Raising awareness about gender and sexual identity
At Safe and Sound we understand the importance of gender and sexual identity. We believe that being properly educated about these topics at an early age can reduce years of confusion, social isolation and emotional difficulties. June is Pride Month, which we think is the perfect opportunity to share a little about the LGBTQ+ education sessions that we offer.
We work with schools around Derby to raise awareness about gender and sexual identity, helping many young people learn more about these important topics.
We have delivered over 10 sessions just this year to SEND (special educational needs and disability) schools and parents in Derbyshire. Some of the subjects we explore are:
What is gender and sexual identity?
How identities are unique to everyone
How varied identities can be
Why identity can be confusing
How you can acknowledge others’ identities
Understanding and exploring your own identity
LGBTQ+ education can reduce mental health problems
It has been proven that simply providing LGBTQ+ education to young people can be instrumental in reducing mental health problems caused by identity confusion. Demonstrating that there are people who understand, care and listen contributes to reducing the longer-term vulnerabilities to exploitation that come alongside these concerns.
We have received excellent feedback from these sessions. Young people have told us that it has helped them understand a great deal more about what identity can mean to them, and has shown them that there are people who understand and care about them.
*LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and more. This term covers a broad range of people who have different lived experiences and may be at different stages in exploring their identity. It includes people who are asexual or have differences in sex development (sometimes known as being intersex).
For more information about Safe and Sound Derby and how to support their work, please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk
Safe and Sound has completed a second Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) across the city as part of our grassroots work to support children and young people who have been victims of exploitation or who are at risk of becoming exploited.
We supported 56 young people through this programme together with meals and some family activities for a further 10 under-fives and 26 parents supporting those most in need. The support was across the city, but the greatest proportion were in Normanton and Arboretum.
The HAF Easter programme was in addition to our specialist one to one support for children and young people up to the age of 18 to enable them to take back control of their lives. This project was amazing in that we were able to support families with both activities and food having a balance of awareness and support whilst having fun with activities ranging from basketball to drumming and opportunities not previously encountered such as family trips to Derby Theatre and QUAD.
It was challenging due to our bespoke programme rather than having an activity centre or school for the whole programme. It was logistically difficult, but we managed it well. The new partnership with Butler’s Pantry was excellent – using their cooking facilities, their activity room and their kitchen.
We delivered support and workshops across the school holidays and our work included development and support for the whole for family including cooking and healthy eating programmes. Safe and Sound are extremely grateful for Holiday Activity Funding to enable the children, young people and families we support to have the opportunities to take part in activities as part of their journeys recovering from the impact of exploitation. They also benefited from healthy food and opportunities to cook with support from the Butler’s Pantry.
Colleague Box – a new business launched by an entrepreneurial Derby couple during lockdown – have chosen Safe and Sound as its charity partner for their next personalised gifts campaign.
Adam and Natalie Bamford launched Colleague Box, a letterbox gift company, as the coronavirus pandemic was at its peak.
They have since been inundated with orders from companies wanting to cheer up remote worker and then welcome furloughed staff back to the workplace with tasty treats and personal messages delivered through the post.
The expanding company is now planning its Christmas range and is pledging to donate £1 from each order received to the specialist charity.
Safe and Sound supports children and young people across Derbyshire who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation including online grooming, sexual exploitation, County Lines, Modern Slavery and trafficking as well as supporting their families and raises awareness of the issues in local communities.
Natalie Bamford, a former teaching assistant who worked with children with special educational needs, explained that the company was keen to support Safe and Sound who work with some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the county.
She said: “We have received so much support from individuals and businesses across the county and beyond that we wanted to put something back into our local community.
“Having worked with children with special educational needs I know just how vulnerable many of them are to grooming and exploitation and we are very lucky to have Safe and Sound who do a brilliant job to support young people, their families and to raise awareness of the dangers to the wider public.
“Christmas looks set to be a busy time of year for us – despite being such a young company – and we hope that we can raise a significant amount of money for this valuable local charity.”
