by Barnsley Market and speak to our friendly teams. 

Children, young people and families are also invited to join us in Barnsley Market on Saturday morning (25 November) to learn more about the support available to them. You’ll be able to talk to a range of organisations as you enter the Market between 10am and 1pm. 

The main themes of this year’s Safeguarding Awareness Week are online harms and how to stay safe in the community by looking out for each other  

We’ll be hosting an Online Harms Conference for safeguarding professionals on Friday (24 November) to help those supporting our communities learn more about the part they play. 

Our Safeguarding Children’s Partnership has also developed a video for schools to help children and young people learn all about staying safe online. Parents and carers can watch the video on our YouTube channel. 

We have a wide range of events planned for residents, professionals and volunteers alike, with some taking place virtually and others out and about across our borough. 

These events are a great way to learn more about what safeguarding means and the role we all have to play in keeping our communities safe.  

Find out what we have planned by visiting our Safeguarding Awareness Week webpage. 

Councillor Trevor Cave, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said: “In Barnsley, we want to make sure our children and young people get the best possible start in life. This would not be possible without all the hard work of our Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, who work tirelessly all year round to keep young people safe. 

“I’m delighted to see so many events planned in Barnsley for Safeguarding Awareness Week. Come to one of our events, speak to our friendly teams and learn more about how we can all help keep our communities safe.” 

Councillor Jo Newing, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place Health and Adult Social Care, said: “We want to make sure everyone has the best possible chance of enjoying life in good health. Our Safeguarding Adults Board are a key part of this, bringing organisations working across our borough together to help our communities stay safe and well. 

“Safeguarding is everybody’s business, so I want to encourage you to join us at one of our events and hear about the support available locally. It’s a great chance to learn more about how we can all look for each other and make Barnsley a safer place.” 

Throughout the week, we will be sharing key safeguarding information on Barnsley Council’s social media channels. Keep an eye out throughout the week and follow our Safeguarding Children’s Partnership or the Safeguarding Adults Board for key campaigns and updates throughout the year. 

Safeguarding is everybody’s business, and together, we can help make our borough a safer place to live, work, grow up and grow old. 

For more information about keeping adults, children and young people safe, including how you can report any concerns, please visit our dedicated safeguarding webpage: 

• If you’re worried about an adult’s safety or wellbeing, call 01226 773300. 
• If you’re worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing, call 01226 772423. 
• If it’s an emergency, please call 999. 

We offer a wide range of training all year round for professionals and volunteers working to keep adults, children and young people in our communities safe. For more information, visit our dedicated safeguarding adults and safeguarding children’s training webpages.