The Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2027
Past Supporters Include
Overview
The safeguarding landscape in higher education is shifting rapidly, driven by heightened awareness of mental health challenges, online risks, and the urgent need to tackle harassment and misconduct. Universities are under growing pressure to create safe environments that protect students from harm and encourage wellbeing. However, without a clear and consistent understanding of their duty of care, responsibilities and the boundaries of safeguarding, institutions can face significant challenges in knowing when and how to intervene.
- Nearly one quarter (24.5 per cent) of respondents reported sexual harassment since entering higher education, and around one in seven (14.1 per cent) reported sexual assault/violence (OfS, 2025)
- 37% of students have considered dropping out because of poor mental health (NUS)
- Students are more likely to have experienced sexual assault than any other group (Office for National Statistics, 2021)
Join us at The Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2027, where sector leaders, policymakers, and frontline practitioners will explore how to meet these new expectations. Through case studies, keynotes, and interactive discussions, you will gain practical insight into embedding safeguarding in every aspect of higher education, from responding to harassment under E6 to improving student wellbeing and strengthening institutional cultures of safety and care.
Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Chris East, Co-Founder, Cornerstone Safeguarding (invited)
Keynote: Understanding Responsibility and Going Beyond Compliance
- Understanding the scope and limits of a university’s safeguarding responsibilities
- Moving beyond a narrow interpretation of policies and statutory obligations when responding to student vulnerability
- Recognising when a concern may sit outside traditional safeguarding thresholds but still requires a proactive response
- Identifying opportunities for early intervention before concerns escalate into serious safeguarding incidents
- Understanding when and how to escalate concerns and work with external agencies
Donny McCormick, Founder, Safeguarding HE (invited)
Keynote: Building a Whole-University Safeguarding Culture
- Practical approaches to embedding safeguarding beyond dedicated safeguarding teams
- Training and supporting academic and professional services staff
- Developing clear internal referral and escalation pathways
- Working with senior leaders and governors to maintain strategic oversight
Dr Robert Abrahart, Lead Campaigner, ForThe100 (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Preventing Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education
- Understanding how to create a culture where students feel confident coming forward about their experiences
- Strategies for training staff to respond effectively and appropriately to disclosures
- Implementing student co-creation when creating consent and prevention initiatives
- Learning from implementation of E6 and existing university approaches
Dr Anna Bull, Director of Research, The 1752 Group (invited)
Case Study: Supporting Students Experiencing Addiction
- Understanding the safeguarding risks associated with drug and alcohol use, dependency, and addiction
- Recognising when substance use may be linked to wider vulnerabilities, including mental health difficulties and financial pressures
- Developing non-judgemental, trauma-informed approaches that encourage students to engage with support
- Balancing student autonomy and confidentiality with safeguarding responsibilities where there is a risk of harm
Luke Trainor, Better Than Well Programme Manager, Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham (invited)
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking
Participate in group discussions and share a success story from the past year, focusing on an initiative that was implemented in your organisation to improve safeguarding practices.
Lunch Break
Keynote: Strengthening Safeguarding for Disabled Students
- Understanding the specific safeguarding risks and barriers faced by disabled students in higher education
- Ensuring safeguarding policies and procedures are accessible, inclusive and responsive to different needs
- Recognising how communication difficulties, dependence on support staff or carers and social isolation can increase vulnerability
- Improving collaboration between safeguarding, disability support, student services, accommodation teams and external agencies
Louise Grimmett, Head of Student Support and Wellbeing (Disability and Inclusion), Designated Student Safeguarding Lead Disabled Students, UCL (invited)
Case Study: Providing Culturally Responsive Support for International Students
- Understanding how culture, language and community can influence safeguarding experiences
- Identifying barriers that may prevent international students from seeking support
- Developing accessible and culturally responsive safeguarding information
- Avoiding assumptions and ensuring safeguarding responses are individualised
Annelli Peavot, Head of Safeguarding, Canterbury Christchurch University (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Panel: Early Intervention and Safeguarding for Students Experiencing Crisis
- Identifying when wellbeing concerns become safeguarding concerns
- Supporting students experiencing academic pressure or uncertainty about their future
- Strategies for moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to student wellbeing
- Understanding when safeguarding concerns may require information to be shared without consent and the legal considerations involved
- Strengthening approaches to suicide prevention and early intervention, including appropriate safety planning and ongoing support
Emma Roberts, Head of Law, University of Salford (invited)
Dr Sarah Sweeney, Incoming Chairwoman, Amosshe, Head of Student Support and Wellbeing, Lancaster University (invited)
Case Study: Responding to Emerging Extremist Risks
- Understanding changing pathways into radicalisation, including online radicalisation and emerging extremist communities
- Recognising and responding to misogynistic and incel-related ideology among students
- Working within the Prevent duty while balancing safeguarding, student trust, freedom of speech and academic freedom
- Strengthening partnership working with Prevent teams, safeguarding services and other relevant agencies
Sam Slack, Regional Prevent Education Manager, Department for Education (invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Chris East, Co-Founder, Cornerstone Safeguarding (invited)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers Include
Christopher East
Co-Founder
Cornerstone Safeguarding
Professor Bonnie Latimer
Associate Dean Education, Member of the Advancing Assessment Team
University of Southampton
Emma Roberts
Head of Law
University of Salford
Sam Slack
Regional Prevent Education Manager
Department for Education
Annelli Peavot
Head of Safeguarding
Canterbury Christchurch University
Testimonials
This event was paced, structured, and delivered to a very high standard. The keynote speakers were thoughtfully chosen and very inspiring. Scheduling seemed to run flawlessly, and the opportunity to network with external colleagues was hugely beneficial.
I hugely enjoyed this event and immediately recommended it to colleagues for next year. There was a fantastic set of speakers, presenting across a wide range of topics. It was my first online conference, and I was fully engaged and interested throughout the whole day. Thank you!
The Safeguarding Students in Higher Education Conference 2026 was an incredibly valuable event. The sessions were relevant and practical, delivered by knowledgeable speakers who provided clear, actionable guidance that I will be sharing with our Higher Education team. I would highly recommend this conference to colleagues across the sector.
This has been an amazing event.
Why You Should Attend
✓ Understand the impact of E6 and how to implement compliant safeguarding policies
✓ Learn from case studies tackling harassment, misconduct, and digital safeguarding
✓ Gain insights into improving student wellbeing and suicide prevention strategies
✓ Hear from policymakers, university leaders, and safeguarding specialists
✓ Network with peers to share challenges and best practice solutions
✓ Take away practical tools to strengthen safeguarding culture in your institution
✓ 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend
| Job Titles | Organisations |
| Safeguarding Officer | University |
| Student Wellbeing Manager | Local Authority / Council |
| Head of Student Services | NHS / Mental Health Trust |
| Director of Human Resources | Private Education Provider |
| Digital Safety Coordinator | Charity / Non-Profit (Youth Services) |
| Prevent / Counter-Extremism Officer | Department for Education |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
