HTF Advisory Forum Newsletter 15th May

Posted on 15 May 2024

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 National Referral Mechanism Quarter 1 2024 Statistics Published The Home Office has published the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and Duty to Notify Statistics for the first quarter of 2024. This includes new information on age at referral and more granular location of exploitation, which has also been added to the UK Data Service. The statistics provide a breakdown of the number of potential victims of modern slavery referred into the NRM. 4,524 referrals were sent to the NRM from January to March 2024, a 9% increase from the previous quarter. View the data here.   ICTG National Service Procurement: Market Engagement Event  A Request for Information (RFI) was published earlier this year by Home Office seeking preliminary information from potential suppliers on the procurement of a national Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service. Following this, on 23rd May 2024, an early market engagement event will take place virtually for the proposed procurement. The Prior Information Notice (PIN) for this event can be found here to find a tender and here for the contracts finder. The PINs contain links to Jaggaer, where details on how to register can be found (Deadline: 16th May).    Safe Care Wash App The Clewer Initiative’s Safe Car Wash App is a tangible way in which people can help in the fight against modern slavery. The app enables anyone who uses hand car washes to identify and report slavery and asks a series of questions related to the indicators of modern slavery and then assesses the answers. Read a case study of the successful use of the app here.  Call for Input from the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner  The OHCR has put out a call for input on their ‘Report on trafficking in persons and gender peace and security’. The purpose of this call is to inform the Special Rapporteur’s report on gender, peace and security. (Deadline: 20th June). More information here. Updates on the Care Sector New Guidance on International Recruitment for Local Authorities This guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care is for regional and sub regional partnerships to develop solutions to prevent and respond to exploitative employment practices in their areas and support continuity of care provision. £16 million is available to regional partnerships over 2024 to 2025. Care Visa Sponsor Database This is a database of UK social care providers licensed to sponsor workers’ visas. It was adapted from a tool developed by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) for its investigation into the exploitation faced by workers who came to the UK on the health and care visa. There will be gaps in the data and some care providers which are licensed to sponsor workers in the UK might not be included. The list will be updated on a daily basis.   Crimestoppers in London Modern Slavery Campaign launched Crimestoppers recently launched their London Hidden Harms campaign focussing on Modern Slavery and Exploitation in the care sector industry. The campaign aims to raise awareness of modern slavery and support London communities to speak up with information and concerns about exploitation anonymously. More information on the campaign here.      Reports and Publications ‘A Can of Worms’: Challenges and Opportunities in Gathering Modern Slavery Evidence A new report by After Exploitation outlines the UK’s failure to collect and publish vital data on modern slavery, including details of how many survivors can access help. This report is a testimony to the expertise of the 50+ practitioners with and without lived experience of modern slavery who provided evidence submissions in writing or via semi-structured interview. The report highlights the UK’s lack of transparency about its track record on modern slavery, and suggests ways in which public authorities could improve how they collect, publish and manage evidence on exploitation. Read the report here. Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 2023 Annual Assessment Every year, the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline deals with thousands of complex calls and contacts relating to situations of labour abuse, worker exploitation, and all types of modern slavery. With an increasingly complex landscape, the Helpline is often the first point of contact for many who find themselves in compromising, and often difficult and dangerous, exploitative situations. The Helpline’s 2023 Annual Assessment report highlights that during 2023, the Helpline received a total of 8,367 calls, a rise of 14% on 2022’s call totals. Read the report here.    Breaking Barriers: Supporting Young Victims of Human Trafficking Transitioning to Adulthood This briefing, produced by the Anti Trafficking Monitoring Group, is based on a recent Freedom Of Information submitted by the Snowdrop project to the Home Office in relation to children turning 18 while in the National Referral Mechanism. The data shows that during 2022, 2,634 children turned 18 while awaiting an NRM decision. Of those who actively consented to remain in the NRM, only 43% were referred for Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract support and only 20% received any support at all. Read the report here.   MSOIC Unit Investigations Overview April 2024 The Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit have published their Non-LEA Overview of Live Modern Slavery Investigations in UK Policing. This document is produced to help inform the work that non-law enforcement agencies are doing in response to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. The document covers data for April 2024. Read the data here. Information for Survivors of Modern Slavery Impacted by Rwanda Removals This information sheet, created by After Exploitation, includes information on how to know whether there is a ‘notice of intent’ (NOI) to remove you to Rwanda, what kinds of arguments your lawyer may make on your behalf, and a list of organisations and legal firms providing advice at the time of writing. Access the resource here.  Trafficking Chains: Modern Slavery in Society Bristol University Press have published a new open access book, written by Sylvia Walby and Karen Shire. It discusses the importance of coercion and the societal complexities that perpetuate modern slavery, with implications for policy. Access the resource here. You can also access introduction chapters, articles and additional open access content in the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking collection on BUP digital.   