Safeguarding Adults Week 2026: Every Voice. Every Choice.

Safeguarding is about more than protecting people from harm. It’s about listening to people, respecting what matters to them and supporting them to have choice and control.

Background

Safeguarding Adults Week takes place from 16th to 22nd November 2026. This year’s theme, “Every Voice. Every Choice.”, has an important message for everyone involved in physical activity: safeguarding should be something we do with people, not simply for them.

Organised by Ann Craft Trust, the week focuses on co-production and making safeguarding personal. For clubs, groups, coaches, volunteers and organisations, this means going beyond policies and thinking about how we listen, respond to individual needs and involve people in decisions about their experience of being active.

What does this look like in practice?

At Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, co-production is central to our Get Yourself Active Local work with Disability Rights UK.

The work is being shaped with and by local Disabled people, drawing on their lived experience. By listening and learning together, we can better understand what matters to individuals rather than making assumptions about what is right for them.

As Michelle Pullen, Programme Manager - Communities, Health and Social Care at Energize STW, explains:

“We really need to take the time to listen and understand what matters to each person. Good safeguarding isn't just about recognising risks and preventing harm. It's about respecting people's wishes and feelings, supporting their independence and working alongside them towards the outcomes that matter to them. That's really what co-production means in practice; people having a real say in the decisions, the services and the support that affects their lives.”

What does feeling safe when being active really mean?

For Safeguarding Adults Week, Michelle joined two people contributing their lived experience to Get Yourself Active Local to talk about what safeguarding means to them when moving and being physically active.

Their conversation has an important message for physical activity providers: good safeguarding starts with listening to the person in front of you.

Watch our short video and ask yourself: are the people taking part in our activities being heard, given genuine choice and supported to feel safe?

Turn learning into action

Safeguarding Adults Week is also an opportunity to refresh your knowledge and consider training for you, your staff or volunteers.

Training opportunities:

Safeguarding Adults in Sport: A Volunteer’s Essential Guide

10 November 2026 | Online | Free

90-minute webinar from Ann Craft Trust and Active Essex.

Find out more / book a place

Learning & Reflection: Listening to and Working With Victims of Abuse

20 November 2026 | Online | Free

Safeguarding Adults Week seminar with the UK Sports Institute.

Find out more / book a place

Safeguarding Adults in Sport & Activity: Advanced Training for Safeguarding Leads

8–10 December 2026 | Online and additional dates are available in February, March and June.

View the training

Ongoing learning and resources:

• UK Coaching: Safeguarding Adults in Physical Activity and Sport

• NCVO: Free Safeguarding Resources for Voluntary Organisations

   

  
  

Every voice matters

This Safeguarding Adults Week, we’re encouraging physical activity providers across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin to do three things: watch the video, start a conversation within your organisation, and consider what “Every Voice. Every Choice.” means for the people you support to be active.