SVPP Newsletter - September
SVPP Newsletter Issue 29
Welcome to the Wiltshire SVPP’s e-newsletter bringing you the latest news and updates from the SVPP, including the Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP).
We were pleased to welcome Jess Severn as our new Partnership Lead for Children in July, and she is settling into the team well. We also said farewell to David Williams who had been our independent scrutineer for three years, and we thank him for his insight and challenge, and wish him well for the future.
September has already been a busy month across the partnership. From 1st September Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 came into force, and colleagues working in schools, settings and colleges will have been reading at least part one of this guidance.
The new Information Sharing Duty statutory guidance was then published by the Department for Education following consultation earlier in the year – this comes into force from 1st October and is a significant shift in practice – we will be working with partners to help understand what will need to change and offer further guidance as soon as we can.
We then received the revised Domestic Abuse Related Death Review Statutory Guidance from the Home Office, and will be reflecting these changes in our forthcoming updated case review protocol.
In the adult safeguarding space, further details of the new National Adult Safeguarding Board were made available too.
We are currently working on a number of case reviews, preparing for Safeguarding Fortnight as well as our Stakeholder Network & Senior Partners meetings, planning induction for our new Independent Scrutineer and finalising our annual report. As for everyone who works to safeguard our children, adults and communities, there is never a truly quiet time, but we hope that our work supports you in your practice, and look forward to engaging with you at our events and training sessions.
News in Brief
Safeguarding Fortnight
We are delighted to announce that bookings are now open for Safeguarding Fortnight 2026. Taking place across two weeks in November, Safeguarding Fortnight brings together professionals from across children's services, adult services, health, education, police, housing, community safety and the voluntary sector to learn from one another and strengthen safeguarding practice across Wiltshire. This year's programme includes a wide range of free online learning opportunities, including sessions on:
- Family Help and the Families First reforms.
- Child and adult exploitation.
- Cuckooing and policing vulnerability.
- Challenges around child sexual abuse.
- Domestic abuse, coercive control and domestic abuse in later life.
- Tackling knife crime and reducing risk.
- Hoarding awareness and working with hoarding behaviours.
- Learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, Safeguarding Adults Reviews and Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews.
- What good referrals look like and strengthening multi-agency practice.
Whether you are new to safeguarding or an experienced practitioner, manager or leader, there is something in the programme for everyone.
View the full programme and book your place here: https://www.wiltshiresvpp.org.uk/p/learning-hub/safeguarding-fortnight-2026
Places are limited and some sessions are expected to fill quickly, so we encourage early booking.
Self-Harm Awareness Training
4 Mental Health are pleased to be offering a further series of free Self-Harm Awareness Training sessions. These interactive online sessions are for anyone working or living in Wiltshire who would like to better understand self-harm and develop the confidence to support someone who may be struggling.
To explore available dates and book your place, click here: Self-Harm Awareness and Response Training Dates and Bookings
This introductory course will help participants to:
- Understand why people self-harm and challenge common myths and stigma.
- Develop confidence in having supportive conversations with someone in distress.
- Explore practical ways to support individuals and signpost them to appropriate resources.
Whether you work with people in a professional capacity, volunteer in your community, or simply want to increase your knowledge, this training provides practical, evidence-based learning and is suitable for those with no previous experience or training.
Self-Harm Response Training
We are also offering Self-Harm Response Training, designed for those who have completed the Awareness course or already have a good foundation of knowledge about self-harm.
This practical follow-on course helps participants build the skills and confidence to respond effectively to disclosures of self-harm.
Places are limited, so please book early. If your preferred session is full, you can join the waiting list by contacting: training@4mentalhealth.com
Please note that a charge may apply for non-attendance without notice.
Wiltshire Gambling Harms Awareness Week: 5th - 9th October 2026
Wiltshire's first Gambling Harms Awareness Week is from Monday 5th to Friday 9th October 2026, bringing together local partners to increase understanding of gambling harms and highlight the support available to individuals, families and communities.
Throughout the week, Wiltshire Council, Public Health will be working with Ara Recovery for All, Ygam and the Southwest Gambling Service to deliver a programme of free online training and lived experience sessions. These sessions are designed to help professionals and community organisations to recognise gambling harms, understand their impact, and feel more confident in having supportive conversations and signposting people to help.
The week includes learning opportunities relevant to a wide range of sectors, including health and social care, education, community organisations, workplaces, and anyone with an interest in improving their understanding.
