A Derby charity’s fundraising appeal has got off to a flying start thanks to a recycling initiative spearheaded by a local business.
Safe and Sound recently launched the Butterfly Appeal to raise funds needed to expand its work to transform the lives of children and young people in the county who are victims of or at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).
One of the businesses who immediately signed up to back the appeal was Sinfin-based Century Mobile.
The company is collecting old mobile phone handsets which are then recycled and all money collected is donated to Safe and Sound’s Butterfly Appeal.
Century Mobile has already collected unwanted handsets from business customers HUUB and from Derby County Football Club – raising £200 for the appeal.
Century Mobile Managing Director Scott Harrhy said: “As a business committed to supporting local communities and as the father of young children, I was determined to do all that I could to support Safe and Sound.
“We specialise in finding our customers the right mobile phone package to improve their business communications and the recycling of unwanted, obsolete and damaged handsets is therefore the perfect way for us to raise vital funds for this amazing charity.
“We are grateful to both HUUB and DCFC for helping us to get this off the ground and will be spreading the word with all of our customers to support this appeal.”
Mr Harrhy continued: “I was horrified when I met with the Safe and Sound team and learned the uncomfortable truth about the dangers that our children and young people face at the hands of these evil perpetrators.
“We all know about the dark side of the internet but I was particularly shocked about how easy it is for groomers to find and manipulate children online.
“This is therefore an issue that could affect the lives of any family – whoever they are and wherever they live.
“I would appeal to everyone to search through their office and kitchen drawers and give us their old handsets which we are happy to pick up and make it easy to contribute to this appeal.”
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison concluded: “We are very grateful to Century Mobile for quickly turning awareness about CSE into tangible action and for their customers who have already supported the mobile phone recycling initiative.
“By simply donating an old, unused handset, we can raise vital funds for the Butterfly Appeal to help us to support even more young people who are vulnerable to or currently facing sexual exploitation.
“CSE not only affects the children and young people targeted by perpetrators but their whole family and the Butterfly Appeal will enable us to support them as well as providing the vital education across the wider public to make them aware of the dangers facing our local communities.”
To recycle your old phones to raise money for Safe and Sound, please telephone 01332 362120 to arrange collection.
For more information about how to support Safe and Sound, 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 visit www.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 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.