As another academic year draws to a close, we’ve been reflecting on what has been an incredibly busy, rewarding and inspiring year. We have had the privilege of working with schools, colleges, universities, trusts, parents and safeguarding professionals across the country, all united by a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
This year has seen us deliver a wide range of safeguarding training and consultancy, both in person and online. We were pleased to provide refresher training for the Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust and work alongside Juniper to deliver safeguarding training for school staff. We also supported PSHE delivery at Queen Alexandra College and visited Cambridge Regional College to provide safeguarding updates and share best practice.
Closer to home, we have been delighted to work with an increasing number of schools across Staffordshire. Supporting schools, leaders and safeguarding teams to strengthen their safeguarding practice remains at the heart of what we do, and it has been a privilege to work alongside those who dedicate themselves every day to supporting local children and young people.
One of the highlights of the year has been our involvement in DSL Hubs across the South West. Working alongside Headteachers and safeguarding leaders from across three counties has provided valuable opportunities to explore contextual safeguarding, discuss national developments and respond to emerging issues affecting children and young people. These sessions have encouraged collaboration, professional challenge and the sharing of best practice, helping to ensure safeguarding knowledge remains current, robust and responsive to local needs.
Throughout the year, we have travelled extensively, visiting schools and organisations to deliver training, consultancy, safeguarding updates and support. We have been fortunate enough to deliver training in some truly inspiring locations, including the Goddess Temple in Glastonbury and the beautiful Ammerdown Retreat Centre in Radstock. There is something special about being able to take educators out of their busy school environments and provide space for reflection, discussion and professional development in such peaceful and inspiring surroundings. These settings offered the perfect opportunity for colleagues to step away from the demands of the school day, connect with peers and focus on strengthening their safeguarding knowledge and practice.
We were particularly pleased to deliver bespoke bite-sized safeguarding training sessions for one of our client schools on a range of safeguarding topics. The success of these sessions inspired us to think about how we can make safeguarding support even more accessible. As a result, we are now developing a programme of snack-size safeguarding resources that will be shared with as many clients as possible. Our aim is simple: to help schools create, strengthen and nurture a positive safeguarding culture where safeguarding remains everyone’s responsibility every day.
Our work this year has also extended to supporting student ambassadors at a university, helping them develop their understanding of safeguarding and wellbeing and recognising the important role they play in supporting fellow students.
The year has brought opportunities for learning and growth beyond our usual work too. We travelled to Estonia to develop our business skills, gain fresh perspectives and explore new approaches that will support our future development. We have also spent considerable time across the South West meeting with clients, sharing ideas, building partnerships and planning future projects.
Alongside our work with schools and colleges, our Empowering Parents programme has continued to grow, providing opportunities to engage directly with families and support parents in navigating some of the challenges facing children and young people today. The response to the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are excited to be expanding Empowering Parents next year so that we can reach and support even more families.
Along with all of this brilliant work, we’ve also joined our fair share of networking events and professional forums, allowing us to connect with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas and learn from others working across education and safeguarding. These opportunities have helped us strengthen relationships, build new partnerships and continue developing our services. We have also been delighted to expand our team of associates, bringing together experienced professionals who share our passion for safeguarding, education and improving outcomes for children and young people. Their expertise has strengthened our offer and enabled us to support a growing number of schools and organisations.
When we look back on the year, it is not just the projects, training sessions and miles travelled that stand out. It is the relationships we have built, the conversations we have had and the collective commitment we have seen from professionals working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children and young people.
We are incredibly grateful for the trust our clients, partners and colleagues continue to place in us. As we look ahead to the next academic year, we are excited about the opportunities to grow, innovate and continue supporting schools, organisations and families. With new projects, expanded programmes, additional resources and an ever-growing network of partners, there is much to look forward to.
Thank you for being part of our journey this year. Here’s to another year of collaboration, learning and making a difference. Watch this space – the best is yet to come.