HTF Advisory Forum Newsletter 20th December

Posted on 20 December 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 fortnightly newsletter goes out to over 1,500 individuals working in anti-trafficking. To share information for the newsletter, please contact [email protected]     Announcements Request for Information for the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report The US Department of State is requesting written information to assist in reporting on the degree to which the US and foreign governments meet the minimum standards for addressing human trafficking. This information will assist in the preparation of the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) that the Department submits annually to the US Congress on governments’ actions. Foreign governments that do not meet the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so may be subject to restrictions on non-humanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance from the US. Submissions are required by 1st February 2024. Full information on submitting information can be found here.     Reports and Publications Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) Annual Report Over the past year, members of LEAP have designed and delivered training on modern slavery to local authorities, police and community groups, advised on policies and guidance and ensured lived experience is brought into learning to help improve understanding, attitudes and services available. This annual report highlights their successes and details the projects they supported and the impact they had on the sector throughout the first year since their inception. Read the report here. HTF and Snowdrop Project: Cognitive Disability Working Group Addendum HTF has worked with the Snowdrop Project to establish a working group to explore the link between learning disabilities and vulnerability to exploitation. The Working Group on Modern Slavery and Cognitive Disability undertook a series of research workshops to explore challenges and best practice to support survivors of modern slavery with cognitive disabilities. The addendum details the findings and recommendations for the development of a toolkit for practitioners to help remove barriers in communication between practitioners and clients with cognitive disabilities, establish trust and enhance support. Read the addendum here. Helen Bamber Foundation and Humans for Rights Network Report: Wethersfield ‘Open-Prison’ The Helen Bamber Foundation (HBF) and Humans for Rights Network (HFRN) have today published a report showing that the government’s use of Wethersfield as a large ‘open-prison camp’ for men seeking asylum for the last five months has already caused profound harm and suffering. HBF’s clinicians have carried out 10 detailed assessments and HFRN has conducted casework with over 140 individuals since the camp opened in July 2023, and have found that the men have displayed symptoms of worsening mental health following transfer to Wethersfield. Men held there have reported anxiety and depression, suicidal ideation, intense desperation and fear, self-harm, and acute sleep deprivation. Read the report here. MSPEC and University of Liverpool Research: Transformative Potential of Meaningful Engagement of Lived Experience The Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence (MSPEC) has published research providing insights into the transformative potential of ethically and equitably engaging with people with lived experiences of modern slavery to enhance policies and practices. The research, led by the University of Liverpool, brought together a team of six consultants from communities affected by modern slavery from four different continents to co-produce six studies to address meaningful inclusion of people with lived experience in addressing issues related to modern slavery and human trafficking in different contexts. Read the reports and summary here. Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit (MiCLU) Briefing: Albanian Asylum Seekers and Mental Health Risks Last week’s suicide of a 27-year-old Albanian man on the Bibby Stockholm followed the death by suicide of another Albanian man in November who was detained at Brook House. MiCLU has seen more certifications of Albanian asylum claims, negative decisions on Albanian trafficking claims, and Albanians being placed in detention than in any year. To reflect on these changes, they have produced a briefing to outline the discrimination that Albanians face across the UK immigration system. Read the briefing in full here. Ride for Freedom Impact Report: East London Pilot Schools Programme 2023 The Ride for Freedom Schools Programme, piloted in Barking and Dagenham, was delivered across 6 primary schools throughout the borough throughought 2023. The Programme has educated 3,006 Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils on how to spot signs and protect themselves. It also set up static bikes for pupils to ride to give pupils a sense of the freedom cycling gives to survivors of modern slavery who use their Freewheel Programme. Read the full report here. FLEX Briefing: What an Effective Single Enforcement Body Looks Like In this briefing, FLEX argues that an effective Single Enforcement Body (SEB) will be accessible to workers, be proactive and deliver results for workers and employers. Preventing labour exploitation means having strong labour market enforcement in place. As things currently stand, the UK falls short of international standards on labour inspections. This leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation, including modern slavery. It also means that unscrupulous employers can act with impunity, driving down standards across the UK. In this 2-page policy briefing, FLEX sets out the six priorities for an effective Single Enforcement Body. Read the briefing here. FLEX Joint Position Paper: Preventing Exploitation in the Private Care Sector FLEX has coordinated a joint position paper, produced by a coalition of organisations and academics in the anti-slavery sector, on the prevention of exploitation in the adult care sector. There has been a substantial increase in the number of reports of labour exploitation in the adult care  sector, with issues including illegal recruitment fees, exorbitant repayment clauses, non-payment of wages, debt