DO YOU HAVE A DAFT CHRISTMAS JUMPER, KNITTED MONSTROSITY OR TURKEY COSTUME? DO YOU WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO LOOK THE FOOL THIS YEAR?

No stranger to a ridiculous costume, as my unfortunate pictures prove, I have this year taken up a new Christmas challenge that I half self-titled 'the Festive Fool'. 

What is this for?

The fantastic charity I work for, Safe and Sound, works with children and young people at risk of and affected by exploitation, sexual violence and abuse. We provide a safe and confidential environment for young people to talk about things that may be worrying them - whether that be around sex and relationships or their physical or emotional safety. 

We work to help prevent those at risk from becoming victims, but also to support those affected to move to a place of safety, to build resilience and confidence, and to feel in control.

What is the festive fool challenge?

Every day in December, until Christmas Eve, I will wear a different 'festive' themed outfit. With your 'help' I could be a reindeer one day and a partridge in a pear tree the next. 

You can get involved with my challenge in four ways:

• Offer me a Christmas themed costume to borrow. The more ridiculous, the better (local pick up around Derby can be arranged). Email rhiannon.hulse@safeandsoundgroup.org.uk.
• Share my efforts on your social media channels using the hashtag #festivefool.
• Take up the challenge yourself - wear a different festive outfit each day until Christmas Eve and raise funds for Safe and Sound via JustGiving. Please let us know if you're taking part.
• Most importantly - sponsor my efforts to help raise funds for young people affected by sexual violence, exploitation and abuse.

We will only accept costumes that we deem appropriate for us to share online via social media channels.

What your money could help with:

£20 could pay for a new resource that will help raise awareness of sexual exploitation with a number of young people to help prevent those at risk from becoming victims

£50 could pay for an initial session of creative arts therapy for one young victim of abuse, which may help them on their road to recovery

£100 could provide a vulnerable young person with a series of one-to-one support sessions with a dedicated support worker to help reduce their risk

£500 could pay for an education session in a school to educate children and their parents about sexual exploitation and staying safe

£1000 could pay for a series of alternative therapeutic support sessions to one young person to help them to deal with the effects of exploitation and abuse

£2000 could provide one young person with specialist one-to-one support for up to a year

Please follow Safe and Sound on social media to stay up to date:

facebook.com/safesoundgroup/

@safesoundgroup

The challenge begins on December 1st! 

Keep checking this page for costume updates....