Well what can I say its been a big year for me and Charity - I would like to thank everyone who supported me with the Passion for Fashion event which raised £725 for charity.

However there are still a lot of chairties out there that need support and help. I will be sleeping rough on 23rd October 2009 (Anita Roddick Day "Be daring, be first, be different, be just") now when I say sleeping rough thats what I mean a car park with a card board box - thats no bed no duvet nothing.... should children really have to go through this? I am sure not, but you know what... they do, not running round on a playing field with a football and friends, not combing a new dolls hair.....sleeping in a car park in a cold wet scary enviroment subject to all the dangers people try to protect their children from and all becuase...... they feel they have no where else to go.....

Almost 10 years ago a very inspiring lady, Hilary Massarella, saw a documentary about a young girl. She was 14 years old and had been severely abused by not just one, but a number of adults into whose care she had been placed, beginning with her own mother and father. Finally she prostituted herself in a lorry park to earn enough money to run away from what was happening to her.

For two years Hilary researched the issues around running away. There was no doubt, in South Yorkshire, as in many places across the country; children were feeling they had no alternative but to run away. Awareness of the problem desperately needed to be raised and something practical and long lasting urgently needed to be created.

In response to this need it was in June 2000 that a Management Committee and a Fundraising Group were formed.  The Management Committee successfully established SAFE@LAST as a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. 

The Refuge

In 2007 SAFE@LAST opened the SAFEplace refuge at a confidential location in South Yorkshire.  The SAFEplace refuge is the only facility in England outside of London providing refuge accommodation for children and young people under the age of 16 who are at risk from where they are running from or where they are running to.  Only young people who fit strict criteria can be admitted to refuge.  Young people can access refuge by contacting SAFE@LAST on our 24hour helpline 0800 335 SAFE.

 

Lets just recap IS THE ONLY FACILITY OUTSIDE OF LONDON - THE ONLY ONE, this was the most shocking information I heard an only 9 beds nationally for runaway children, 2 of which are provided by SAFE@LAST. If you are a child who has no other option other than to run away anywhere in the country other than south yorkshire and london there is no where like a SAFEPLACE for you to go....

 

I know christmas is coming up and when making a donation please just think of maybe spending a little extra this year to give something back as a major supermarket chain always say EVERY LITTLE HELPS....and believe me it does.