When you hear the word ‘Safeguarding’, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Would you consider your local community and what happens within it?
Recently I spent a bit of time out in my own local community, exploring how working in partnership can help safeguard adults. I came across a place called Libanus Lifestyle.
Community Interest Company
A Community Interest Company (CIC) is a limited company that is primarily focused on benefiting the community it serves, rather than making a profit for private shareholders.
Libanus Lifestyle was created in November 2015 by Karen James. Karen was born in Blackwood, Wales, and has lived there ever since. She founded the company as she wanted to provide a safe, interactive, and engaging hub for the local community and ‘give a bit back’ to those in the area. Libanus really does facilitate and promote inclusion, recreation, and leisure for all.
The Libanus group is set in the old Libanus Baptist Chapel that was built in 1829. When Karen took on the lease for the building it was somewhat derelict! It required a great amount of vision and investment, so she got to applying for grants and funding to get her vision turned into a reality.
Libanus Lifestyle has become a hugely successful and beneficial local community-focused place for all, and has grown in popularity year after year. Libanus offers the local community many varying opportunities to feel part of something bigger.
What Does Libanus Lifestyle Do?
Just some of the groups that are running include:
- Parent, toddler and antenatal sessions supported by the Local Authority and local health board.
- Sessions for adults with disabilities run by Caerphilly People First and Rec Rock.
- Safe Welcome Space times where a hot meal, tea and coffee is offered to anyone dropping in for free. On Fridays they serve food from around the world for the more adventurous palates!
- YOGA for all.
- ‘Men in Sheds’ – supporting men’s mental health.
- Chair Aerobics for older or less mobile community members.
- Dancing for over 50s.
- Lunches for local Veterans.
- Choir sessions.
Employees from Barclays Bank are also at the hub from Monday to Friday, providing support and guidance on money and banking.
In the coming months they are excited to have Iolo William visiting in person, who has praised their efforts in supporting not only the community, but also the local wildlife. There are also plans for a volunteer Garden Workshop and their first mindfulness and wellbeing sessions. Penalta RFC Youth Team Squad will be the first to attend.
A Community Space
The grounds contain a beautiful community garden among many of the original headstones. It is a green oasis in the town centre where everyone is welcome to sit and enjoy. There has even been a beekeeping project!
A garden kitchen has been a more recent addition thanks to funding from Transport for Wales, Caerphilly Council, and Pobl Group.
Working in Partnership
Funding comes from many places and Karen and her small team of volunteers are constantly applying for grants to improve and develop more opportunities to give back to the community.
This is all made a little easier by Karen’s ongoing efforts to forge and build on partnership relationships with other organisations and businesses. Partnership work is integral for community-based projects, and this is no exception.
Over the years Karen has built working relationships with local councillors, local businesses, many third sector groups, and more. Without this collaborative approach, no support and engagement would be possible. By coming together, they are able to provide many opportunities for the community.
The hub of course requires some safety nets. These include safeguarding policy and procedure, risk assessments, fire safety, insurance, and all the usual measures an organisation should put in place have to keep people safe.
Unfortunately, Karen has had times where she has been required to refer to Local Authority Safeguarding Teams due to identifying at risk individuals. Thankfully, she has experience in this area, having run her own care and domiciliary business some years ago.
Yet safeguarding is so much more than referring someone when they need protection. Safeguarding is also about preventing abuse from occurring in the first place. Communities can play a huge role here.
The Many Benefits of Being Part of a Community
- Emotional Wellbeing: Social belonging is a fundamental human need. Being part of a community can help people feel a sense of belonging and reduce loneliness and sadness.
- Physical Wellbeing: People with high levels of social interaction tend to have lower blood pressure, which can mean lower stress levels and slower health decline.
- Learning and Development: People in communities can learn from each other, giving and receiving support and encouragement.
- Sense of Purpose: Being part of a community can mean being part of something bigger than yourself. Together, you may feel empowered to influence positive change in your area and beyond.
Are You Running a Community Group, or Thinking of Setting One Up?
Community groups in Wales play a huge role in safeguarding children, young people, and adults from harm and abuse.
Here are some ways community groups in Wales can help safeguard their communities:
- Safeguarding Policies and Procedures: The Code of Safeguarding Practice outlines the duty of care that individuals and organisations have to protect people from harm.
- Report Concerns: Staff and volunteers can learn to spot the signs of abuse and report their concerns if they suspect something isn’t right.
- Prevent Criminal Exploitation: Communities can work together to provide resources and support at-risk people, making them more resilient.
- Build Trust: Positive relationships between communities and the police can lead to increased trust and cooperation. This can encourage people to report crimes and provide information to the police.
- Reduce Tension: Positive relationships can also help reduce misunderstandings and tension between communities and the police.
- Improve Police Outcomes: Trust and open communication can lead to fairer and more just outcomes for all community members.
Get Advice and Support For Your Community Group
The Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) offers free advice and information on safeguarding, including a Safeguarding Community of Practice for voluntary sector safeguarding practitioners.
Safeguarding Boards, also known as Regional Safeguarding Boards (RSBs), can also provide advice on safeguarding issues.
If you have any further questions, or you’d like to know what sort of support is available, feel free to get in touch. Email: jodi.evans@nottingham.ac.uk.