A Derbyshire charity’s bid to be recognised as a record breaker has been given the green light by the world-famous governing body.
Specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound created more than 1,000 printed butterflies which were displayed at Derbion in the hope of being recognised by Guinness World Records for the world’s ‘largest display of butterfly replicas’.
After being painstakingly measured and counted by University of Derby Entomology Professor Karim Vahed and Derbyshire police PCSOs Leah Eyre and Abigail Cook, detailed evidence was submitted to Guinness World Records who have now approved the attempt – beating the previous world record which stood at 720.
Visitors to the Safe and Sound stand at Derbion and several local businesses took the opportunity to be part of the world record attempt by buying copies of the beautiful butterflies for themselves – designed and printed by Safe and Sound supporters Mercia Image Print – and these are still available to buy online at https://www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk/butterfly-world-record/
Thanks to the generosity of the public and the support of main sponsor, personalised giftbox company Colleague Box, more than £3,600 has so far been raised to help take the charity to the next phase of its successful Butterfly Appeal.
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison said: “We are over the moon to be the holders of a coveted world record.
“One of my favourite television programmes as a child was watching Roy Castle and the team on ‘Record Breakers’ and it is very exciting that we have made the official log.
“Most importantly, the world record attempt has given us the opportunity raise awareness of the dangers facing children and young people both online and in our local communities.
“It has also enabled us to raise money to help take our Butterfly Appeal to the next level and our thanks go to our amazing supporters Mercia Image Print, Colleague Box and Derbion.”
Derby-based Safe and Sound first launched its Butterfly Appeal in June 2019 to enable it to expand the breadth and scope of its work.
The appeal has since garnered wide ranging support from individuals, groups and businesses across the city and county – enabling the charity to support more than 300 young people; 60 families and to engage with over 1,000 people to raise awareness of the dangers in the past two years alone.
These include children aged as young as seven upwards who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation which includes sexual exploitation, online grooming, county lines, trafficking, modern slavery and radicalisation.
New activity programmes made possible by support through the Butterfly Appeal have included outreach work, youth activities, family support and transitions work.
The next stage of the Butterfly Appeal will focus on such specialist work as psychological therapy programmes – identified as even more important due to the pressures on young people’s mental health services post lockdown.
Photograph: Names are (left to right): Adam Bamford, CEO Colleague Box, Amanda Strong, Company Ambassador Mercia Image Print, Adam Tamsett, General Manager Derbion, Tracy Harrison, CEO Safe and Sound.