Safe and Sound, the local charity that specialises in supporting children and young people across Derbyshire who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation and their families, has appointed a new chairperson and several new trustees
The former chief executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Allen Graham, has joined as chair of the Board which oversees the strategic direction and operational integrity of the charity.
He has been joined on the Board by Laura Richmond who has expertise in criminal and wider exploitation; commercial property agent Mark Richardson, director of BB&J Commercial in Derby; business analyst Russell Lipscombe; and solicitor Ellis Pugh who is a member of the charities, social enterprise and not-for-profit team at Geldards law firm.
Commissioning and partnership expert Sonia Rafferty continues as vice chair of the Board alongside treasurer and chartered accountant Graham Gilbert; chief executive of QUAD Adam Buss; and health and social care practitioner Stephen Edgeley.
Allen Graham stepped aside from Rushcliffe Borough Council last year and was instrumental in the Nottinghamshire local authority being recognised as one of the best performing districts in the UK.
With more than 30 years’ experience in the public and private sectors, his working life is now focused on strategic and organisational development and he explained that he was keen to use his skills to help develop Safe and Sound’s work with young people.
He said: “I have been heavily involved in work that has focused on supporting young people for many years and passionately believe that young people’s aspirations must be cherished and enhanced.
“Safe and Sound provides vital support to children, young people and their families and has the potential to grow its services and influence further both in Derbyshire and across the region.
“I hope that my skills to support the CEO and her team will help achieve these ambitious goals and to help transform the lives of many more young people in our local communities.”
Safe and Sound chief executive Tracy Harrison continued: “We are grateful to all the professionals who have given their time and expertise voluntarily to Safe and Sound over the years and whose tenure has now come to an end.
“The mantle has now been taken up by a fantastic new chair and group of trustees who all bring a wide range of skills to take Safe and Sound to the next exciting chapter in our development.
“Their role as the ‘guardians of purpose’ will make sure that all decisions put the needs of children, young and their families at the heart of everything we do and I look forward to working closely with the Board to bring our plans to fruition.”
For more information about child exploitation, Safe and Sound’s work and how to support the charity please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk and follow on social media.
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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