The hidden ‘superpower’ of the tote bag

Estimated reading time 5 minutes.

At its July meeting, the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board had a presentation from Opening Doors, a user‑led self advocacy charity run by adults with learning disabilities for adults with learning disabilities, across Norfolk. 

Based in Norwich, Opening Doors aims to empower members through accessible advocacy groups, training and peer support, enabling them to build confidence, make informed choices, and take control of their lives.

Towards the end of 2024, Opening Doors was approached by Healthwatch Norfolk, as part of its statutory remit to obtain the views of people about their needs and experience of local health and social care services, and then make these views known to those involved in the commissioning and scrutiny of care services. 

Healthwatch Norfolk asked Opening Doors what topic would be most important for people with learning disabilities to look at. From the menu of options, the Opening Doors members chose safeguarding as the subject that adults with learning disabilities most wanted to talk about.

Healthwatch Norfolk had previously worked with Opening Doors on My Views Matter (following the SAR relating to services at Cawston Park hospital), to follow up issues about family and carers not being listened to. With funding from Healthwatch Norfolk, a series of safeguarding workshops for people with learning disabilities was planned and took place across the county.

Hayley, Oliver and Andrew (with support from Jo and Cathy) presented findings from the workshops to the board, revealing What adults with learning disabilities say about safeguarding.

The speakers did a brilliant job of it: no holds barred, direct and to the point. As they were speaking, I looked around the room. They had everybody's full attention. There is nothing more powerful than hearing a personal story.

And they told a lot:

• More than half of the adults with learning disabilities surveyed did not know what safeguarding meant

• Fear and worry were significant barriers, preventing individuals from reporting safeguarding concerns

• The complexity of the reporting phone system, and difficulty finding the right person to speak with, were also cited as obstacles

• Participants emphasised the need for awareness training to understand safeguarding, abuse and reporting methods

• Some expressed the desire to confide in someone they trusted, highlighting the importance of trusted relationships

• They called for simpler and more accessible ways to report safeguarding concerns, such as the use of Easy Read materials and peer support.

One thing that Hayley said really caught my attention.

She was explaining that when she goes out to the beach, theme park, swimming pool or just down to the shops, she takes her NSAB tote bag with her. She said:

‘It’s got a message that says … I know something about safeguarding, so don't mess with me. Don't give me a hard time, because I know about safeguarding.’ 

'WOW … I hadn’t thought about the humble tote bag in that way before!' one of the board members commented:

‘It's like your bag has a superpower!’

‘Yeah, that's right’ said Hayley ‘it does … it kinda keeps me safer’

I could see Hayley’s point. It reminded me of a similar powerful message from Luke and Ryan Hart *. In 2019 NSAB hosted a number of seminars with Luke and Ryan, who spoke about the murder of their mother and sister by their father in 2016. I'm sure many colleagues will remember these seminars, which were extremely powerful and moving. Luke and Ryan talked very candidly about their lived experience. 

But growing up, the brothers did not identify themselves (or their mother or sister) as victims of coercive control and domestic abuse. It was only as they sat in Spalding police station, two days after the murders, that they realised:

‘Behind us we saw a poster highlighting coercive control. This poster epitomised our father’s behaviours. It was the first time we’d heard of the concept of coercive control and discovered that it was a crime.’
Operation Lighthouse (page 86)

The poster in the police station listed all the characteristics of this type of abuse. This simple piece of paper was critical in giving Luke and Ryan vital information about what had been happening to them. A simple piece of paper … with superpowers!

Back to Hayley and her tote bag. With this new appreciation and understanding of its role in protecting a person against abuse and harm, it prompted us to get some more bags ordered and distributed.

To help take the Opening Doors report’s recommendations forward, we are setting up a Task & Finish group with self-advocates from Opening Doors and others.

My thanks to Hayley, Oliver and Andrew for coming to the board meeting and telling us about their experience of safeguarding in such a clear and powerful way.

Thank you.

Walter Lloyd-Smith

Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board Manager

* Luke and Ryan Hart (2018) Operation Lighthouse: Reflections on our Family's Devastating Story of Coercive Control and Domestic Homicide 

Also see Luke & Ryan Hart (2019) Remembered Forever: Our family’s devastating story of Domestic Abuse And Murder, Seven Dials. Revised and updated edition, it includes new chapters exploring Luke and Ryan’s lives post-murders, flashbacks to their past and much more.