The organisations tasked with keeping Bolton residents safe have urged everyone to look out for vulnerable members of the community, as part of a national awareness campaign.

Safeguarding Adults Week runs from November 21-27 and is designed to highlight a wide variety of issues, including abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Locally, the week is also an opportunity to highlight the work of the Bolton Safeguarding Adults Board which works to ensure the right measures are in place to protect residents.

The board is made up of Bolton Council, Greater Manchester Police, Bolton NHS services and a number of other partners.

The key aim of the board partners is to ensure that “every adult at risk, and their carers, are safe, well, able to meet their full potential and live happy, healthy, and independent lives”.

This year during Safeguarding Adults Week, there is a particular emphasis on the rising cost of living and the potential impact on vulnerable adults.

The board has arranged a series of public safeguarding awareness sessions to help residents recognise safeguarding concerns and to know what to do when concerns arise.

These will take place on:

• Tuesday 22^nd: Tonge Cricket Ground, 10.00-11.30 and 13.00-14.30
• Thursday 24^th: Tonge Cricket Ground 10.00-11.30 and 13.00-14.30
• Friday 25^th: Bolton Central Library 11.00-12.30 and 13.30-14.30

A Carers Rights Day information event will also be held at the Holiday Inn on Thursday 24^th from 11.15-14.30, including a light buffet lunch.

Professionals working with adults at risk can also attend a series of seminars during the week, lead by a number of experts in the sector, more information is available on the council website.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Cllr Andy Morgan, said:

All of Bolton’s safeguarding partners work all year round to ensure adults at risk, and their carers are supported and empowered to live fulfilling and independent lives.

“Safeguarding Adults Week gives us an opportunity to place extra emphasis on this work, and remind everyone that we all have a role to play when it comes to protecting vulnerable members of our community.

“I urge everyone to attend one of the awareness sessions or visit the council website to learn the signs that an adult may be at risk and how to report it.