News & Updates
Human Trafficking Foundation Newsletter July 2024
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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 fortnightly newsletter goes out to over 1,500 individuals working in anti-trafficking. To share information for the newsletter, please contact [email protected]. |
| Announcements Nominations Open for Anti-Slavery Day Awards 2024 The Human Trafficking Foundation holds an annual awards ceremony to mark Anti-Slavery Day, supported by Marsh Charitable Trust. We recognise both the work of groups and individuals who fight modern slavery and human trafficking and the vital work of the media in increasing awareness and understanding of the issue. Nominations for both Media Categories (Guidelines here and nomination form here) and Outstanding Contributions to the Fight Against Modern Slavery Categories (Guidelines here and nomination form here) are now open for 2024. Anyone working to tackle modern slavery or anyone who benefits from the services that an organisation responding to modern slavery provides can submit a nomination. Deadline: Friday 9th August 5 pm. Temporary Permission to Stay Decisions Paused The Home Office, from the 11th of July, has temporarily paused all decision-making on the Temporary Permission to Stay (TPS) policy. Temporary Permission to Stay (often called ‘VTS’) is a type of temporary residence permit that survivors of trafficking or modern slavery – and any dependent children they have – may be considered for if they have a positive conclusive grounds decision in the National Referral Mechanism. This is due to ongoing litigation on the policy and how decisions are made. Decision-making will be paused for a short period whilst they consider their approach to decision-making. Amendments Made to the Illegal Migration Act 2023 On 22nd July, the Home Secretary signed a Statutory Instrument to remove the retrospective effect of the Illegal Migration Act (IMA). Previously, the IMA placed a “duty to remove” asylum seekers who arrived in the UK via irregular routes and applied to any asylum seeker who arrived in the UK after the IMA received Royal Assent (20 July 2023). There was also a permanent ban on obtaining lawful immigration status for anyone who arrived on 7 March 2023. With this new amendment, the “duty to remove” will now instead apply to claims made after the section comes into force, whenever that eventually occurs. |
| Reports and Publications Gaps in Policies Leave Children with Special Educational Needs at Risk of Exploitation Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation due to gaps in policies, lack of funding, lack of strategy and little recognition of their vulnerability, according to new research carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Portsmouth, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council. Many children with SEND are waiting years for recognition of their needs, diagnosis and the right support, which leads to isolation, segregation within or being excluded from school, and periods of missing, exposing children to greater risks of grooming and exploitation. Read the research summary and report. Home Office Hotels for Unaccompanied Children Seeking Asylum Increased the Risks of Them Being Trafficked According to new research carried out by UCL and ECPAT UK, there is a link between adultification and children being placed in adult accommodation for people seeking asylum, which still remains a risk now that the child hotels have closed. The research also raised particular concerns about young, unaccompanied Albanian nationals and the increased risk of trafficking, linked to the relabelling of Albania as a ‘safe country’ for removal and ‘scapegoating’ of Albanian people in media, as well as in the political discourse. AI Shows Promise in Improving Understanding of Survivors’ Needs but Requires Human Involvement New research, which used Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to analyse case notes held by the charity Causeway, found that AI can be useful in analysing support needs for survivors of modern slavery, producing results consistent with those obtained from conventional research methods. However, it requires a high level of human involvement. The research was carried out by Aberystwyth University, Trilateral Research, Causeway Charity and FiftyEight. Read the research report and summary, and a blog from the lead researcher Prof Ryszard Piotrowicz. Caring About Workers’ Rights: How a Well-Designed ‘Fair Work Agency’ Could Benefit Care Workers Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX), has explored how a well-designed fair work agency could benefit workers. Looking specifically at drivers of risk for care workers on the Health & Care Worker Visa, they have produced this briefing on how an effective Single Enforcement Body, in the form of a ‘Fair Work Agency’ could improve UK labour market oversight in order to build resilience against risks of labour exploitation. Independent Inquiry: Telford Child Sexual Exploitation A two-year review of the Inquiry into Telford CSE has been published. Through collaborative working, survivors involved in this review identified failings resulting from inadequate statutory guidance and an augmented application of the ‘Means’ for child victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. The consultees documented their findings in two reports, the first report has been published by the Council of Europe (CoE) here and the second (pending CoE publication) is currently available here. MSOIC Unit Investigations Overview June 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 June 2024. Read the data here. |
| Events & Training Knowledge Sharing Sessions The Human Trafficking Foundation is hosting a series of knowledge-sharing sessions for the anti-slavery sector. Please click the links below for more information on the upcoming sessions and to sign up: Overseas Domestic Workers (Kalayaan and Voice of Domestic Workers) 1st August 12 pm-1 pm Homelessness and Modern Slavery (The Passage) 18th September 12 pm-1 pm Forced Criminal Exploitation: The Legal Context (Southwell & Partners) 21st October 12 pm-1 pm 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]. Opportunities for Migrant Seasonal Workers’ Rights Under a New Government Migrant agricultural workers often experience risks of exploitation on UK farms. Based on interviews and surveys with the largest independent sample of migrant seasonal workers in the UK to date, Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) recently released a series of reports that focused on making the UK’s Seasonal Worker Scheme safer and fairer. Hosted by FLEX, this webinar brings together frontline organisations from this research project, as well as the Trades Union Congress, to discuss the factors that create risks for seasonal agricultural workers in the UK. Monday 29th July 12-1.15 pm. Register here. Cycle Revolution 2024 The Ride For Freedom team invites you to be a part of their Cycle Revolution fundraising event during Anti-Slavery Week (14th-20th October). This is an opportunity to raise money for Ride for Freedom whilst riding your bike. More information here. |
| Vacancies BASNET AFRUCA established the UK BME/Diaspora Anti-Slavery Network (BASNET), a growing network of diaspora, black and ethnic charitable organisations working in migrant communities to address modern slavery and human trafficking across the UK. BASNET is currently recruiting for a Policy and Research Officer (based in either London or Manchester) and a Network Development Officer (based in Manchester). The deadline to receive applications for both posts is open until a suitable candidate is found. The Medaille Trust 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 in Waltham Forest (Deadline: 10 am Monday 29th July). Find out more and apply here. International Organization for Migration (IOM) IOM delivers a range of programmes to support migrants, both in the UK and internationally, including projects focusing on migrant protection, human trafficking and modern slavery. They are recruiting for a consultant to support a project granted by the Home Office which seeks to increase the capacity of organisations in the UK that support survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery (UK support providers) in the area of voluntary return and reintegration. (Deadline: Sunday 28th July). Find out more and apply here. Hope at Home Hope at Home is a national charity dedicated to training and supporting volunteers to host survivors of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. They are currently recruiting for a Housing and Move-on Coordinator (Deadline: 5 pm Thursday 15th August). Apply here. A21 A21 work to support survivors of modern slavery and disrupt the demand. They are recruiting for an Intervention and Safeguarding Coordinator. The deadline to receive applications is open until a suitable candidate is found. 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, and 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]. |