Shropshire charity manager made an MBE for vital work tackling child exploitation
The manager of a Shropshire charity, which helps tackle child criminal exploitation, has been named in the King's Birthday Honour's list.
Sonya Jones, safeguarding lead at With You Shropshire – a drug, alcohol and mental health charity – has been with the charity for eight years, with 20 years in the support sector.
Ms Jones and her team have been on the frontline of supporting victims of county lines – the term used for when gangs from cities expand illegal drug networks to other areas of the country using dedicated mobile lines. These gangs often prey on vulnerable young people to transport drugs throughout the UK.
The award of an MBE, announced on June 18, recognises Ms Jones’s ongoing commitment to ensure that all young people who are groomed, coerced and controlled into crime are recognised as victims of trafficking and exploitation.
Ms Jones, from Oswestry, also advocates for the adoption of a new public health approach to drug prevention that works with schools, pupil referral units and providers for those outside of mainstream education.
This advocacy work has been recognised by the UK Parliament and House of Lords.