Topics include gambling harms awareness, workplace impacts, youth prevention, lived experience perspectives and NHS treatment services.
All events are free to attend. To view the full programme, access booking links and find information about available support services, visit: Gambling Harms Wiltshire Council.
Unique Voice project, Safer Together- knife crime restoration
The Unique Voice project, Safer Together invites you to a powerful, creative resource for preventing knife violence and promoting positive restoration.
The 90-minute session will bring together guest speakers and hands-on training to equip professionals with the skills and confidence to deliver engaging assemblies, workshops and community interventions.
Learn how to foster healthy relationships, build psychological safety, and inspire hope-based change in young people and communities. Leave empowered, connected and ready to lead safer futures.
About Safer Together:
Safer Together, developed by the creative education provider Unique Voice CIC, is a national youth crime prevention initiative and trauma-informed educational toolkit designed to help tackle knife crime and serious youth violence. In Wiltshire, this initiative is directly funded by Home Office Serious Violence Duty allocation money via the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire & Swindon. This funding is specifically utilised to up-skill and support local professionals—including teachers, youth workers, and community safeguarding teams - by providing them with free access to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training, interactive session guides, and youth-led film resources. By equipping frontline staff across Wiltshire with these tools, the funding fosters a unified, public health-focused approach to delivering assemblies and workshops that encourage young people to reflect on peer pressure, build emotional resilience, and safely report crime anonymously via Crimestoppers' Fearless programme.
Session Details:
Tuesday 20th October - 15:30 -17:00
Keynote Speakers: Talulah Pollenne - Unique Voice. Mike Vass - Wiltshire Police. Beth Simpson - CrimeStoppers.
This supportive and informative session will:
- Introduce the film and accompanying conversation resource
- Offer ideas for how to speak with your child about knife crime in a trauma-informed way
- Signpost helpful organisations such as CrimeStoppers and Fearless
If you would like to attend the online CPD event, click HERE to register
The session will be recorded and available to watch from our Unique Voice website shortly after this date.
Website: uniquevoice.org
Safety Advice for parents and carers
This guidance is for parents and carers to help keep their children safe in different types of after-school activities and settings.
We all know that private tutors, clubs and classes offer great ways for children and young people to develop their skills and confidence. However, there can be occasions when those of a position of trust sadly abuse children and young people. As a parent/carer it is important that you take measure to ensure your children are protected and safe?
This document will help you understand the safeguards that every provider should have in place and explains what to look out for, what to ask and what to do if you have any concerns. Many after-school activities are unregulated, individuals may not be legally required to have background checks or qualifications.
Please access the full guidance here.
Who to Contact if Concerned
Wiltshire Integrated Front Door (IFD) - 0300 4560108 - Out of Hours 0300 456 0100 - Integratedfrontdoor@wiltshire.gov.uk
Swindon Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) - 01793 464646 - Emergency Duty Service (EDS) 01793 436699 - contactchildrenandfamilies@swindon.gov.uk
- Local Authorities Designated Officer (LADO)
Wiltshire LADO - 0300 456 0108 - LADO@wiltshire.gov.uk
Swindon LADO - 01793 463854 - LADO@swindon.gov.uk
- Police: 101 or 999 in emergencies
September is Recovery Month
Recovery Month is an opportunity to raise awareness, challenge stigma and celebrate the achievements of people recovering from all forms of addiction and addictive behaviours. The key message is simple: Recovery is Possible. Throughout September, there will be a range of recovery events taking place that will offer a chance to hear inspiring stories of recovery, connect with others, and show solidarity with people on their recovery journeys.
Recovery Sports Event - this is an opportunity to get involved in a range of sports and games including tennis, pickleball, football and yoga - all abilities welcome. This session is being delivered in collaboration with the Wiltshire Council leisure team, Wiltshire Health Improvement Hub and Connect Substance Use Service.
- 23rd September 12.00-2.30pm at Trowbridge Town Park and the Civic Centre
Whether you are a member of the public, a person with lived experience, a family member, volunteer or professional, everyone is welcome. Join us in celebrating recovery, supporting hope and helping to create communities where recovery can thrive.
Throughout the month, Connect Substance Use Service are also offering other sessions such as mindfulness and meditation, recovery rock painting and recovery blanket knitting and crocheting for clients. Contact Abigail.kearley@turning-point.co.uk for more info.
