For Sarah

SATURDAY was Sarah s Day in Worthing as people gathered to celebrate the life and 10th birthday of Sarah Payne.

Sarah s parents Sara and Mike came along with other family members to Worthing town centre to release 10 doves in memory of their daughter and to help launch a major new safety campaign for children.

A large group of people gathered outside the entrance to the Guildbourne shopping centre including the Worthing Mayor Valerie Sutton, East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton and former Olympic athlete Sally Gunnell.

Before releasing the doves, Lesley Allen from Lancing read a poem that she had written in tribute to Sarah and East Preston-based band 3 Second Warning performed Sarah s Song, a song which they had written and dedicated to Sarah.

Shortly before 3pm, Sara and Mike Payne released the doves with Trisha Porter and Sarah Blinch from the Safety House Project and Sally Gunnell. The Robbie Williams song Angels was played as the doves flew away into the autumn sky.

The day had been organised to launch the Safety House Project and project chairperson Trisha Porter said: Sarah s death was the driving force behind the Safety House Project and I ve said that her death was the straw that broke the camel s back.

There are more good people than evil in this world. Good will always win over evil.

The aim of the project is to provide safe places for children in danger with a network of safe houses throughout the community.

A pilot scheme will be starting shortly in Goring and Ferring, whereby people who are already approved by the police and social services for childminding and foster caring, will be needed to take part.

Once recruited, people will be given special stickers which they can display. Any child or young person who feels that their personal safety is at risk will therefore be able approach houses with this sticker knowing that they are a safe point of contact.

For the full story, see the Herald, October 18.