HTF Advisory Forum Newsletter 2nd October

Posted on 7 October 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 The Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards: Update Kickoff The Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards, first published in 2014 and again in 2018, aim to provide consistent, high-quality care for adult survivors of trafficking across the UK. A decade later, the Standards will undergo a new update. Join Human Trafficking Foundation for a one-hour session where Nicola Wright (University of Nottingham Rights Lab) will present a report reviewing the standards, and Kate Garbers (Independent Research Consultant) will outline the upcoming update process and how you can get involved. Tuesday 22nd October 11am-12pm. Sign up here. An Expression of Interest will follow the event for anyone interested in taking part in the update process. Update on the Devolved Decision-Making for Child Victims of Modern Slavery Pilot The pilot aims to test if determining whether a child is a modern slavery victim within existing safeguarding structures is a better approach for decision-making. The Modern Slavery Unit within the Home Office is exploring options for expanding this devolved decision-making model to more diverse sites ahead of a possible national rollout. An Awareness and Engagement Event for local authorities and health trusts in the UK is taking place to learn about the pilot and explore participation. Thursday 7th November. More information and register here. No decision has been made on devolved decision-making. Funding Call: Research on Preventing Modern Slavery The Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) has launched a funding call for research on interventions to prevent modern slavery. Up to two projects will be funded to evaluate interventions that prevent exploitation at an early stage or prevent re-exploitation. Eligible applicants include UK higher education institutions, approved research organisations, and registered UK charities. Project teams must include at least one academic or research organisation and one UK-based third sector organisation. Full details here. (Deadline: 4pm Monday 11th November).   Improving Reintegration Outcomes for Survivors of Modern Slavery The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is running a project to support UK providers involved in the voluntary return and reintegration of survivors of trafficking. The project seeks input from various support providers, including NGOs and government agencies, through interviews, surveys, and focus groups to identify key challenges. Based on this feedback, IOM will offer training and guidance on identified needs, as well as information on reintegration services in Albania, Brazil, China, India, and Pakistan. Project information sheet here and to express your interest please email here. Submissions Requested for the Seasonal Worker Scheme Taskforce In March 2023, industry trade bodies, retailers, growers, recruiters, and non-profits formed the Seasonal Worker Scheme Taskforce to collaboratively safeguard workers’ rights in the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme and horticulture sector. The Taskforce is now seeking input for two initiatives. The first is a Defra-led Employer Pays Principle Feasibility Study (Deadline: 12pm Friday 25th October). The second is a request for applications for the Independent Progress Review (Deadline: 9am Wednesday 9th October). For more details, visit the respective links. Creative Sessions with Male Survivors of Trafficking Pan Intercultural Arts, which pioneered arts work with female survivors through its Amies projects, is starting the equivalent for male survivors. Every Friday morning Pan invites male survivors of trafficking to join a 90 minute session to have fun, make friends and share their ideas through games, creative writing, drama, and much more. Location in London tbc for confirmed attendees. More information here. If you or someone you know would benefit from joining this group, email your interest here.      Reports and Publications GRETA Guidance Note on the Recovery and Reflection Period The recovery and reflection period in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) provides victims of trafficking with a minimum of 30 days to recover whilst waiting for their conclusive grounds decision. During this time, they are given support, such as safe accommodation, medical care and legal advice. The Council of Europe’s guidance on the recovery and reflection period emphasises support for victims, highlighting the importance of granting a minimum 30-day period for victims to recover, best practices for identifying victims, offering protection, and preventing their re-trafficking. Read the full report here. The UK Labour Migration System After the End of Free Movement: Employer Views on Recruitment  This report by Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) examines how the end of free movement has impacted industries traditionally reliant on migrant labour, such as live-in care, agriculture, and hospitality. It explores changes in employment practices and highlights risks and concerns following the UK’s post-Brexit overhaul of the labour migration system. By analysing employers’ experiences across these sectors, the report identifies shared challenges and recurring issues with the design of visa routes, offering insight into the implications of the new migration system on these industries. Read the report here. Vietnamese Cultural Resources The Modern Slavery Organised Immigration Crime Unit has launched Vietnamese Cultural Resource handouts. The resources were launched as a webinar to law enforcement. This resource aims to provide an insight into the Vietnamese culture. Police officers who are equipped with tailored cultural resources that acknowledge and appreciate specific cultural needs are better positioned to gain the necessary trust of modern slavery victims and support them appropriately. Any feedback on these resources can be given here.     