Spotting the Signs: The Domestic Abuse in Sport and Activity Toolkit
Sport and physical activity can be a lifeline for people experiencing domestic abuse. It can provide a safe space, a trusted community, and time away from coercive control.
Domestic abuse can affect anyone. But anyone involved in sport and activity, whether they are participants, coaches, staff, volunteers, or supporters, is in a unique position to spot the signs, and provide support where it is needed.
Sport and activity can provide a safe space. But despite this:
- Abusers may restrict access to sessions, or isolate victims
- Victims may be reluctant to disclose due to stigma or fear
- Coaches, staff, volunteers and teammates may be unsure of the support they can offer, or of what they can do if they spot the signs
Download the toolkit here
Upcoming campaigns and dates for the diary
Men's Nature Wellbeing Programme - starting in Amesbury - Monday 28th September
Looking to boost your wellbeing, get outdoors, and meet like-minded people or know/ work with someone who might benefit from this? The Men's Nature Wellbeing Programme is in a new location this September, offering a free 12-week programme designed to support mental and physical wellbeing through the power of nature.
Delivered by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the programme combines outdoor activities with practical wellbeing support in a friendly, welcoming environment. Participants can enjoy activities such as hiking, conservation work, woodcraft and bushcraft skills, while also learning stress management and mindfulness techniques.
The next course starts on Monday 28th September in Amesbury and surrounding areas, with sessions running from 11.00am to 2.30pm.
Travel support is available and both self-referrals and referrals through support services are welcome.
Stoptober is an annual 28-day public health campaign run during October that encourages smokers to quit smoking.
How It Works
- The 28-Day Goal: The challenge asks you to stop smoking for 28 days.
- Higher Success Rate: Evidence shows that if you stay smoke-free for 28 days, you are five times more likely to quit for good.
- Community Support: The campaign focuses on peer support, letting friends, families, and local communities quit together.
For more information click here.
SVPP Stakeholder Network Our stakeholder network meeting is an opportunity to come and hear about the work of the partnership. At our meeting on 1st October 12 – 1.30pm via Teams there will be an overview of the Annual Report, updates on our new Independent Scrutineer and the new priorities, as well as case review activity. If you would like to attend, please email SVPP@wiltshire.gov.uk and we will forward the invitation – we would love to have as wide a range of teams and services present as possible.
World Mental Health Day takes place globally on October 10th each year to promote open conversations and raise awareness about mental wellbeing. It’s a reminder of the importance of good mental health and the need to prioritise and invest in good mental health.
For 2026, the theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is in Lived experiences heard: Real voices, real change.
For more information, social media graphics and posters click here.
Children’s Practitioner Forum – the next Children’s Practitioner Forum will take place on Tuesday 3rd November at 9am. To register, please complete the form at SVPP Childrens Practitioner Forum Registration – Fill in form
SVPP Training and Learning Events
SVPP Courses – Availability
- 23.09.2026: Extremist Ideology – Emerging (Open to anyone who has already attended the Prevent Awareness Training)
- 24.09.2026: Domestic Abuse Training
- 07.10.2026: Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Briefing
- 13.10.2026: Extremist Ideology – Antisemitism Emerging (Open to anyone who has already attended the Prevent Awareness Training)
- 14.10.2026: Ways of Writing workshop
- 28.10.2026: Early Support Assessment (ESA) Process course
All courses are available to book via your Virtual College account. For full course descriptions, charging details and further booking information, please visit the SVPP website Learning Hub.
NSPCC Graded Care Profile 2 eLearning
A reminder that you can now become a licenced GCP2 practitioner via an eLearning package as well as attending a face-to-face course. This is a key tool in our efforts to recognise signs of neglect across the partnership, and can also be used as a refresher. You can find the course in your Virtual College account – go to Learning > Available Learning and search for GCP2
E-Learning
SVPP offer a range of safeguarding e-learning modules which can be accessed at your convenience. Please select the ‘Learning’ tile, then ‘Available Learning’ on your Virtual College account.
Previous Webinars
Did you know that many of our webinars, including Safeguarding Week sessions from 2024 & 2025 have been recorded, so if you were unable to attend on the day you can catch up? A complete list can be found at Wiltshire Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP) - Webinars and there are now over 40 different sessions that may be of interest – they are great for some self-directed CPD, to share and focus a team meeting or reflective discussion on or to include as part of staff or volunteer induction, along with our comprehensive eLearning offer via our Virtual College platform.