Human Trafficking Foundation Newsletter 4th January

Posted on 11 January 2023

Advisory Forum Newsletter This newsletter is an opportunity for Human Trafficking Foundation (HTF) Forum members to publicise events, projects, research, campaigns and job opportunities. You can see recordings or download minutes of our previous online events here.  This newsletter goes out to over 1400 individuals working in anti-trafficking. To share information for the newsletter, please contact [email protected]     Reports & Publications Labour Visa Schemes: Creating the Conditions for Exploitation? Briefing Paper In September 2022 the Human Trafficking Foundation organised an online forum with expert speakers, open to anyone working in anti-trafficking, to explore a range of short-term labour visas available in the UK for migrant workers and considered the unintended consequences of these visas which can often put workers at risk of exploitation. This post event report summary details the concerns, experiences and recommendations made during the forum by both the panellists and the audience.  Office for Statistics Regulation Responds to Home Office Claims In a joint letter to the Statistics Regulator, anti-trafficking organisations raised concern that the Home Office was using a rise in NRM referrals to suggest fraudulent use of the modern slavery system, claiming that this was a misuse of statistics. In response the Statistics Regulator found no evidence for Home Office claims that migrants are “gaming” the modern slavery system and noted that the increase in NRM referrals is likely due to increased awareness from First Responders. Read After Exploitation’s announcement and letters from the Regulator here. UN Press Release on Unsubstantiated Claims by Public Officials Following a letter from the anti-trafficking sector, UN Special Rapporteurs have published a press release condemning the attacks on trafficking victims’ credibility and urging the UK to step up its efforts to protect survivors. “We are alarmed by the rise in unsubstantiated claims by public officials and Government departments regarding persons seeking protection under the Modern Slavery Act and the National Referral Mechanism in the past days and weeks,” Rapporteurs noted the lack of evidence for claims that individuals are misusing the modern slavery system, the impact of these claims for survivors and also called for the appointment of a new Independent Modern Slavery Commissioner. Read the press release here. National Police Insight Team Data  This MSOIC Unit overview of live modern slavery investigations covers data for the month of November 2022. There are currently at least 3501 live Modern Slavery police investigations being undertaken across the UK. There are active investigations across all policing regions. This document is produced to help inform the work that non-law enforcement agencies are doing in response to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Updated NRM Support Leaflets  The Salvation Army has published a revised version of their National Referral Mechanism leaflets to support adults in their decision on whether to enter the NRM. The leaflets detail the journey of support survivors of trafficking can expect and answers questions on what happens after exiting support.  Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) Blog on Changes to Modern Slavery System FLEX has published a useful blog post entitled ‘raising the threshold: recent Government changes to the modern slavery system will significantly harm victims’ which details the implications of the Prime Minister’s Asylum Statement  for the identification of survivors of modern slavery and the impact of the recent amendments to the modern slavery guidance. Read the blog post here.  Freewheel by Ride For Freedom Impact Report This report studied the impact of the Freewheel by Ride For Freedom programme on survivors of modern slavery in Barking & Dagenham. The programme provides survivors with a bicycle, accessories and cycling proficiency and road awareness training to support their physical and mental health, as well as independence and mobility. The participants answered survey questions before and after the programme, and the report compared answers to find levels of improvement with mental health, physical health, and general cycling ability.     Announcements Removal of Multi-Agency Assurance Panels (MAAPs) From Decision Making  On 13th December Modern Slavery Act Statutory Guidance was changed to enable the Competent Authorities to issue negative Conclusive Grounds decisions without being routed through to the MAAPs. This change will impact England, Scotland and Wales. A statement from the Home Office notes ‘the design of the current MAAP process contributes to the number of days being added to the decision-making timelines for those exiting the NRM as non-victims.’ This means that the MAAP Chairs will not have their terms of appointment extended beyond the current agreed extension. The Home Office also stated ‘we are working to ensure that a new assurance process can be introduced in spring 2023 to continue to assure and drive further improvements in NRM decision making in such a way that does not add time to service of outcomes.’ Reduction in the Rest and Recovery Period from 45 to 30 days The minimum Recovery Period following a positive Reasonable Grounds decision in England and Wales was amended from 45 days to 30 days in the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance also on 13th December 2022. This approach aligns with the minimum Recovery Period length set out in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT). Additional changes to the statutory guidance for England and Wales under section 49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 can be found here. Request for Information for the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report The Department of State requests written information to assist in reporting on the degree to which the US and foreign governments meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons that are prescribed by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. This information will assist in the preparation of the Trafficking in Persons Report. Submission deadline 1st February 2023. Please find the submission questions here. High Court Rules Rwanda Policy is Lawful The Government’s scheme to deport those seeking asylum in the UK to Rwanda has been ruled lawful by the High Court, stating that it does not breach the UN’s Refugee Convention or human rights laws. Rwanda will be able to consider individuals for permission to stay or return to their country of origin, but they will not be eligible to return to the UK. Potential survivors of trafficking will not be exempt from this scheme.  Modern Slavery PEC Fellowship Funding Call The Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC) has issued a new funding call for research on assessing the support in the UK for children with lived experience of modern slavery. The Centre is looking to fund a research fellowship to co-design a programme of work to explore the nature of modern slavery affecting children in England and Wales, as well as the impact of receiving support from Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs) on children’s outcomes. Find the full details of the call in the call document, the project costing template, examples of funding scenarios and a sample contract on the Modern Slavery PEC website. The deadline for applications is 4pm 31st January.  