Leading figures from a host of Derby charities and organisations are helping to shape the UK’s safeguarding agenda after they took part in a roundtable with a Government minister.
Derby North MP Amanda Solloway invited representatives from groups that support women, children and the vulnerable to sit down with the newly appointed Safeguarding Minister Mims Davies. She was in Derby to hear first-hand how she can best support the agencies who work with victims of domestic and sexual abuse and those at risk of committing crimes. Among the attendees were Chief Superintendent David Cox, Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster, Paul Newman from Derby County Community Trust and Bobby Howe from Derby Homes.
Evonne Williams cabinet member for Children’s Services at Derby City Council urged Mims to look at funding for social care, while Tracey Harrison, CEO of specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound, said the fact that the current system criminalises children affected by child exploitation needed to be addressed. April Allman from Enthusiasm Trust, which works with young people from disadvantaged and deprived backgrounds, called for additional funding for diversion and preventative schemes and more long-term funding opportunities. And Fiona Colton, head of early help at Derby City Council wanted to reinforce the need for safe spaces in the 12 plus age range, especially buildings that are autism friendly. While Noreen Yasin (check) from Derby Women’s Centre said there was a need for longer term sustainable funding options, because reportable changes are not achievable in the short term.
Mims Davies said: “This was exactly the feedback I wanted to hear. I am new in this post, and I can’t make anything better if I don’t know what is happening on the ground. I need to know what I am dealing with and so I’m extremely grateful to all the professionals who gave up their precious time to come and speak to me.”
Amanda Solloway said: “What was overwhelmingly clear was that the city of Derby has some brilliant advocates and wonderful organisations who are working hard to represent the most vulnerable in our society. “I hope that by arranging for Mims to hear first-hand the challenges these organisations face will mean their voices can be heard in Parliament and enable authentic changes for the better.”