Vulnerabilities to Exploitation for Romanian and Albanian Nationals in London STOP THE TRAFFIK Group have published this new report that showcases research conducted between October 2023 and January 2024, which explores the ways in which Romanian and Albanian nationals are being exploited in the London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the City of Westminster, and how this exploitation is linked to their housing situations.  Bound to work: Improving access to redress on the UK’s Seasonal Worker Scheme This new report by Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX), the second in a series of three, is based on research conducted over 17 months in partnership with Rosmini Centre Wisbech, Citizen Advice South Lincolnshire, and the South-East and East Asian Centre (SEEAC). It focuses on 399 surveys and 83 interviews from migrant workers on the seasonal worker scheme as well as interviews with 15 stakeholders. The report looks at farm work in the UK and sheds light on the conditions that are leaving thousands of migrant seasonal labourers trapped in cycles of debt. Read the report here.      Events & Training Knowledge Sharing Sessions The Human Trafficking Foundation is hosting a series of Knowledge Sharing sessions for the anti-slavery sector. The Knowledge Sharing sessions differ from the HTF Advisory Forums by solely having one organisation speaking on a specific topic. Please click the links below for more information on the upcoming sessions and to sign up:  Identification Insights for First Responders (The Medaille Trust) 23rd May 12pm-1pm  Data in action: Creating data-led campaigns to prevent exploitation (Hammersmith & Fulham Council, The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster City Council and STOP THE TRAFFIK) 30th May 12-1pm Cognitive Impairment and Modern Slavery (University of Nottingham Rights Lab) 13th June 12pm-1pm  Spiritual and Ritual Abuse (Prism Training Ltd) 16th July 12pm-1pm Overseas Domestic Workers (Kalayaan and Voice of Domestic Workers) 1st August 12pm-1pm Homelessness and Modern Slavery (The Passage) 18th September 12pm-1pm If you have a topic of expertise that you would like to share with the sector, or if there is a topic that you would like to learn about, please contact [email protected]. Interrupting Trauma Training  Experiences of trauma are widespread and yet trauma literacy remains low. Hosted by Survivor Alliance, this training will enable participants to develop a common language about trauma, and understand how to interrupt the effects of trauma. It is designed for people working with survivors of violence as lived experience experts and leaders, not as service recipients. Wednesday 16th May, 9.30-11.30am. Find out more and register here.  Allies Workshop: Understanding Allyship & Survivor Engagement Designed for organisations aiming to deepen their understanding of survivor inclusion, this flexible program designed by Survivor Alliance allows participants to learn at their own pace. It features a user-friendly interface, a structured curriculum, multimedia content, and interactive exercises. Ideal for those enhancing personal knowledge or promoting survivor inclusion organisationally. The course will be made available to you the Friday following your purchase. Find out more and register here.  Joint Workshop: Working with parents affected by criminal exploitation Stop and Prevent Criminal Exploitation (SPACE) and Nicholas Marsh are hosting an event that is aimed at practitioners and policymakers from children’s social care, the police, education, health, and third-sector organisations. It will cover topics such exploring parents’ and carers’ experiences of professionals and services and providing practical practice and policy recommendations to improve responses. Thursday 6th June, 12.30-2.30pm. Find out more and register here.  Short Course – Trauma Informed Practice St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, is running a one-week course for practitioners, researchers and artists on Resources for Trauma-Informed Practice, from 8th-13th July. The aim of this course is to provide a collective and tailored environment to reflect and develop individual practice, in order to understand the impact of trauma on practitioners and researchers, and find ways of supporting individuals in their workplace. Find out more here. There will also be free taster evening, followed by Q&A, online on Monday 3rd June from 7-9pm. To register or find out more about the course, email Anna. Creating Stable Futures: Implementing a Positive Outcomes Framework ECPAT UK & the Helena Kennedy Foundation for International Justice will be delivering training on child trafficking and modern slavery as well as exploring the use of a newly developed tool to support direct work with young survivors of trafficking and exploitation. Find out more and register here if you are based in London & the Southeast of England (Wednesday 22nd May 9:30am-5.30pm) and here if you are based in London & the East of England (Thursday 23rd May 9:30am-5.30pm). This is an in-person event, hosted at Doughty Street Chambers, 54 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LS.     Vacancies Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Office Vacancies The IASC has a UK-wide remit to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of modern slavery offences and the identification of victims. The Office is currently recruiting for a Communications and Stakeholder Manager and a Head of Policy and Strategy (Deadline: 22nd May 11.55pm). The 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 for a Senior Modern Slavery Case Worker and a Modern Slavery Case Work Assistant in Southampton (Deadline: 28th May 10am), and a Payroll and Finance Administrator in Manchester (remote/hybrid) (Deadline 31st May 10am). Find out more and apply here. Media and Communications Internships Available at CHRI UK The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is an independent, international non-governmental organisation working for the practical realisation of human rights through research, advocacy, and mobilisation. The Secretariat is currently seeking a talented and innovative Media and Communications Intern to join the team. (Deadline: 27th May) Find out more and apply here.      HTF Resources   Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) Consultancy Ready to take your anti-trafficking efforts to new heights? 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, provide expert advice on policy documents, and more. 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]. 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 gain access or to make 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].