Events & Training The National Referral Mechanism: Webinar for First Responders The Human Trafficking Foundation invites all First Responders to join this webinar to learn more about the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Joined by the Single Competent Authority and the Modern Slavery Unit within the Home Office, The Salvation Army, and a Lived Experience Expert, we will take an in-depth look at what makes a good NRM referral and how the decisions are made. The aim is for First Responders to understand the NRM decision-making process and to strengthen the quality of NRM referrals. Thursday 7th November 10am-12pm. Sign up here. Knowledge Sharing Sessions The Human Trafficking Foundation is hosting a series of Knowledge Sharing sessions for the anti-slavery sector. If you have a topic of expertise that you would like to share, or if there is a topic that you would like to learn about, please contact Divya. Upcoming sessions: Forced Criminal Exploitation: The Legal Context (inc. s.45 defence) (Southwell & Partners) 21st October 12pm-1pm Slave – A Question of Freedom Set in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan and London, this play tells the story of Mende’s joyful childhood and her enslavement, performed by an ensemble of international actor-musicians. Through storytelling, music, and dance, the play celebrates Nuba culture, Mende’s resilience, and exposes the realities of modern slavery. Produced by Manchester’s Feelgood Theatre, it premiered in 2010 at the Lowry, toured nationally, and was performed at the House of Lords to support the Modern Slavery Bill. More information on dates and locations here. Framing Modern Slavery Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre invites you to this online event as part of their lunchtime seminar series. This event is based on a recent research project, carried out by the Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC) aimed to develop narratives and ‘frames’ that could be more effective at increasing the understanding of modern slavery amongst the British public, enabling a more evidence-based and survivor-informed public debate. Thursday 17th October 12.30pm-1.15pm. Register here. ICTG Awareness Raising Sessions Join the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTG) Team for a series of online awareness-raising sessions aimed at increasing professionals knowledge and understanding of issues relating to trafficking, exploitation, and modern slavery. Sessions include topics such as the Modern Slavery Act inc section 45, an Overview of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), Safety Planning & Disruption, Signs and Indicators of Exploitation and Trafficking in Children and Young People. More information on dates and times here.  Access to Justice Toolkit – Launch! The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has produced a new ‘access to justice’ toolkit, a step-by-step guide to understanding the different types of lawyers, finding out if they have the right qualifications and knowing what to expect from them. Access the toolkit here and sign up to the launch (6pm-7.30pm Monday 21st October) here.  Kalayaan Campaigning Group Showcase Event This event will celebrate migrant domestic workers through the work of Kalayaan’s Campaigning Group this year, including print copies of their Zine, and aims to raise awareness of, and support for, the campaigns of migrant domestic workers in the UK. It will be held at the Abbey Centre in Westminster where hot food will be provided and there will be interactive stations and presentations showcasing the Group’s work. The Abbey Centre, London SW1P 3BU. 6.30pm-9pm Friday 11th October. Reserve your place here. Women for sale: Private matter or public crisis? “Pornography. Prostitution. Surrogacy. These colossal, rapacious industries are based on using women as commodities. Profits for third parties are eye watering and risks are minimal. This is what drives a huge proportion of human trafficking.” This conference by Nordic Model Now! will look in depth at these industries and consider solutions. There will be workshops on a range of related themes, including supporting women with lived experience of the sex industry and talking to children about porn. Speakers include women with lived experience of prostitution and surrogacy, along with other experts, including Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on VAWG. Saturday 9th November, central London and livestream. Sign up here.      Vacancies   Adavu Adavu responds to modern slavery in the West Midlands, offering long-term support and advocacy for adult survivors of modern slavery. They are currently recruiting for a Director (Deadline: Midnight Friday 25th October). Find out more and apply here.  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 Southampton (Deadline: 10am Monday 14th October), a Modern Slavery Case Worker in Halton (Deadline: 10am Monday 21st October) and a Modern Slavery Case Worker Assistant in Swindon (Deadline: 10am Monday 21st October). Find out more and apply here. Catch22 Catch22 is a non profit social business that designs and delivers services that build resilience and aspiration in people and communities. Their Young People and Families (YPF) hub provides early intervention, targeted and specialist support services to those in crisis, leaving care, missing from home or with substance misuse or mental health issues. They are currently recruiting for County Lines Case Workers in Wolverhampton and Merseyside. Find out more and apply here. No deadline specified.      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, 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].

Our mailing address is: Human Trafficking Foundation Blackfriars Settlement, 1 Rushworth Street London SE1 0RB