HTF Advisory Forum Newsletter 5th February

Posted on 5 February 2025

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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 events here.  This fortnightly newsletter goes out to over 1,600 individuals working in anti-trafficking. To share information for the newsletter, please contact [email protected].     Announcements Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill was introduced in the Commons on 30th January 2025. The bill is largely focused on law enforcement powers and the Border Security Command. It does not make major changes to the asylum and immigration system, other than to repeal most provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023. All the trafficking specific elements of the Illegal Migrant Act have been repealed except for section 29 (modern slavery, amendment of section 63 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022- Identified potential victims etc: disqualification from protection). This element of the IMA has not been enacted yet but it leaves the possibility of this for the future. Legal Aid Consultation The Government has launched a consultation on increasing legal aid fees, proposing to increase fees to a rate in the region of £65/£69 per hour (non-London/London), or provide a 10% uplift, whichever is higher. This consultation considers increases to civil legal aid fees for Housing and Debt work, and Immigration and Asylum work. The Government is also seeking further evidence on potential changes to some aspects of contractual requirements. This consultation is the first step in their response to the evidence gathered during the Review of Civil Legal Aid (RoCLA). Submit your views here. Deadline: Friday 21st March.  More Than Words: How Definitions Impact on the UK’s Response to Child Trafficking Funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, ECPAT UK is undertaking research that explores the understanding and use of child trafficking and exploitation definitions amongst child protection actors in the UK. The research seeks input from law enforcement, social workers, local authority children’s services staff, independent guardians, policymakers, NGO representatives and legal advisors. ECPAT UK is inviting interested participants to partake via interviews, surveys and/or workshops. Access the survey here. Participants interested in partaking in semi-structured interviews or workshops can email Laura Duran or Leah Davison. Tackling Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in the UK’s Asylum System Bright Blue is looking to commission an independent expert to write a report that outlines the causes, trends and possible policies to mitigate human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK’s asylum system. It is part of a bigger Bright Blue project that seeks to improve the asylum policies of both the Labour Government and the Conservative Opposition and to show that there is a principled and pragmatic alternative to management of our asylum system. More information here. Deadline: Friday 7th February. Please note this is the extended deadline.   Building a Safe Space: Optimising Maternity Care for Survivors of Modern Slavery The University of Nottingham and Causeway have been awarded NIHR and Salvation Army funding to undertake research to understand how the best maternity care and support can be provided for survivor mothers and their babies. The project is keen to hear from people who have experienced maternity care in the UK in the past 5 years and identify as a survivor of modern slavery and exploitation. More information here. If you are interested in hearing more about the project, email Dr Habiba Aminu or Prof Helen Spiby. Call for Input: Migrant Domestic Workers and Trafficking in Persons The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons will devote her report to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council, in June 2025, to the issue of migrant domestic workers and trafficking in persons. The Report will examine labour rights, rights of migrant domestic workers, the migration context, effective rights protection and challenges in ensuring access to justice and effective remedies. To inform her report, the Special Rapporteur welcomes contributions from States, local and regional governments, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, academics, UN agencies and other stakeholders. Submit your views here. Deadline: Friday 28th February. £1m National Lottery boost for IMSA® Project  The Independent Modern Slavery Advocate® Project Board have announced that the IMSA® project will receive just under £1million (£999,850) over four years from The National Lottery Community Fund.  This funding will go towards a shared ambition for survivors of modern slavery across the UK to have access to an accredited independent advocate. This funding will enable the development of accredited IMSA Training from St Mary’s University, the creation of the IMSA Model Hub and piloting the IMSA Model. More information here. Email here if your organisation is interested in hosting an IMSA.      