Welcome to Day 1 of National Safeguarding Adults Week.

The theme this year is Prevention: Act before abuse. How can we create safer environments that actively work to prevent abuse?

On Day 1 we consider how we can Change the Conversation. Let's look at proactive intervention – about the good things we can do, as individuals and organisations, to create safer environments that actively work to prevent abuse.

Let's help to change the conversation as we think about how clubs, community groups, and other organisations can build inclusive and resilient environments in which people look out for each other.

A number of our council buildings across Cumbria will be illuminated green this week, to represents the 'green light' to talk about safeguarding and the importance of protecting adults at risk, in line with this years theme of Prevention: Act before abuse.

If you are out and about during the week and you see any of the council buildings lit up green, please send us some photo's so we can help spread the word!

Email your images to: CSAB@cumbria.gov.uk.

You can follow us on social media X (formerly Twitter): @cumbriasab or LinkedIn.

One of the six principles of safeguarding is Prevention, this recognises that it is better to take action before harm occurs.  

Another principle is Partnership, which highlights local solutions through services working with communities can play a part in.

You can find more information about the Six Principles of Safeguarding on the Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Website.

Safeguarding adults means protecting a person who is over the age of 18.

Safeguarding is about people and organisations working together. In Cumbria, we want to reduce the risks of abuse or neglect happening and make sure the person's views, wishes, feelings and beliefs are a key part of deciding on any action. It is important that a person's wellbeing is promoted at all times.

Research in Practice have published a Guide to Safeguarding Adults which outlines what to expect from the safeguarding process and what to expect for adults involved who may be involved in safeguarding.

Watch this short webinar which explores what we mean by safeguarding adults, what is abuse or neglect, how to recognise and importantly how to report concerns.  The webinar is aimed at members of the public, community groups and organisations who may be working with adults in the community that could be at risk of abuse or neglect.

Individuals, groups and organisations will find more information about abuse or neglect including how to recognise and report on our website in a dedicated area I am a member of the public.

The CSAB website also has links to a range of Easy Read guides including; Safeguarding, Mental Health and Hate Crimes. You can find them if you click the button below:

Linked to the theme for Day 1, Proactive Intervention, we are sharing resources which support practitioners to develop and maintain relationships with the adults they work with. Professional Curiosity is vital when developing relationships and can support practitioners working together to keep adults at risk safe from abuse.

CSAB have a dedicated area on the website with a range of local and links to national guidance and resources intended to support practitioners to be professionally curious. 

Check out local and national Professional Curiosity resources on our website here.

CSAB have recently published a Person Centred Practice Guidance aimed at practitioners to support them to develop and build on good practice when considering and/or understanding the impact of effective engagement and the risks when engagement becomes challenging.

CSAB are today launching a short survey designed to capture the views and experiences of practitioners and managers across the safeguarding adults partnership in Cumbria. Your voice matters.

Your feedback will help us understand what’s working, where improvements are needed, and how we can continue to support a confident, informed, and joined-up workforce to protect adults at risk of abuse or neglect.

This is our bi-annual survey and should take no more than 5–7 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous unless you choose to leave your details. You can access the survey by clicking on the button below:

During the week of action, CSAB are hosting online learning events for practitioners starting with Learning from a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR).

A DARDR is carried out when a person aged 16 or over dies as a result of violence, abuse or neglect by a relative or someone they've been in an intimate relationship with. This also covers deaths by suicide, where Domestic Abuse has been a feature.

This learning session will cover thematic learning from DARDRs in Cumbria.

Date: Tuesday 18th November 2025 Time: 1pm - 2pm online via MS Teams.

To book your place, please click here.

Check out this short animation commissioned by Safeguarding Adults Boards across the North East of England and adapted for local use. The animation looks at the difficult topic of self neglect, how to recognise the warning signs and who you can contact for help.   

The animation is intended to raise awareness and to be used as a tool to start a conversation with someone you may be worried about. This includes family, friends or neighbours and also practitioners working with adults who may be experiencing self-neglect. 

During the week, Ann Craft Trust are running a number of free online seminars which you can find out more by clicking the link here.