Safe and Sound chief executive Tracy Harrison added: “Adam and Natalie have proved that, through creativity and hard work, positives can come out negative situations and they are fantastic role models to other young entrepreneurs.
“We too have faced out challenges during lockdown – juggling restrictions around face to face contact with an increasing number of children, young people and families who need our support – but we have been proactive to ensure we can continue to transform young lives.
“We largely depend on the generosity and support of local individuals, groups and businesses so are very grateful that Colleague Box have chosen us as their charity partner over the coming months.”
Pre-orders are currently being taken for Colleague Box’s Christmas range with options for bespoke items. Visit https://www.colleaguebox.co.uk/
Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945665; [email protected]
About Safe and Sound
Formed in 2002, Safe and Sound is an inspiring Derbyshire charity that transforms young lives affected by child exploitation with innovative, hands-on programmes.
The charity works at grass root levels delivering individual support to each child as well as families and carers. This vital support enables them to move not just to a place of safety, but emerge unshackled and undefined by their experience and enabled to reach their full potential.
The charity continues to specialise in child sexual exploitation and is now developing its services to support children and young people facing or at risk of wider exploitation which are often interlinked. These include physical and emotional violence, neglect, modern day slavery, radicalisation and human trafficking, domestic abuse, missing episodes and County Lines.
Safe and Sound is led by former police superintendent Tracy Harrison with the support of a specialist team; an experience board of Trustees and now a team of Ambassadors who are helping to raise the profile of the charity and the issue of child exploitation.
Safe and Sound’s expertise came to the fore during the 2010 landmark case – Operation Retriever – which was Derby’s first prosecution for child sexual exploitation and abuse. The charity’s specialist team supported every young person affected by the criminal actions of 13 defendants who were jailed in total for up to 22 years for 70 offences.
For more information about child exploitation, Safe and Sound Derby and how to support their work, please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk
Derby business leader Helen Wathall MBE has become the first to sign up for a virtual cycle ride organised by specialist Derbyshire charity Safe and Sound.
Miss Wathall is managing director and the fifth generation of her family to head up Wathall’s funeral directors in Derby, Alvaston, Borrowash, Ashbourne and Burton-on-Trent. She is also board chair of St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID).
Having recently re-discovered cycling as a pastime, she is planning to complete the 11-mile route around five Derby parks – Markeaton, Darley and Alvaston as well as Bass and Markeaton recreation grounds.
She has also set up a Justgiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helen-wathall1 to raise money to help the Derby charity support more young people across the county who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation.
Miss Wathall said: “I used to love cycling but haven’t done it – or indeed very much else – for several years since injuring my knees doing the Team Wathall charity walk from Derby to London.
“My friends and family are very surprised to hear that I am back on two wheels and they have promised to sponsor me to encourage me to do this challenge as the first step.
“It will also be a great way to get out and about back into Derby’s parks and enjoy the greenery that is on our doorstep across the city whilst supporting a great local charity.”
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison added: “We are very grateful for Helen and the Wathall’s team’s continued support for Safe and Sound ,she is a great role model for re-discovering the joy of cycling as a fun and healthy sporting pastime!”
Everyone signing up and donating to the charity receives details of an easy to follow and cycle-friendly circular route, taking in the parks, which they can do whenever they want and at their own pace, either in one day or in stages.
The ride information pack also highlights the parks’ history and interesting landmarks to look out for on the way.
Sponsorship forms and online giving are available for those wishing to raise further money for the charity and everyone who completes the challenge will receive a certificate.
Money raised will go to the charity’s Butterfly Appeal which was set up a year ago to help transform the lives of children, young people and their families across Derbyshire whose lives are affected by child exploitation. This includes sexual exploitation, County Lines, trafficking and modern slavery.
Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945665; [email protected]
About Safe and Sound
Formed in 2002, Safe and Sound is an inspiring Derbyshire charity that transforms young lives affected by child exploitation with innovative, hands-on programmes.
