Local specialist charity Safe and Sound has been appointed Charity of the Year by BB&J Commercial. Their ongoing commitment to support, raise awareness and safeguard young people has been recognised by the Derbyshire-based firm.
Safe and Sound is a Derbyshire-based charity that focusses on the prevention, diversion, early intervention and transitions for children who have experienced exploitation. Since 2002, the charity has been on a mission to support children who has experienced sexual exploitation and recently expanded their services to those affected by all forms of criminal exploitation.
BB&J Commercial has recognised Safe and Sound for their on-going efforts and is pleased to announce that they have been appointed charity of the year. To launch their year of fund raising, BB&J Commercial have joined other local businesses and individuals to sponsor a number of Hope Boxes, which are given to young people supported by Safe and Sound to help them in their journey of re-building their lives. The Hope Box contains a variety of items that aim to motivate and encourage young people to adjust to normal day to day life.
BB&J Commercial Partner and Safe and Sound Trustee, Mark Richardson said that “BB&J Commercial are active members of the local business community and I was keen to get involved with Safe and Sound from a governance, education and fund-raising point of view to help this incredible charity better connect across the city and county. I was delighted when colleagues agreed that we should all play our part in helping this charity to protect and support young people and their families in our local communities.”
He added “we have bought several Hope Boxes and we hope more local businesses will provide their support. Safe and Sound deal with a sensitive subject that needs to be addressed, and the support that can be provided through the Hope Boxes has a positive direct effect on turning around the lives of local children and young people who are being exploited by others.
“As well as fund raising, we are keen to help raise awareness of child exploitation and highlight to our business and personal contacts that any child, anywhere, can fall victim to this criminal activity. It is therefore an issue that we all need to recognise and challenge in our everyday lives.”
Safe and Sound chief executive Tracy Harrison concluded: “We are very grateful to BB&J Commercial for choosing us as their charity of the year. Their broad networks and their enthusiasm to raise money for the charity will help us support so many more young people and their families. The Hope Boxes that they have sponsored carry an important message to our young people and their families that they are not alone and are something that they can keep referring to and take comfort from in dark times.”
Safe and Sound offer many services including awareness training, one to one support and outreach to raise awareness in the local community. With these fantastic services, the charity can transform the lives of young people whilst providing the required support to the child affected and their families or carers.
For more information about Safe and Sound as well as how to support the charity’s mission, please visit – http://www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk/.
