Today sees the launch of the first Safer Communities Awareness Week for Wales (18 – 22 September 2023), organised by the Wales Safer Communities Network. The Awareness Week is an opportunity to raise the profile of community safety work and highlight some of the innovative work that is taking place across Wales.

On the first day of the Awareness Week, the Network have released a film with Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales, to highlight the importance of working in partnership to promote safe, strong, confident communities, and how the Network is invaluable to achieving this.

In addition, the Awareness Week will include a number of Coffee Talk and Lunch and Learn online sessions highlighting various topics within community safety, including violence against women and girls, safeguarding, and antisocial behaviour. The sessions will be led by various partners of the Network and will be an opportunity to showcase the good practice that is taking place across Wales.

It’s not too late to sign up to attend the sessions and share the messages of the Awareness Week in your local area. Find out more about how you and your organisation can get involved here.

To find out more about the Network visit www.safercommunities.wales and follow @WalesSaferComms on Twitter for latest updates.

Councillor Jane Mudd, Leader, Newport Council, Co-Chair of the Safer Communities Board for Wales, and WLGA Spokesperson for Social Justice said:

“I am delighted to support the launch of the first Safer Communities Awareness Week for Wales. This week will be a great opportunity to learn about and elevate the fantastic work taking place in Community Safety across Wales, as we hear from a number of the Wales Safer Communities Network partners.”

Roger Thomas, Chief Fire Officer, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and Senior Responsible Officer for the Wales Safer Communities Network said:

“The Safer Communities Awareness Week 2023 is a unique opportunity to extend collaboration within Community Safety in Wales, bringing together likeminded individuals and stakeholders with a shared interest to work together towards the same goal to achieve safer communities across Wales. We cannot solve these issues as individual organisations and the future of successful Community Safety is dependent on collaboration.”

Mark Brace, Head of the Wales Safer Communities Network said:

“This is an exciting development for the Wales Safer Communities Network and demonstrates our ability to engage with multiple organisations across a variety of Community Safety topics. This is part of our ongoing support to colleagues working in Community Safety and highlights our value in supporting partnership working across Wales.”

– ENDS –