Charity wants us all to go purple to fight child exploitation

Safe and Sound is part of the NWG national network which spearheads the awareness-raising day every year and #CEADay20 aims to highlight the rising tide of child exploitation including sexual exploitation, coercion to run drugs, trafficking and modern slavery.

Businesses, organisations and schools are being asked to pledge their support for Safe and Sound on the day – donating at least £1 each and wearing something purple.

Funds raised will go to the charity’s Butterfly Appeal to expand services that protect and support young people across Derbyshire who are victims of or at risk of exploitation and their families.

Safe and Sound is also offering training packs to schools for teachers to deliver in lessons and tutorials throughout the week to raise awareness of exploitation amongst young people.

Tracy Harrison, Safe and Sound chief executive, explained: “Child sexual exploitation remains one of the largest forms of child abuse in the country.

“Last year saw an all-time high of 18,000 children and young people being groomed and sexually exploited in the UK.

“Equally worrying is the rise in the wider criminal exploitation of young people with young boys and girls being forced into drugs operations, trafficking and modern slavery.

“As the local charity dedicated to supporting children and young people across Derbyshire, we always support National Child Exploitation Awareness Day.

“We are therefore asking individuals, businesses and schools both to raise funds for our vital work in local communities and to raise awareness of the dangers that young people face.

“At the very least, I hope that #CEA2020 strikes a chord with both young people and their families that they particularly need to set stringent privacy settings and be careful of who they talk to online.”

Visit www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk or follow the charity on social media.