News & Updates
Human Trafficking Foundation Advisory Forum Newsletter September 2024
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| Announcements Opportunity to consult with the Home Office: Changes to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Form The Home Office’s Modern Slavery Unit aims to streamline and improve the NRM form used by first responder organisations to refer potential victims of modern slavery. They are engaging with stakeholders, police, and competent authorities to understand user needs, focusing on both decision-making and prosecution. Stakeholders are invited to contribute by completing a questionnaire. Deadline: 30th September. |
| Reports and Publications Co-Working Between Lived and Learnt Experience: A post event report summary including recommendations and resources This report is a write up of the online Advisory Forum co-organised and hosted by the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) and Human Trafficking Foundation. The report summarises presentations from expert speakers with both lived and learnt experience of modern slavery, from varying sectors, to explore effective and ethical co-working within the anti-trafficking sector. Read the report here and watch the recorded forum here. On Our Streets: The changing face of modern slavery in London Hestia has released a report revealing the concerning prevalence and evolving nature of modern slavery across the UK. The report exposes the stark realities of modern slavery, which is happening in every borough of London and beyond, and yet public awareness and understanding of this crime remains low. According to the report, fewer than one in five of the public said they would know how to spot someone experiencing modern slavery. Read the report here. Prison Service Journal 274 The Prison Service Journal is a peer reviewed journal published by HM Prison and Probation Service of England and Wales. Its purpose is to promote discussion on issues related to the work of the Prison Service, the wider criminal justice system and associated fields. This special edition is dedicated to the subject of modern slavery and human trafficking. Articles in this edition explore potential prison service responses to modern slavery and human trafficking in terms of clinical practice, securing rights, and developing reintegrative pathways. Read the journal here. Worker Support Centre: Mid-Year Report The Worker Support Centre (WSC) supports isolated and marginalised workers in order to prevent abuse and exploitation. They have published their mid-year report, which highlights key safeguarding risks for 417 individuals they supported in relation to seasonal farm work from January and July 2024. Dismissals and pay related pressure is highlighted as one of four main issues on which WSC has been supporting workers since the start of this year. They also highlight poor housing, health and safety hazards, and inaccessible transfers. Read the report here. MSOIC Unit Investigations Overview August 2024 The Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit have published their Non-LEA Overview of Live Modern Slavery Investigations in UK Policing for August 2024. This document is produced to help inform the work that non-law enforcement agencies are doing in response to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Read the data here. Labour, Climate and Fish The Rights Lab at Nottingham University and International Justice Mission (IJM) UK have published a report exploring the nexus between modern slavery and climate change in the Thai fishing industry. This scoping study applies a ‘climate lens’ to explore the interaction between social and ecological frameworks and understand the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change exacerbating forced labour within the Thai fishing sector. Read the paper here. |
| Events & Training The Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards: Update Kickoff The Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards, first published in 2014, 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. Tuesday 22nd October 11am-12pm. Sign up here. 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 Salvation Army, 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. Speakers to be announced in coming weeks. 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: Support and Protection for Albanian Survivors of Modern Slavery (Shpresa) 20th September 11am-12pm Forced Criminal Exploitation: The Legal Context (inc. s.45 defence) (Southwell & Partners) 21st October 12pm-1pm International Anti-Human Trafficking Network (IAHTN) In-Person Seminar: Organ Trafficking The IAHTN is a network for UK anti-slavery organisations working internationally. This in-person seminar on the topic of organ trafficking, will include a presentation from Andrew Owen (Detective Sergeant, Met’s Modern Slavery and Child Exploitation Team) who led the investigation into the Senator convicted of organ trafficking in London last year. The presentation will be followed with a wider discussion on the issue. Tuesday 24th September 2pm. Salvation Army Headquarters, EC4V 4EH. Contact Fraser for more details and a full invitation. Modern Slavery: What Can I Do? Hope at Home and Adavu invite you to this in-person event where you will hear from key speakers from who will explain how Hope at Home support survivors facing homelessness into safe housing, and how you can get involved in hosting. A host for the charity will also be present to explain how hosting has worked for their family. Adavu will share vital information on modern slavery and human trafficking, focussing on what is happening within communities in Birmingham and the Midlands, and how Adavu are working to combat these issues. Tuesday 1st October 7.30-9pm. Birmingham Vineyard Church, 174-178 Barford Street, Birmingham B5 7EP. Sign up here. Women for Sale: Private Matter or Public Crisis? This one-day hybrid conference will look in depth at exploitation within industries involving pornography, sex work and surrogacy, and consider solutions. There will be interactive 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 both the prostitution and surrogacy industries, along with other experts. Saturday 9th November 10am-4.30pm Central London WC1 (location tbc to ticket holders). Sign up here. Sophie Hayes Foundation Information Event The Sophie Hayes Foundation offer programmes designed to help women survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery develop life skills such as confidence building, future employment, volunteering and education. They are currently working on making their programmes more accessible and exploring new initiatives to better support survivors. This event will provide an opportunity for the organisation to share what they do, update you on their latest developments, and explore collaborative ways to support survivors on their path to sustainable independence.Thursday 19th September 11am-12pm. Sign up here. |
| Vacancies Ella’s Ella’s provides frontline support to London survivors through safehouses. They are currently recruiting for a Head of Fundraising and Communications (Deadline: 9am 30th September). Find out more and apply here. Unseen Unseen provides safehouses and support in the community for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery, and also run the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline. They are currently recruiting for a Policy and Partnerships Officer (Deadline: 29th September) and a part time Survivor Involvement Coordinator (Deadline: 6th 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 Modern Slavery Case Worker Assistant in Southampton (Deadline: 10am Monday 30th September) and Thanet (Deadline: 10am Thursday 24th October), and a Caretaker in Manchester (Deadline: 10am Monday 7th October). 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 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 divya@humantraffickingfoundation.org. 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]. |