A Race Night, organised by local charity Safe and Sound, romped home above target – raising more than £5,000 to enable the charity to support more children and young people across Derbyshire who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation.
More than 120 people attended the event at West Mill in Darley Abbey including representatives of the main sponsors HSBC.
Race sponsors included Loates HR Consultancy, Wathall’s funeral director, Cosy Direct, HUUB, Mercia Image Print, No.6 The Square Tearooms and Accommodation, Dains Accountants, Derby Daybreak Rotary Club and Colleague Box.
The event was supported by Miniaperture Photography and prizes were donated by a individuals and companies including HUUB, Beyond Balloons UK, Derby County Football Club and The Shed.
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison, who was compere for the evening dressed as a jockey, said: “This was our first fundraising event since the start of the pandemic and there was definitely an appetite to have fun and dig deep to raise money for the charity.
“Thanks to sponsorship from HSBC and the support of West Mill, we were able to plough the money raised on the night directly into the charity which will now be used directly on our support programmes for children, young people and families whose lives are affected by child exploitation.
“Demand for our support grows year on year and it is heartening that so many individuals and businesses recognise the value of work in local communities to protect and support those vulnerable to exploitation.”
In 2021 the specialist local charity worked with 292 individuals. This includes 203 young people (compared with 150 the previous year) who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation such as online grooming, sexual exploitation, coercion to run drugs through County Lines, trafficking, Modern Slavery and radicalisation. The figure also includes 49 families whose children are being groomed and exploited.
During the past 12 months, Safe and Sound also engaged with more than 3,100 young people through outreach activities in local communities such as Derby city centre, Long Eaton and Swadlincote. This is in addition to the 1,000 attendees at a wide range of youth activities ranging from sports and arts and crafts to team building and cultural events.
For more information about the work of Safe and Sound and how to support the charity, please visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk and follow on social media channels.