The charity works at grass root levels delivering individual support to each child as well as families and carers. This vital support enables them to move not just to a place of safety, but emerge unshackled and undefined by their experience and enabled to reach their full potential.
The charity continues to specialise in child sexual exploitation and is now developing its services to support children and young people facing or at risk of wider exploitation which are often interlinked. These include physical and emotional violence, neglect, modern day slavery, radicalisation and human trafficking, domestic abuse, missing episodes and County Lines.
Safe and Sound is led by former police superintendent Tracy Harrison with the support of a specialist team; an experience board of Trustees and now a team of Ambassadors who are helping to raise the profile of the charity and the issue of child exploitation.
Safe and Sound’s expertise came to the fore during the 2010 landmark case – Operation Retriever – which was Derby’s first prosecution for child sexual exploitation and abuse. The charity’s specialist team supported every young person affected by the criminal actions of 13 defendants who were jailed in total for up to 22 years for 70 offences.
For more information about child exploitation, Safe and Sound Derby and how to support their work, please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk
A 32-strong group of fundraisers abseiled 80ft off Miller’s Dale Bridge in the Peak District to raise money for the local charity that supports children and young people in Derbyshire who are victims or at risk of child exploitation including online grooming, sexual exploitation and County Lines.
Fundraisers included representatives from Dains accountants, Threeguru marketing agency, University of Derby and Derby City Council as well as Safe and Sound ambassadors, BAFTA-winning actor Molly Windsor and child exploitation survivor Louise Murphy-Fairclough (18) who has been supported by the charity.
Safe and Sound chief executive Tracy Harrison took part in the abseil group dressed, appropriately, as Spiderman.
She said: “February 29 only comes around once every four years so we wanted to make this a day to remember for all of our brave supporters as well as raising a lot of money for the charity.
“We have raised more than £10,000 so far with more sponsorship coming and this will all go towards our Butterfly Appeal which will help us expand the work we do to support young people and their families and to raise public awareness of child exploitation.”
She continued: “It was a terrifying experience to step backwards off the bridge but once you got going it was an amazing and exhilarating experience and the trainers from Abseil Derbyshire were so encouraging.”
For more information about child exploitation and how to support Safe and Sound’s work, please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk and follow on Facebook and Twitter @safeandsoundgroup or email [email protected]
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Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945665; [email protected]
About Safe and Sound and the Butterfly Appeal
Safe and Sound was launched in 2002 and is the only local charity that is totally focused on transforming the lives of thousands of children and young people who are victims or are at risk of child sexual exploitation across Derbyshire.
Safe and Sound’s expertise came to the fore during the 2010 landmark case – Operation Retriever – which was Derby’s first prosecution for child sexual exploitation and abuse. The charity’s specialist team supported every young person affected by the criminal actions of 13 defendants who were jailed in total for up to 22 years for 70 offences.
Safe and Sound’s specialist team provides individual support for children and young people from as young as eight up to the age of 18. They also raise awareness of the issue and the dangers facing children and young people through awareness programmes for schools, organisations, businesses and community groups.
Safe and Sound has launched the Butterfly Appeal #Buildingstrongwings to bring to fruition its vision for expanded services to support young people, families and wider community.
The charity’s future vision is extensive and includes:
– A new outreach programme to provide hands-on support where young people are at their most vulnerable
– Wider support for the families of victims and those at risk of CSE
– Youth work programmes with new activities from music to sport to build young people’s confidence and resilience
– Specialist psychological therapy programmes to tackle trauma, anxiety and depression
– Longer term support for survivors moving into adulthood enabling them to mentor younger victims
– An expanded community education programme to increase public awareness of CSE and the dangers facing young people
Supporters and ambassadors include the Chief Constable of Derbyshire who has chosen Safe and Sound as one of his chosen charities.
