I’m sitting here in my room, it’s now just past midnight and reflecting on the day. It’s been amazing, everyone here has contributed to making this an incredible event.  I began my day very anxious as we all are when running something big, but the campaign to get everyone doing something in their area, writing on their hands and joining the thunderclap did feel like we had bitten off more than we could chew. The only reason today has been such a success is because everyone across all those towns and cities in the UK did something to combat sexual exploitation.

I am in ore of the commitment and dedication I have witnessed today from so many people who are facing the challenges this issue brings them on a daily basis. We all get tired and weary but I watched as people reignited their enthusiasm to carry on, developed new ideas from conversations with others, made plans to improve things and to share resources.

The awards ceremony made us all take stock of how much good work is going on, no one gets this right all the time, much as we want them to – it is still a journey for everyone.

Tweets of what you were all doing kept coming in all day and we had a live feed of them showing on screen throughout the day, so many ideas, so much work put into them, so many children informed, so many parents made more aware and the beginning of making our society a safer place for our young people to grow up in.

Our team always says this is your network, make it work for you and today we saw it in full action! I just want to thank you all. Those at the conference, those running events, those sending pictures of hands, those who joined the thunderclap to spread the word, those tweeting, you are amazing – keep up the good work.

Sheila Taylor MBE

CEO NWG Network