bondage and excessive overtime highlighted in media coverage. The position paper includes a set of recommendations to address the exploitation of migrant care workers and ensure a sustainable UK social care system. Read the paper here. MSOIC Unit Investigations Overview  The Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit have published their Non-LEA Overview of Live Modern Slavery Investigations in UK Policing. The document covers data for November 2023, and was produced to help inform the work that non-law enforcement agencies are doing in response to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Read the document here. Home Affairs Committee Report on Human Trafficking The Home Affairs Committee was appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Home Office and its associated public bodies. This report details the findings of their first inquiry, and concludes that improvement is required in utilising sanctions for non-compliance in publication of businesses’ supply chain transparency statements. It also argues that addressing human trafficking is no longer a priority for the UK government, with irregular migration policies instead taking priority, and support for UK survivors is suffering consequently. Read the report in full here.     Events & Training St Mary’s University: Identification, Support and Care of Victims of Modern Slavery Course This module provides the knowledge, understanding and practical skills for individuals to identify, support and care for survivors of modern slavery who they may meet in their work. The Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse, together with Snowdrop, worked with the wider sector and Skills for Care to produce a national training standard launched in 2020. This module is aligned with Tier 3 of the Training Standards Framework. More information and apply here. 30th January-7th May 2024, St Mary’s University, Twickenham. UCL Research Consultancy Clinic Hosted by the Community Research Initiative, this event will involve working with trainee consultants to set a project brief, or briefs, based on your own ideas for the research and evaluation that you know would be useful to the important work that you do. At the end of the session, you will have your own project brief(s) to take back away with you, digest, share with colleagues. You may also post these ideas on the UCL Community Noticeboard to be advertised to hundreds of students with research projects to complete in the Spring/summer next year. Register here. Thursday 25th January 2024, UCL, London WC1E6BT. Sophie Hayes Foundation Employability Programme Sophie Hayes Foundation is starting their new Employability Programme cohort on 5th February 2024. This programme is for women survivors of modern slavery, and will involve an introductory in-person session and then an online programme. The programme lasts over a 12 month period and contains 3 modules, group workshops, one to one sessions, group coaching, work placements, access to training and formal education. Caseworkers can refer their clients here, with referrals closing on Friday 19th January 2024. Medaille Trust Event: Modern Slavery – What Is It? The Medaille Trust are running a modern slavery and trafficking awareness session, which will share information on the definitions of modern slavery, the different types of modern slavery and how to identify it. They will also share their current volunteer opportunities for anyone looking for in-person volunteering roles across England, in their creative support sessions, gardening projects, cooking sessions, fundraising and admin. They will also be discussing their national remote translating volunteer opportunities. Reserve your space here. Wednesday 17th January 2024, 7-8pm, online.     Vacancies UNHCR Non-Executive Board Vacancies UK for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the UK, is looking to appoint new Trustees to its non-executive board, including a Vice-Chair. Having grown rapidly since 2019, UK for UNHCR is entering a critical next phase as it aims even higher to do more to support refugees and UNHCR’s vital global mission. Relevant lived experience (as a refugee, asylum seeker or stateless person) is particularly sought for the Vice-Chair position. The deadline for applicants is 8th January 2024, and if you wish to find out more, please click here, from where a comprehensive document can be downloaded. Black Country Women’s Aid Vacancy Black Country Women’s Aid is an independent charity which which supports survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence in the West Midlands. They are looking for full-time Modern Slavery Outreach Advocates with excellent communication skills, compassion and understanding of the impact of abuse and exploitation. The candidate will provide frontline service and case management. The deadline for applicants is 4th January 2024. Read more and apply here. FLEX Vacancy FLEX is an organisation that works to address all forms of labour exploitation. They are recruiting an HR and Operations Administrator, 4 days a week with flexible hybrid working. In this role you will support FLEX’s staff team and Board of Trustees to guarantee the smooth running of our operations. You will be responsible for ensuring the effective administration, maintenance and development of relevant FLEX’s resources and systems. Applications close 7th January 2024. More information and apply here. Medaille Trust Vacancies The Medaille Trust provides frontline support to survivors of modern slavery through safe housing, community awareness projects and partnerships with local authorities and law enforcement. They are recruiting a Modern Slavery Caseworker and a Modern Slavery Casework Assistant, both full time and based in Manchester, to provide practical and emotional support to survivors within a safehouse setting. Applications close 12th January 2024. For full details about both roles and applications, click here.     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.  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]. 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. If you are a support worker, you can see guidelines and complete an application form here on behalf of your client and email it to [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 [email protected].