For more information about child sexual exploitation, Safe and Sound Derby and the Butterfly Appeal please visitwww.safeandsoundgroup.co.uk and follow on social media. A powerful video outlining young people’s experiences and why local people and businesses should support Safe and Sound is online at https://youtu.be/xjcb1y2cfGE
About CSE
In the UK today, one in 20 children suffer sexual abuse which includes child sexual exploitation. That means that in every classroom in Derbyshire, there is at least one vulnerable young person in need of help.
Child Sexual Exploitation (commonly referred to as CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse and takes many different forms from rape and sexual assault to online grooming and encouraging children to share inappropriate images of themselves.
CSE is a particularly manipulative form of abuse and is also linked to wider child exploitation issues such as County Lines, gangs, trafficking and modern slavery.
The key factor is that individuals or groups take advantage of young people by manipulating or deceiving them into sexual activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants. This could range from money and alcohol to less tangible things such as the attention that they crave at a vulnerable time in their lives.
Local charity Safe and Sound has unveiled innovative plans to expand its work that supports and protects children and young people from the devastating damage that sexual exploitation has on their lives.
Safe and Sound, established since 2002, is the only local charity focused on transforming the lives of children and young people who are victims of or at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation, commonly referred to as CSE.
Having already worked on an individual basis with hundreds of children and young people across Derbyshire, Safe and Sound now wants to provide additional support programmes for young people, their families and wider local communities.
To brings these plans to fruition, the charity has launched the Butterfly Appeal#BuildingStrongerWings which will be a year-long programme of activity to raise funds and increase awareness of CSE.
At the Butterfly Appeal launch event, which was hosted by QUAD and sponsored by Timms solicitors, Safe and Sound chair Catherine Arkley outlined how the charity was building on its grassroots, victim-focussed approach to transform the lives of young people in Derbyshire.
The charity’s future vision is extensive and includes:
A new outreach programme to provide hands-on support where young people are at their most vulnerable
Wider support for the families of victims and those at risk of CSE
Youth work programmes with new activities from music to sport to build young people’s confidence and resilience
Specialist psychological therapy programmes to tackle trauma, anxiety and depression
Longer term support for survivors moving into adulthood enabling them to mentor younger victims
An expanded community education programme to increase public awareness of CSE and the dangers facing young people
Mrs Arkley said: “Sexual exploitation is a hidden, heinous crime. Young people often don’t understand that they are being exploited or are too scared and possibly ashamed to tell anyone what is happening.
“Our vision of is to support young people to move not just to a place of safety, but emerge, like a butterfly, unshackled and undefined by their experiences and enabled to reach their full potential.”
Safe and Sound Chief Executive Tracy Harrison continued that, in the UK today, one in 20 children suffer sexual abuse which includes child sexual exploitation. That means that in every classroom in Derbyshire, there is at least one vulnerable young person in need of help.
She said: The timing of this launch reflects the growing need for our services as young people are more vulnerable than ever to sexual exploitation, through to wider exploitation with county lines and cyberbullying as just two examples.
“Our young people need more protection than ever and Safe and Sound is the only organisation working on the ground here in Derbyshire, providing practical help and support.
“We are largely reliant on raising the financial support from the generosity of the Derbyshire community and that is why we are launching the Butterfly Appeal. The theme has been inspired by the young people we help.
“We are inspired by their bravery, finding the strength to come out of a dark place and make changes in their lives that transform their futures.
The work of Safe and Sound was commended by Derbyshire’s Chief Constable Peter Goodman who said: “Safe and Sound are the organisation that has changed the lives of many young people who have been sexually exploited, raped and trafficked by perpetrators and helped countless others who have been at risk of such criminal behaviour.
“I first became aware of their work when I came to Derbyshire in 2007 and they came to me with their evidence and intelligence about CSE that was happening across Derby.
“That is why I am supporting them throughout my tenure as Chief Constable and I would appeal others to get behind the Butterfly Appeal that will provide vital support to victims, their families and wider communities across the county.”
