A British chicken shop with more than 70 shops throughout England is doing their part to protect kids, announcing last month that they planned to train staff in its locations in London, Newcastle, Bradford, Leeds, and Greater Manchester on how to recognise the signs of child exploitation. Working alongside The Children’s Society, who are spearheading the initiative, the restaurant hopes to do their bit to make sure criminals don’t get a chance to take advantage of or abuse vulnerable kids.
Azam Hanipah, finance manager for Chicken Cottage, said it was a no-brainer to get involved as they care about their customers and their neighbourhoods, and wanted to make a difference in any way possible. “As a company with deep roots in our communities, we believe in giving back. Partnering with The Children’s Society allows us to support vulnerable young people and drive positive change where it’s needed most,” she said in a statement, per the Food Service Equipment Journal.
“We look forward to working together to raise awareness and make a meaningful impact – both through our business and by engaging our customers and franchisees in this important cause. Through this partnership, we aim to create lasting change and inspire action.”
The project aims to share the Children’s Society’s Act on Exploitation programme with heads of staff as well as franchisees, giving them vital information to spot warning signs that kids in their area might be in danger. They can then pass that on to staff in their own restaurants via training and educational initiatives.
Mark Russell, chief executive officer at the Children’s Society, added that providing safe space for vulnerable kids was of utmost importance, saying per BBC News: “Right now, thousands of children across the UK are at risk of exploitation and they need our help, which is why this partnership isn’t just about training for staff – it’s also about communities working together and stepping in. Chicken Cottage’s reach gives us the opportunity to alert thousands more people to the importance of keeping teenagers safe from exploitation.”
Some of the red flags Chicken Cottage workers will be encouraged to notice include but aren’t limited to those coming in on their own despite being quite young, or those who look scared or nervous when with older adults.