New ambassadors to fly the flag for child exploitation charity

Specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound has recruited more local people to help raise awareness of the dangers facing vulnerable children and young people.

Among its new ambassadors are Nadia Jane Asamoah, who runs Nadia Jane Performing Arts, and University of Derby lecturer Bev Crighton.

Nadia Jane runs her dance studio in Green Lane, where hundreds of young people – boys and girls – have trained over the years in a wide range of dance and performing arts disciplines.

As well as lecturing in Business Management at the university, Bev is currently employability lead in the education department at Derby County Community Trust.

They join the existing team of ambassadors: Derbyshire actor Molly Windsor, local businesswoman Amanda Strong and child exploitation survivor Louise Murphy-Fairclough.

Safe and Sound chief executive Tracy Harrison said: “Our ambassadors have an important role in our work to raise awareness of the dangers facing children and young people both online and in our local communities.

“Talking about child sexual exploitation is not an easy conversation but our ambassadors do an incredible job to spread the word about the issue and the work of Safe and Sound in their own networks.

“We are extremely grateful for their support. I also hope that raised awareness will also encourage more groups, businesses and individuals to support our Butterfly Appeal so that we can further expand the range of support available for young people across Derbyshire and their families.”

Nadia Jane said: “Our dance and performing arts school is one big family and many of the young people feel able to talk to me about things that are happening at home or at school.

“Parents also confide in me about any concerns for their own children’s wellbeing.

“We have so much synergy with Safe and Sound and I jumped at the chance to become an ambassador.

“As well as raising awareness, it is good to have access to an established network of professionals who can offer additional support to young people that we come in contact with if needed.”

Bev said: “I firmly believe that everyone – but particularly those in education and business leadership – need to understand the issues that affect our local communities and know about the support that is available.

“Having been an active member of the local business community for many years, I hope that more people will feel comfortable to engage in talking about these issues so that, together, we can make even further inroads into creating a greater understanding of the dangers that face children and young people.”