Reports and Publications Mental Health Vulnerabilities of Albanian Asylum Seekers and Mental Healthcare in Albania A new briefing by the Helen Bamber Foundation (HBF) provides an overview of the mental health issues faced by people seeking protection in the UK, including survivors of trafficking, and their treatment needs. It looks at the experiences of HBF clients who are Albanian nationals and the risks they might face if forcibly returned to Albania. Read the briefing here. It should be read in conjunction with the ongoing work by Garden Court Chambers, the Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit and Shpresa Programme which reviews Country Information Notes (CINs) on Albania, examining their sources and identifying areas where sources have been misrepresented. Read the paper here.     Events & Training. Human Trafficking Foundation In-Person Advisory Forum HTF invites you to join our upcoming in-person Advisory Forum which provides an opportunity for anyone working in the anti-trafficking space to come together, network and hear the latest updates on modern slavery policy and practice. The event is kindly hosted by Linklaters LLP. Confirmed speakers: Jess Phillips MP; Deanna Neilson (Action for Children), on the Crime and Policing Bill; Adis Sehic (Work Right Centre), on the Employment Rights Bill. More speakers will be added in coming days. Wednesday 26th February 10.30am-2pm at 1 Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8HQ. Register for the event here. London Councils Pan-London Grants Programme 2026-2030 London Councils is inviting London-based voluntary and community, and not-for-profit organisations with expertise in combatting homelessness and/or tackling domestic and sexual abuse, to attend a market warming event for the Pan-London Grants Programme 2026-2030. You will hear an outline of the services London Councils is considering commissioning for the 2026-2030 programme and will have an opportunity to ask questions and offer expert advice. There are two separate sessions taking place, click on the respective dates to register. 3.30pm-5pm Tuesday 11th February, 3.30pm-5pm Friday 14th February. Easy Money or Excuse for Abuse: How OnlyFans Broke Down the Boundaries Of a Generation This free webinar hosted by Nordic Model Now! will feature OnlyFans survivor, Roxie Roots, and feminist activist, Elly Arrow, discussing how OnlyFans works and why it is leading to women, like Lily Phillips and Bonnie Blue, doing ever more desperate stunts to attract ‘fans’ and the money they bring. Women are caught up in a gladiatorial-style race not only against each other, but also with films of atrocities. What does this mean for women, for men, for children, and for wider society? 2pm-3.30pm Sunday 23rd February. More information and register your place here. Modern Slavery and Child Labour in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) Sector of Bangladesh Whilst efforts to improve working conditions in Bangladesh’s RMG sector have advanced in the last decade, there is still little understanding and evidence of worker exploitation in hidden, subcontracted tiers of supply chains. Hosted by University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab and GoodWeave International, this session will cover topics of forms of modern slavery and child labour, home-based work, and outsourcing linked to global RMG exports in Bangladesh, and offer actionable recommendations for more effective due diligence uptake. Monday 10th February 1pm-2.15pm GMT. Register here.     Vacancies Human Trafficking Foundation The Human Trafficking Foundation is currently recruiting for an experienced fundraiser, part-time, either as a consultant or member of staff (Deadline: 5pm Friday 21st February). Find out more and apply here. Stronger Together Stronger Together is a labour rights focused non-profit supporting businesses to tackle labour exploitation and embed responsible recruitment and fair work. They are recruiting for a Fast Forward Programme Manager (Deadline: Thursday 13th February), a Public Affairs Consultant of the Seasonal Worker Scheme Taskforce (Deadline: Tuesday 18th February) and an Association Lead (no deadline specified). 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 Modern Slavery Caseworker, home-based/outreach in the Hampshire region (Deadline: 10am Monday 24th February), a Modern Slavery Case Worker Assistant in Halton (Deadline: 10am Monday 24th February) and three Modern Slavery Caseworker Assistants in Manchester (Deadline: 10am Tuesday 18th February). Find out more and apply here. West Midlands Anti Slavery Network West Midlands Anti Slavery Network brings together partner organisations to combat modern slavery, human trafficking, and exploitation. They are currently looking for a Slavery & Exploitation Intervention Officer (Deadline: 12pm Friday 21st February). Find out more and apply here. The Clewer Initiative The Clewer Initiative works in partnership with cathedrals across the country to raise awareness of modern slavery and engage local communities with anti-slavery projects. They are currently looking to appoint a Director. (Deadline Monday 17th February). Find out more and apply 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, 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 survivors 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 online application form here on behalf of your client, if you have any questions please contact [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].