“Prevention is the foundation of effective safeguarding creating a culture of awareness, trust, and vigilance so that harm is stopped before it starts should be at the heart of what we do” Catalyst Support’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, Natasha Coutts
Safeguarding Adults Week 2025 takes place from Monday 17th – Friday 21st November 2025
Safeguarding Adults Week is a time for organisations to come together to raise awareness of important safeguarding issues.
Working in partnerships allows us to share our knowledge of safeguarding, learn from others and ultimately create safer cultures to reduce the risk of harm and abuse to others.
During Safeguarding Adults Week 2025, the Partnership Board will explore a different safeguarding theme each day in line with those shared by Ann Craft Trust.
Safeguarding Adults Week 2025 is all about prevention.
When people usually talk about “safeguarding”, they are referring to policies and procedures we might put into place to respond to concerns of abuse, or to minimise the risk of a person being harmed or abused again. They are also talking about the lessons we might learn from past cases of abuse or harm that we may have been involved in.
It’s time to change the conversation.
Whilst it is important to learn from when things go wrong, it is such better to prevent abuse from occurring in the first place than it is to respond to instances of harm, neglect, and isolation. The themes over the week will encourage us to consider how we can work together to establish safer cultures within our workplaces and communities. See below the themes provided by the Ann Craft Trust:
Monday – Change the Conversation
Monday’s theme, ‘Change the Conversation’, promotes open dialogue and challenges misconceptions in adult safeguarding through practical tools, myth-busting resources, and guidance on adopting a family approach, making safeguarding personal, and managing difficult conversations
For more information on how to Make Safeguarding Personal Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board Webinar
Tuesday – Prevention in Practice
Catalyst Support is home to the Cuckooing service
Cuckooing: is a type of exploitation where they take over the victim’s home and use it for illegal activity. The name comes from the cuckoo bird, which is known for taking over other birds’ nests.
This type of activity is closely linked to ‘county lines’ drug trafficking, where people are used to supply drugs from major cities to suburban, rural and coastal areas. In this case, the victim’s home becomes a base for developing operations in a new area
Please see Catalyst Support Cuckooing Presentation to the SSAB
Learn how to spot the signs:
Referrals for our cuckooing service often come from the concerned members of the community: food banks, neighbours, GP’s, friends and family.
If you know someone at risk: in an emergency, call 999 immediately. Worried about cuckooing? Report it to the police on 101. You can also report anonymously through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
Wednesday – Creating Empowering Environments
Exploring how empathy, understanding, co-production, and positive risk taking can help create trauma informed approaches.
Catalyst Support is home to The Women’s Support Centre For over 15 years they have welcomed women from across Surrey from all backgrounds, supporting them on their journey of identification, recovery, healing and expression. They provide practical and holistic support to women dealing with abuse, discrimination, trauma, homelessness, financial difficulties and those navigating the criminal justice system
Their vision is to continue empowering women through a trauma-informed, client-led approach that places each woman’s voice and experience at the heart of her healing, and prioritises dignity, autonomy, and long-term empowerment.
They have a range of services (Domestic Abuse, Counselling, Recovery Services) alongside a range of opportunities to meet others, from drop ins, to art and recovery groups.
Learn more about the service and how to make a referral here Domestic Abuse Service – Women’s Support Centre Surrey
Thursday – Trust Your Instincts
Building courage and resilience to speak out. Looking at organisational and individual tools that help develop supportive cultures in which good safeguarding practices can thrive.
A presentation from Hourglass Protecting Older People From Abuse
Friday – Celebrate the Safer Cultures
Using examples of good practice to illustrate what we mean by “safer cultures”. Success stories of positive outcomes, constructive conversations, exciting initiatives, and fruitful partnerships. Follow Ann Craft Trust and Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board for more resources Safeguarding Adults Week 17 – 21 November 2025 – Ann Craft Trust
*If you suspect somebody is being abused or neglected, don’t ignore it, report it.
In an emergency dial 999 for the police.*
If you are concerned about an adult with care and support needs, who is at risk of/ or is being abused or neglected you need to report it. To do this, please contact Surrey County Council, Adult Social Care:
- Phone: 0300 470 9100 (available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
- Referral Form – Adult Social Care Online Safeguarding Referral (surreycc.gov.uk)
If you would like to discuss anything relating to the above please contact safeguarding@catalystsupport.org.uk for guidance and further information.
