Carers Week: 8th to 14th June 2026 

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

 The theme this year is Building Carer Friendly Communities. This will highlight the impact carer friendly communities can have in making a real and lasting difference to the lives of carers everywhere.

 For more information about Carers Week, visit the dedicated website. 

If you are working with a young carer that needs support, visit the ESCB page for more information. 

Drowning Prevention Week: 13th to 20th June 2026 

The Royal Life Saving Society's (RLSS) Drowning Prevention Week is an annual, water safety campaign designed to educate children and young adults in water safety and lifesaving skills. Drowning Prevention Week educates children aged 5 to 17 with crucial water safety advice just before the summer holidays, when young people are outdoors more and need these skills and knowledge most, so everyone can enjoy water safely. 

You can find lots of resources on the RLSS website including Water Safety Code posters, lesson plans and activity sheets to share with children or young people you are working with. 

The Child Accident Prevention Trust also have a number of resources on their website for water safety and drowning prevention, and we have a dedicated page to Water Safety on the ESCB Website. 

Child Exploitation Awareness Week: 22nd to 26th June 2026 

Child Exploitation (CE) Awareness Week brings together partners from across Essex to strengthen awareness, prevention and safeguarding activity to protect young people. 

To mark CE Awareness Week, a range of activity will take place across the county, including: 

•    Monday 22 June - Safeguarding in leisure and hospitality - Operation Makesafe

 •    Tuesday 23 June - Safeguarding in sport and community spaces

•    Wednesday 24 June - Safeguarding on public transport - Operation Henderson 

•   Thursday 25 June - Parents and Carers

 •    Friday 26 June - Schools and Education Providers For more information, visit the Exploitation/Risk in the Community pages on our website