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 1500 individuals working in anti-trafficking. To share information for the newsletter, please contact [email protected]

Illegal Migration Bill GRETA expression of concern over the Illegal Migration Bill
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) have expressed deep concern over the Illegal Migration Bill, principally its lack of compliance with the core elements of its Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. They particularly highlight the ways in which the Bill will provide barriers to the identification of survivors of human trafficking, and in turn the prosecution of perpetrators. Their full opinion can be found here.

Reports & Publications

Resources for new asylum questionnaires
This guide produced by Refugee Action offers a range of resources regarding the new streamlined asylum processing questionnaires. It includes a general streamlined asylum processing FAQ document and guidance for caseworkers who are assisting clients in the completion of questionnaires. 

Focus on Labour Exploitation’s Open Letter to Government
Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) has published an open letter to the government highlighting the reforms needed on the agricultural Seasonal Worker Visa (SWV) scheme. It outlines the widespread instances of exploitation within the scheme. It also calls on the government to address these instances by protecting workers at the point of recruitment, preventing debt bondage, preventing exploitation on UK farms through accessible complaint processes and ensuring SWV scheme compliance through an independent agency.

Podcast – Trafficked: The Woman Who Took on Her Traffickers and Won
The Guardian has released a powerful four-part series through their Today in Focus podcast entitled ‘Trafficked’, which documents a survivor of modern slavery in the UK. Julia was a young mother in Ukraine before being trafficked to the UK in 2014 and becoming a victim of debt bondage until being discovered by Surrey police in 2019. With the support of Justice and Care, she took her exploiters to court and won her case, and is now going through the asylum process. Listen to all four parts here.

Commonwealth 8.7’s World Health Day 2023 Statement
Commonwealth 8.7 have prepared a statement in light of World Health Day, emphasising a collective responsibility to prioritise the mental well-being of survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, in light of their vulnerabilities to mental illnesses. Recent research posted in the European Journal of Psychiatry revealed that 41% of survivors suffered from Complex Post Traumatic Stress disorder. In spite of this, funding for mental health support for survivors is disproportionately low when compared with other forms of support.

Announcements
Centre for Women’s Justice and Tackling Double Disadvantage Debate in Parliament
The Centre for Women’s Justice and the Tackling Double Disadvantage partnership are organising a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament about Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant victims of violence against women and girls who are accused of offending. The debate is being sponsored by Kate Osamor MP and other MPs will be able to speak. The date is not yet set confirmed but is set to be no earlier than 9th May. They are appealing to NGO workers with clients who have experienced VAWG to complete this letter template and send it to their local MP, inviting them to take part in the debate.

Events & Training
HTF Online Forum – managing vicarious trauma, burnout and staff retention amongst frontline workers
HTF is hosting our next online advisory forum on 18^th May from 1-2.30 pm. The forum will explore the impact of vicarious trauma and burnout on staff turnover in the frontline modern slavery sector. We will be joined by representatives from the VITA Network and senior trauma psychotherapist Anya Charnaud, (amongst others to be confirmed) to share strategies on self-care, preventing burnout and best staff retention practice in leadership. Full description and tickets here. Additionally, if you would be interested in joining the panel, please email [email protected].

Opportunity for training sessions with FLEX – identifying and responding to labour exploitation
Are you a frontline or community-based organisation supporting people who are facing labour exploitation? Do you know how to identify and respond to suspected cases of modern slavery or human trafficking? Are you aware of the UK’s employment rights framework, and how to access pathways to justice? FLEX is offering free training sessions which address the practicalities of identifying and supporting survivors, tailored to your organisation’s needs. If you are interested or have questions, please email FLEX’s training officer Gina at [email protected]. You can learn more about FLEX’s training program and past partnerships here.

Free Movement course – how to work with interpreters effectively
Free Movement has worked with Shelley Purchon, director of English Unlocked, to develop a course on working effectively with public service interpreters in the legal sector. The course is valuable considering the potentially devastating consequences of misinterpretation in immigration cases and is targeted towards professions including immigration advisors, solicitors, barristers and the judiciary. It is available to Free Movement members and a full description and outline of the course can be found here.

University of Leicester seminar – preventing sexual exploitation on adult services websites
Adult service websites have been identified as a space open to vulnerability to exploitation by sex traffickers. Researchers from the University of Leicester, the National Crime Agency, the National Police Chief’s Council, and the Unseen investigated the role of such websites, and are hosting a free online seminar to share those findings and advice responders on best practices. Tuesday 13th June, 2 pm – sign up here.

Bramber Bakehouse Virtual Open House
Bramber Bakehouse would like to invite you to attend their Virtual Open House event on Thursday, 20th of April from 10 am to 11:30 am. This event provides opportunities to learn more about the Bramber Bakehouse programme and hear 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 please RSVP directly here.

VacanciesElla’s Vacancies
Ella’s is a London-based frontline organisation working with women survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation. They are currently recruiting up to 3 new trustees to strengthen their Board and play a key role in the growth of the organisation. They are also looking for individuals to form their first Survivor Advisory Board, who will use lived experiences of UK support services to advise and improve Ella’s work. For full descriptions of both and how to apply, visit their jobs and volunteering page.

Hope for Justice Vacancy
Hope for Justice runs anti-trafficking projects on a global scale, working directly with survivors and implementing preventative initiatives. They are recruiting for a new UK Programme Director to lead their programming across the UK. The closing date for applications is 24^th April 2023 and interviews will be held on a rolling basis. Full details can be found here.

Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Center vacancy
The Modern Slavery and Human Rights PEC aims to enhance the effectiveness of policies and legislation relating to modern slavery through research. They are currently looking for individuals with lived experience of modern slavery to form their new advisory panel for two days a month, ensuring their work is guided by survivor voices. The deadline for applications is 23rd April. Read the full description and apply here.

Hope at Home vacancies
Hope at Home train volunteer hosts to welcome modern slavery and human trafficking survivors into their homes, preventing homelessness and re-trafficking. They are recruiting for two part-time (20 hours) Hosting Coordinator positions, one covering the Midlands and one the North of England. The position involves recruiting and supporting hosts and facilitating placements. The closing date for both is 21st April. Apply for both 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 interview. 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 the 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].