Surrey Police charges, The Eikon Charity’s response

Monday, 19 August 2024, New Haw, Surrey.

Two men, both from Addlestone, were arrested on the 14^th August and have been charged jointly and individually with a number of horrific offences against children.

Eikon statement:

We learned on the 15^th August 2024 that two Pride in Surrey volunteers, including the founder, had been charged with offences related to the sexual abuse of children.  We’re deeply saddened and heartbroken for the children and young people involved, and their families.  The alleged crimes stand in shocking contrast to our vision for all children and young people in Surrey to be safe and to thrive.

Eikon’s associations with Pride in Surrey are limited to having been at five events at the same time, including the Pride event in September 2023 that was held in Reigate.

We did not take any children and young people to these events or support them to attend.

We have removed any signposting to Pride in Surrey until further notice.

At this stage, we do not know of any young people that we work with, or have worked with, that have been affected by the alleged crimes.  We are ready to support any children and young people affected, whether we have helped them in the past or not.

We strongly encourage any children and young people directly impacted to contact Surrey Police.  You can choose to contact the police in a way you feel comfortable with, or you can call independent charity Crimestoppers.

If you are a child or young person and need emotional or mental health support, please contact Mindworks 24/7 crisis line free on:

• 0800 915 4644 (open all day and all night, seven days a week), or
• visit: I need help now, I’m in crisis :: Mindworks Surrey (mindworks-surrey.org)

We stand with all those impacted by this situation, and all those who have been the victims of abuse.  We will continue to strive to help Surrey’s children and young people to be safe, heard, and supported.

About The Eikon Charity

Growing up in today’s world can be incredibly challenging.  Every child, every young person deserves to feel safe, heard, and supported.  So, we create spaces for them where they can be themselves and talk about their thoughts and feelings.  They understand better than anyone what’s happening in their own lives, so we listen, without judging.

We help children and young people to build the confidence and the skills they need to be safe, well, and to thrive.

Where help is needed, we help early, because it often stops problems from becoming much bigger.

We’re also there for them when problems have developed, and they need more focused help.

Schools, parents, and carers sometimes need help too, so we work with families and professionals to provide networks of support and care around children and young people.

Everything we learn from our work we use to inspire change for young people.

–­ends­–

Notes to Editors

• All enquiries to press@eikon.org.uk
• Surrey Police’s press release: https://www.surrey.police.uk/news/surrey/news/2024/08/two-men-charged-with-child-sex-offences/
• Surrey Police requests anyone with any information relating to their ongoing investigation to contact them quoting ref PR/45240080974 via:
  • Webchat on our website (click on Livechat)
  • Their online reporting tool https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
  • Calling them on 101
  • If anyone does not wish to speak to police, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.