Several businesses also pledged their support for Safe and Sound’s Butterfly Appeal. These included event sponsors Timms Solicitors.
Timms Partner and Childcare solicitor Tessa Dunleavy said: “Timms has a wealth of knowledge and experience within the family justice system and represent, children, young people and parents who have been exposed to sexual exploitation in one way or another.
“We are part of the wider network of agencies including police, children’s services and healthcare providers as well as the court system who are all involved in the issue of sexual exploitation.
“The ethos of agencies working together has never been more important if we are to truly tackle this issue and I believe that the Butterfly Appeal will enable Safe and Sound to make an even greater positive difference to people’s lives.”
Further recognition was given to businesses and individuals for their support including Dains accountants, Century Mobile, Derby County Football Club, Derby Express Couriers, Somercotes-based Keramikos, Greenblooms florists and runners in the recent Derby Half Marathon – Antoni Jones, Simon Barcz, Lauren Duffy and Talia Anthony.
A powerful video outlining young people’s experiences and why local people and businesses should support Safe and Sound was unveiled. https://youtu.be/xjcb1y2cfGE
Guests also saw a video message from actor and Safe and Sound ambassador Molly Windsor who won a BAFTA for her portrayal of one of the Rochdale CSE victims in the television drama ‘Three Girls’.https://youtu.be/4IeIie69yXM
Guests were invited to share a message of hope for young people on the Butterfly tree and left the event with mugs and information on future fundraising events which were circulated by Derbyshire Police Cadets.
QUAD CEO and Safe and Sound trustee Adam Buss concluded: “The event shared the grim reality of how CSE affects far too many local children and young people, their families and the wider community.
“However, I know that everyone left uplifted by the inspirational work that Safe and Sound is planning and ideas for how we can all help this vision to become a reality by supporting the Butterfly Appeal.”
For more information about Safe and Support can help and how to support the charity’s work in Derbyshire, please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org and follow on Facebook and Twitter @safeandsoundgroup
Main Picture shows, from left: Tess Dunleavy from event sponsors Timms Solicitors; Safe and Sound chair Catherine Arkley and CEO Tracy Harrison and Derbyshire police Chief Constable Peter Goodman.
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Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945665; [email protected]
Pictures: Alex Cantrill-Jones / ACJ Media
About Safe and Sound and the Butterfly Appeal
Safe and Sound was launched in 2002 and is the only local charity that is totally focused on transforming the lives of thousands of children and young people who are victims or are at risk of child sexual exploitation across Derbyshire.
Safe and Sound’s specialist team provides individual support for children and young people from as young as eight up to the age of 18. They also raise awareness of the issue and the dangers facing children and young people through awareness programmes for schools, organisations, businesses and community groups.
Safe and Sound has launched the Butterfly Appeal#Buildingstrongwings to bring to fruition its vision for expanded services to support young people, families and wider community.
Supporters and ambassadors include the Chief Constable of Derbyshire who has chosen Safe and Sound as one of his chosen charities.
For more information about child sexual exploitation, Safe and Sound Derby and the Butterfly Appeal please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.co.uk and follow on social media.
About CSE
Safe and Sound’s expertise came to the fore during the 2010 landmark case – Operation Retriever – which was Derby’s first prosecution for child sexual exploitation and abuse. The charity’s specialist team supported every young person affected by the criminal actions of 13 defendants who were jailed in total for up to 22 years for 70 offences.
Child Sexual Exploitation (commonly referred to as CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse and takes many different forms from rape and sexual assault to online grooming and encouraging children to share inappropriate images of themselves.
CSE is a particularly manipulative form of abuse and is also linked to such criminal exploitation issues such as County Lines, gangs, trafficking, and modern slavery.
The key factor is that individuals or groups take advantage of young people by manipulating or deceiving them into sexual activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants. This could range from money and alcohol to less tangible things such as the attention that they crave at a vulnerable time in their lives.
