News & Updates

HTF Newsletter 18th January

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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]     HTF’s Upcoming Advisory Forum The Human Trafficking Foundation invites you to join their upcoming in-person Advisory Forum, kindly hosted by Linklaters LLP. Register for your place here.

HTF’s Advisory Forum provides an opportunity for anyone working in the anti-trafficking space to come together, network and hear the latest updates on modern slavery policy and practice. Speakers will be announced closer to the time. There will be time for an audience Q&A and sector announcements. If your organisation has an update they would like to give, please email [email protected]. 

Breakfast will be provided, so please join us for a bite to eat and networking from 9.15am and the Advisory Forum will begin promptly at 10am. Please note that this is not a hybrid event and will be in-person only.

22nd February 9.15am – 12pm 
1 Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8HQ     Reports & Publications Care Quality Commission (CQC) Safehouse Report
This CQC report details their inspections of safehouse and outreach support services delivered under the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract between January 2021 to June 2022. This programme of inspections by the CQC followed a request from the Home Office to inspect safehouse and outreach support services in England and Wales. The aim was to inspect the quality of these support services for people who are survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery, to make sure they receive safe care and support in line with contractual obligations. The Salvation Army’s statement on the CQC review can be found here.

Annual Inspection of Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has published its third annual inspection report of vulnerable adults in immigration detention in the UK. The report considers Rule 35 (Detention Centre Rules 2001) which allows for the identification of individuals in detention who are vulnerable. This inspection found that this important safeguard was not working consistently or effectively. Read the Free Movement report summary here.

London Councils’ Response to Ukrainian Refugees Report
This Work Rights Centre report entitled, ‘London Councils’ Responses to the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine’ examines the struggles councils have been facing as they they support Ukrainian refugees fleeing conflict. The report is based on interviews conducted with staff at 12 authorities across London, who support around 5,300 Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme alone, which accounts for 36% of all Homes for Ukraine arrivals in London. 

Causeway Report on Long Term Survivor Support and LifeLine
Research undertaken by the University of Liverpool in conjunction with anti-slavery charity Causeway, is focused on the charity’s LifeLine programme which offers a safety net for survivors once they leave Government funded support. The LifeLine programme supports hundreds of survivors each month with regular phone calls and drop-in sessions which allows them to feel less isolated, ask questions on UK bureaucracy, and for case workers to address any problems they’re having such as mental health issues, debt or homelessness. Read the report here.

National Police Insight Team Data 
This MSOIC Unit overview of live modern slavery investigations covers data for the month of December 2022. There are currently at least 3555 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.

Assam Tea Gardens Report
Arise has supported research into the entrenched vulnerability of tea garden workers in Assam, North-East India, where they work with the NEWRaN anti-trafficking network to protect communities. The report discusses the interplay between structural barriers to economic security and safety, bringing to life the precarious circumstances that leave families vulnerable to exploitation. The report, entitled ‘The Stickiness of Tea Garden Workers’ Situation in Assam, India’, was published in the academic journal Social Change. The piece can be read and downloaded here.     Announcements GLA Invitation to Tender: Employment Rights  
The Greater London Authority (GLA) is seeking to commission an organisation or partnership to develop and deliver employment rights advice training and supervision for community and migrant organisations. The project will last 18 months from 1 March 2023 with a budget of £155,000. For more information and how to apply visit this link. Closing date is 30th January. 

Research on the Survivors of Modern Slavery in UK Prisons
The University of Essex and International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Hibiscus Initiatives, are conducting research to better understand what happens to people with lived experience of modern slavery in the prison system in the UK. The research is funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (MSPEC) and Arts and Humanities Research Council. If you have experience of supporting survivors of modern slavery while they are in prison or after they have been released from prison and would be interested in being interviewed by the researchers then please contact [email protected]

Nationality and Borders Act Regulations 
A number of specific Nationality and Borders Act provisions relating to modern slavery in Part 5 of the Act have been issued and will come into force from the 30th January 2023. Read the Commencement Order here.
 
Ministerial Responsibilities & Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Update 
Within the Ministerial Responsibilities document published by the Cabinet Office on 15th December, the responsibilities on modern slavery are clarified. The Safeguarding Minister has the remit of “modern slavery: wider policy and safeguarding” and the Immigration Minister has responsibility of the “abuse of the modern slavery system”. This document can be accessed on the Gov website. A Home Office update has also recently informed the anti-trafficking sector that Ministers have decided to run a new competition for the role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. 

Support to Civil Society Programme Fund Ukraine
The British Embassy in Kyiv is pleased to announce the opening of the Programme Fund under its Support to Civil Society programme in Ukraine. The funding opportunity is open from January 2023 until February 2023 and will support charities that support the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups and support integration and social cohesion, in the early recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. SCSO will be looking to receive proposals for initiatives at the national ,regional or local level focused on diversity and inclusion in Ukraine’s longer-term reconstruction and early recovery efforts in bombed and liberated areas. Grants are available across a wide range of interventions. Find out more and apply here.     Events & Training Self-paced Cultural Competency Training
Pacific Links Foundation has created a new online course for frontline responders to enhance cultural competency in interacting with Vietnamese migrants. The self-paced course is developed and launched under Capacity Building for Responders Program (CaRes), with an aim to provide frontline responders with the knowledge and skills to build trust with Vietnamese migrants and survivors of trafficking. Through three interactive modules, participants will learn about the context and background of Vietnamese migration, introduction to Vietnamese culture, and interview techniques to interact with Vietnamese migrants. Register using the link and for more information, please contact [email protected].

Supporting Individuals With Complex Trauma Training
 The Snowdrop Project is hosting training on working with complex trauma. Most survivors of trafficking have experienced severe trauma so every practitioner needs to have at least a basic knowledge of how to support those with this lived experience. Snowdrop will ensure that you leave the training being able to understand the difference between trauma and complex trauma, identifying symptoms, how to engage relationally from a trauma-informed position, learn grounding and stabilisation techniques to pass on to clients, recognise and manage vicarious trauma in yourself as a practitioner. 23rd March 2023, for more information, visit their website.

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking: The Victim Journey Book Launch
The Bakhita Centre at St Mary’s University is hosting a book launch celebrate the publication of the book ‘Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking: The Victim Journey.’This book traces the journey of survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking into and within the UK, from recruitment to representation to (re)integration. The launch will have contributions from the editors, authors of the volume and a panel discussion with experts in the field. The event will also be complemented by a drinks reception. 9th February, register here.     Vacancies FLEX Vacancy
Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) is looking for a new Training Officer to join their team. This role will deliver FLEX’s training and capacity building programme, which seeks to enable front line organisations directly supporting workers at risk to identify and support potential victims of labour exploitation. For more information about this role, please visit our website. Deadline to apply 29th January. 

West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network Vacancy
The West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network (WMASN) is looking for a full time Independent Modern Slavery Advocate (IMSA) to join their team. WMASN has been commissioned to provide an Independent Modern Slavery Advocate (IMSA) to work alongside Warwickshire Police and associated statutory and non-statutory partners in improving the identification of, and the response to, adult victims of slavery and human trafficking. For further information and to access the job description and person specification please go to their website. Deadline to apply 30th January.      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