Appeal patron Fiona Cannon, JP, DL, High Sheriff of Derbyshire, and Appeal Chairman Steve Boxall were joined by Lord Lieutenant Willie Tucker, Assistant Chief Constable Alec Wood of Derbyshire Police and other business and community supporters of Safe and Sound Derby as the 'Keeping Derby Safe and Sound' appeal officially launched on Tuesday 15th February.
Opening the appeal Steve Boxall said ’The recent case which resulted in men being jailed for sexual offences against children and young people in the city must have shocked everyone … it certainly did me . I know that overall its suspected that over 100 children and young people, girls and boys, had been groomed and abused by these men. The cases taken to court were only the tip of the iceberg. The problem hasn’t gone away, there are just as many children in the city today who are at risk and if not targeted today, may be tomorrow. Safe and Sound work with these children everyday, I’ve seen their work and making sure they can continue with it needs to be a priority for all of us’’.
Attendees listened, some moved to tears, as the father of a sexually exploited child told his story, and that of his daughter. She was exploited in another city in the UK, without an organisation like Safe and Sound to offer support her. Her father spoke of the difference having such an organisation would have made to all of their lives in their daily struggle to return to some sort of normality. "You can't imagine how terrible it was, and if it was bad for us, just think what it was like for her - a thousand times worse....Derby's lucky, it's got Safe and Sound. Think what it would be like for all your kids out there if they didn't have somewhere to turn to".
Derby Mercia Rotary Club President John Clarridge and private donors helped get the appeal off to a good start, with donations totalling over £00.
If you would like more information about Safe and Sound or have an idea to support the appeal please contact the charity on 01332 362120 or at info@safeandsoundderby.co.uk. To donate on-line visit www.mycharitypage.com/safeandsoundderby, or send a cheque made payable to 'Safe and Sound Derby' to PO Box 7077, Derby DE1 0AL.
