Derby child sexual exploitation charity granted reprieve from council funding cuts

Additional reporting by Patrick Weir

A Derby-based charity that was praised by the government for its work tackling child sexual exploitation has been told it is safe from funding cuts for another year.

Safe and Sound Derby, highlighted by the government for its good practice in the wake of the 2010 Derby child sexual exploitation cases, had been told its funding could be cut due to council austerity measures.

The news caused controversy among campaigners, with the charity urging people to respond to the council’s consultation online.

Nicola Dalby, acting chief executive of Safe and Sound Derby, previously told Community Care: “We’ve always worked closely with colleagues in the social care sector and other sectors to try and make sure children and young people are protected from harm and will continue to do so in the future no matter what the outcome.

“However, we know colleagues are overstretched, that thresholds have changed and that there are growing gaps in the capacity of safeguarding colleagues to respond effectively to CSE cases. We, along with other non-profit organisations across the country, are being increasingly relied upon to plug those gaps.”

The charity, whose former chief executive Sheila Taylor MBE now heads up the National Working Group on CSE, was described as ‘pivotal’ to the Derby cases, identifying and addressing the nature and scale of the abuse.

In a statement, Cllr Martin Rawson, cabinet member for children and young people at Derby council, confirmed the year-long reprieve, saying the authority values Safe and Sound’s contribution to partnership work around CSE in Derby.

“We have maintained funding at current levels for another year to Safe and Sound. It will allow us more time to look at ways to provide this service with our partners and other agencies who are involved in this service,” Rawson said.