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Safe at last
SAFE@LAST is a registered charity working with and on behalf of young people at risk through running away in South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and North East Derbyshire. The charity was established in response to an acute need for services for the 1 in 9 children under the age of 16 who are affected by this phenomenon.
Almost 10 years ago SAFE@LAST's Founder Trustee, 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.
Almost five years since they received their first phone call SAFE@LAST now has sixteen staff members and around 100 volunteers. They provide a range of services including a Freephone Helpline, a Missing Young People's Service providing ongoing support, Preventative Work and, most remarkably of all the only Refuge outside of London for children and young people 16 and under. Their young people present them with many complex issues including neglect, physical abuse, self harming, forced marriage, conflict and violence at home, sexual exploitation, mental health problems and many more.
Jane Wakefield a Personal Travel Advisor of Holidays First is privileged to support SAFE@LAST which receives very little statutory income and is heavily reliant on voluntary income through fundraising, events and charitable trusts.
If you visit this site, as a result of our joint promotional activity with SAFE@LAST, please be assured that we will donate 1% of the total value of any holiday booked with us to SAFE@LAST (the average cost of an overseas package holiday is £1,500; so that would amount to a donation of £15.00!).
When calling Jane please remember to quote 'SAFE@LAST'
SAFE@LAST - Visit http://www.safeatlast.org.uk for further information on this charity.
