Derbyshire’s specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound has been shortlisted for two regional awards in recognition of its achievements.

Safe and Sound has reached the finals of the East Midlands Charity Awards 2020 which incorporates 14 different categories and has attracted entries from across the region.

The charity’s Butterfly Appeal, which was launched in June 2019 to support their ambitious expansion plans, has been shortlisted for the fundraising campaign of the year category; and chief executive Tracy Harrison is in the running to be named charity director of the year.

Due to the pandemic, the awards presentation, planned for June 11 will now be held as a virtual event.

Tracy Harrison said today: “We are delighted to have been recognised in this awards scheme which highlights the vital role that charities play across the region – particularly in these very challenging times.

“Our Butterfly Appeal would not be the success that it is without the fantastic support we have received from businesses, community groups and individuals over the past year and they all share in this welcome accolade.

“We look forward to meeting the other charities on the virtual awards platform and, of course, to hopefully hearing Safe and Sound called out as the winners!”

Safe and Sound Chair of Trustees Allen Graham concluded: “This is tremendous recognition of the dedication, creativity and determination to ensure this unique charity makes a difference to young people who have been a victim or are at risk of exploitation. The butterfly campaign has been imaginative, sensitive and impactful.

“The trustees are delighted that Tracy has been nominated for the Director of the year award, this is extremely well deserved as she has displayed great leadership, tenacity and empathy in positioning Safe and Sound for a bright future – we clearly hope she is successful at the finals.”

For more information about Safe and Sound and how to support the charity’s work, please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk  and follow on social media channels.

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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