Specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound has won the title of Not for Profit organisation of the year in the Derbyshire Live Business Awards.
The award, presented at a glittery awards ceremony at Derby Arena, was in recognition of the charity’s innovative work over the past year to support and protect young people and their families who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation.
Safe and Sound is a long-established specialist charity, based in Derby, which supports children and young people across Derbyshire who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation. This includes online grooming, sexual exploitation, trafficking, drugs lines, modern slavery and radicalisation.
The charity also supports the wider family and raises awareness in local communities of the dangers facing young people.
Formed in 2002, Safe and Sound transforms young lives affected by child exploitation with innovative, hands-on programmes.
The charity’s workload has increased by more than 50% since the start of the pandemic due to the growing risks of online and in-person grooming and exploitation and the additional pressures on young people and their families which have made them more vulnerable to exploitation.
Despite the challenges, in 2020 the Safe and Sound team has successfully delivered:
- Intensive one-to-one and group support for 150 children affected by child exploitation
- 100 youth participation activities to help children to recover from their experiences and regain their confidence
- Support for 30 children and families from the Roma community in Derby
- Support for 40 families affected by exploitation
- Support for 30 young people through transition to move on in their lives
- Reached over 500 young people through education sessions in schools and colleges and community groups
- Reached 200 professionals, community leads and parents through training and awareness.
- Collaborative working with 10 new partners to learn from and shape best practice and research
- Engaged with over 700 children and young people through outreach activity in Derby, Erewash and South Derbyshire
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison said: “We are honoured to have been recognised in this prestigious awards scheme.
“Entering awards such as these are important to raise the profile of the work we do across Derbyshire. They also recognise the contribution made by everyone in the organisation as well as our partners and supporters to support some of the most vulnerable young people and their families in our local communities.”
Allen Graham, Chair of Safe and Sound added: “As a board of trustees we are extremely proud of the work our staff do in protecting vulnerable young people whilst facilitiating and enabling our communities to be safer places to live.
“Gaining recognition of their efforts though these nominations is gratifying and a wonderful validation of their efforts. We thank all our partners and supporters and wish to congratulate all finalists.”
For more information about support the work of Safe and Sound please visit https://www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk/