Charity Hopes

A NEIGHBOURHOOD watch scheme for children, established by a Ferring mother two years ago, looks set to become a charity.

Safety House, to be renamed the British Safety House Association, was established in Sussex by Trisha Porter following the murder of Sarah Payne and will be awarded charitable status in a few weeks.

The scheme allows people, once vetted by the police and local authority, to display a special sticker in their window, indicating to children in danger the house is a safe place for them to go to for help.

Trisha said: "Things are progressing really well. It is completely unbelievable.

"Becoming a charity will open up so many doors and we will be able to receive major money to help us to pay for people to be vetted and become part of Safety House."

Receiving charitable status is just one of the many successes the association has had.

It is now run by a full committee, including Trisha Porter and Paul Williams, Sarah's uncle.

The association has generated a great deal of interest nationally, with features in magazines and newspapers.

It has also had many enquiries from local authorities all over the country interested in setting up a similar scheme and has designed a leaflet to give them more details.

Trisha said: "It is unbelievable how the safety house scheme has developed over the years.

"If it was just little me running the scheme it never would have developed into what it is today. It is all down to the close-knit, loyal committee. They are the extremely hard working, unsung heroes.

"We have monitoring co-ordinators operating in the area, who do monthly, quarterly and spot checks to make sure everything is OK and the registered people are still at the address.

"At the moment it is just registered childminders and foster carers taking part in the scheme, but we are to include other people in the future. It is all very exciting."

The association will be holding a fun jubilee bike ride in memory of Sarah Payne on Monday from the Fox pub in Patching.

It will begin at 10am and the pub will be open from 7.30am for breakfast.

There will be a 12.5-mile course for adults and a course for children. Other charities are welcome to take part in the ride and children under 14 will not be allowed to ride on their own.

There will also be Sarah's Day, which will take place in Buckingham Park, Shoreham, on June 29, from 11am to 5pm, just a few days before what would have been Sarah Payne's 11th birthday.

During the morning, Samba band Beach Bateria, with stilt walkers and drummers, will be positioned at points in Shoreham directing people to the fun event in the park, which has been designed for children.

There will be funfair rides, pony rides, magic shows, face painting, charity stalls, local celebrities, Splash FM Radio, local bands and refreshments. Top security will be in place.

The emphasis will be on a fun day for children and their families.

For more details, contact Trisha Porter on 01903 249987, or Paul Williams on 01903 813670. Sponsorship forms are also available from the Worthing Herald offices.