Applications Open for Baking and Life Skills Programme Bramber Bakehouse runs an 8-week programme for women who have experienced trauma. In a safe and caring community, they can learn baking skills and take part in wellbeing sessions that support and empower them to achieve their aspirations. The workshops take place once a week on a Monday from 10:30am to 3:30pm, in Central Brighton. Our next programme starts on Monday 6th February and runs for 8-weeks. Please refer your clients using this application form and email to [email protected]. Applications are due by Friday, 13th of January.     Events & Training Safeguarding Victims of Modern Slavery VITA Training This two-hour interactive webinar will cover modern slavery human trafficking and the health impact, equipping practitioners with knowledge, confidence and transferable consultation skills to safely identify, support and safeguard survivors of this crime. This training is for clinicians and  healthcare professionals who consult with patients and for anyone whose clinical role requires at least Level 2 Adult Safeguarding. 17th February 12pm. Find out more here. Between Modern Slavery and Decent Work: Responses to Labour Exploitation This event will explore the meaning,  for legal standards, policy, and law enforcement, of using a negative framework (‘modern slavery’) that emphasises extreme forms of exploitation society aims to abolish, compared with a positive framework (‘decent work’), one emphasising more ideal notions of how work should look like.  The event will start with a panel discussion on labour law and public law, followed by a practitioners’ roundtable to consider the meaning of the different frameworks in practice for policy, law enforcement, and compliance of businesses. This is a hybrid event, details of how to register can be found here, 17th January 2pm.  In Conversation with Causeway Online Event Causeway (formerly City Hearts) is hosting an online event that goes behind the scenes with experts who have lived experience of modern slavery and the criminal justice system. You will hear from survivors of modern slavery who are now advising on cutting-edge research in the sector, helping to influence government policy, individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system and other professionals from across the sector. 25th January 12.30pm, register for your place here.   Identification, Support and Care of Victims of Modern Slavery Course The Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse at St Mary’s University is accepting applications for their course starting January 2023 which provides the knowledge, understanding and practical skills for individuals to identify, support and care for victims of modern slavery that they may meet in their work. The module has a distinctive focus on practical knowledge and skills delivered across four major themes, and will be supported by online materials, teaching workshops led by experts in the field, and face-to-face group sessions to encourage and support reflective practice. Applications close 24th January, find out more here. Bramber Bakehouse Open House Event Bramber Bakehouse would like to invite you to attend their Open House event on Friday, 13th January in Brighton. This event provides opportunities to learn more about the Bramber Bakehouse programme, hear first-hand the positive impact it’s had on the lives of female survivors, whilst connecting with like-minded organisations within the sector. To book your place book directly here by 9th of January.     Vacancies Stronger Together Vacancies  Stronger Together is looking for a Mexico and Costa Rica Project Manager to lead on implementation of their  innovative multi-stakeholder programs and deliver training, guidance and services aimed at growers, agri-businesses and labour providers in both Mexico and Costa Rica. Stronger Together is also hiring for a Business Development Manager to join their team to grow Stronger Together’s business relations in the UK . Find out more about both roles here. Barnardo’s Vacancies  Barnardo’s National Counter Trafficking Service runs several different services across England and Wales, including the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service, a statutory provision set out in Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Barnardo’s would like to recruit two Children’s Services Manager, one for the North Region and one for the South. Find out more and apply on their website.      HTF Resources Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) Consultancy The Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) was established to ensure the expertise of those with lived-experience is embedded in the work of the anti-trafficking sector and is made up of independent consultants who co-work with HTF. LEAP can offer the development and delivery of training (online, pre-recorded and in person), work with organisations to create or redesign training packages, provide expert advice on policy documents, research and guidance on supporting survivors of trafficking, join round tables on specific areas of modern slavery, sit on interview panels, undertake group focus groups and partake in 1 on 1 interviews. Find out more here and submit a request for LEAP consultancy.  New Resources Section on the HTF Website  Useful HTF resources such as London SPOC directory, Survivor Care Standards, London Directory of Services, Ukraine response resources, Survivor Hub and many more can now be accessed through the resources tab on the homepage of our website.  HTF’s Emergency Support Fund The Human Trafficking Foundation’s Trafficking Emergency Support Fund is available to help victims of human trafficking and modern slavery with small one-off grants to meet their immediate needs when no other sources of funding are available. Application form and guidelines are available on our website here. HTF’s Survivor Hub  Survivor advocates and HTF have created an online Survivor Hub, a place for survivors to find opportunities for work and paid research participation, to find resources on education, housing support, the NRM, mental health support and includes directories of support providers and legal advisors across the country. Please share this widely in your networks. If your organisation has resources or opportunities that you would like included please email [email protected] Updated London Modern Slavery SPOC Directory  The Human Trafficking Foundation has been working with local authorities in the Greater London area to support the development of their response to modern slavery and human trafficking. As part of this, we produce an annual directory of Modern Slavery Single Points of Contact/Champions in statutory authorities across London including representatives within the NHS, police and local authorities. Please contact [email protected] to request access to the directory or for any amendments. London Directory of Services  HTF has created a Directory of Services, bringing together details of support agencies for survivors of modern slavery across London. The Directory is a live document, with more organisations added all the time. Access it now on our website under resources. If there is an organisation you think should be included, or to amend any information please email [email protected]. Mapping Survivor Support Services Our map of UK survivor support services aims to be a useful tool for people working with survivors to see what services are available in their area. View the map here. If your organisation provides support of any kind to survivors of trafficking and would like to be added to the map, please email jasmine@humantraffickingfoundation.org