Human Trafficking Foundation Newsletter- 24/05/23

Posted on 6 June 2023

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 newsletter goes out to over 1500 individuals working in anti-trafficking. To share information for the newsletter, please contact [email protected]     Online Advisory Forum Recording HTF’s most recent online advisory forum is available to watch now on the forum section of our website, and on Youtube. A post-forum briefing will follow, outlining the topics of vicarious trauma, burnout and staff retention in the sector, with signposting and resources shared with us by our fantastic panel of speakers.     Reports & Publications   Humanity Research Consultancy (HRC) Briefing: Guidance on Responding to Victims in Forced Scam Labour Humanity Research Consultancy (HRC) is a social enterprise that works to end modern slavery through policy change and supply chain investigation. Their latest research briefing titled Guidance on Responding to Victims in Forced Scam Labour was released in April. The briefing shares HRC’s analysis and suggestions on addressing this form of modern slavery in a global context. It calls for a stronger international focus and response on the issue of forced scam labour. Walk Free Global Slavery Index 2023 An estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021, an increase of 10 million people since 2016. Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index 2023 presents a country-by-country breakdown of this estimate to better understand the scale of modern slavery, and provides an assessment of the level of action governments are taking to address the issue. The estimated number of people living in modern slavery in the UK is now 122,000. Read the full report here. Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre: Impact Report The Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre (MSPEC) have published their first ever impact report, showcasing the work of the organisation from its inception in 2019 until the end of 2022. The report highlights MSPEC’s impact in areas such as policy, laws and practice, research, building partnerships and survivor inclusion. Read the impact report here. Unseen: Helpline Annual Assessment 2022 Unseen runs the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline and have published their annual report containing detailed statistical analyses of various forms of exploitation, including survivor and perpetrator demographics. 2022 was the Helpline’s busiest year to date with 9,799 calls and a potential 6,516 survivors of modern slavery identified – an increase of 112% from the previous year. Read a summary and download the full report here. Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit: Investigations Overview for April 2023 Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime (MSOIC) have published an overview of live modern slavery investigations in UK policing for April 2023, outlining types of exploitation and the number of investigations associated with each. Read the document here. Dennis McCarty, State University of New York, eBook: The Quest to End Human Trafficking Lecturer of human trafficking Dennis McCarty has completed an eBook resource outlining trafficking types, trends and issues in depth on both a US and a global scale. Altogether, the Guide has more than 1,100 hyperlinks to articles and free resources that advocates can use to pursue their personal anti-trafficking priorities. The eBook is available to download for free here.      Announcements Updates to Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance The gov.uk guidance on identifying and supporting survivors of modern slavery has been updated. Guidance has been added to chapter 9 on how child victims of modern slavery, supported by local authorities though the Care Act, can transition into Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) support when they become an adult. Reference to HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Prison Service modern slavery guidance for staff and prisoners has been added to Chapter 4. Annex F has been updated to: Clarify that those in emergency pre-Reasonable Grounds accommodation are not eligible to receive the Recovery Rate, until a positive Reasonable Grounds decision is made. Give an overview of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection regime of the MSVCC; and Explain how the MSVCC provides accommodation to eligible victims seeking bail from prison. All references to the ‘Scottish Guardianship Service’ have been updated to ‘Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Service’ following a change of service in Scotland.     Events & Training   Commonwealth 8.7 Network webinar on Modern Slavery and Disability Join the Commonwealth 8.7 Network for a discussion about the issues surrounding disability and modern slavery, with speakers from Africa, Europe and the Caribbean sharing their perspectives and addressing a range of questions including: In what way does disability create vulnerability to human trafficking and exploitation? What forms does it take, and how must our responses adjust and accommodate the differences and specific vulnerabilities? You can register for the event here. Online, Tuesday 6th June, 11am-12.30pm. St Mary’s University course – Tackling Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery: Delivering Change This 5 day course will introduce students to the international and national policy frameworks that can be used to tackle these phenomena and to provide a more holistic response than simply the traditional criminal justice approach. Topics to be explored include economics of human trafficking, the typologies of offenders, support systems for victims, criminal justice responses, prevention strategies, and business practices and modern slavery in supply chains. Details can be found here. 5th-9th June, 9am-5pm.     Vacancies Medaille Trust Vacancies 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 two part time Modern Slavery Case Worker Assistants at their safehouse in Swindon. Applications close Friday 26th May. They are also looking for one full time Case Worker Assistant in Manchester. Applications close Friday 9th June. Freedom United Vacancy Freedom United are a global anti-slavery community who work to influence social, political and corporate change by running advocacy campaigns. They are looking for a remote Campaigner to develop, run, implement and maintain campaigns primarily on advocacy, but also including fundraising and awareness/supporter education. More information and details on how to apply can be found here. West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network Vacancies West Midlands Anti Slavery Network unites partner organisations across the region to form a collaborative and congruent response to modern slavery. The Network is recruiting for two new full time roles – a Lead Independent Modern Slavery Advocate (Lead IMSA) and an Independent Modern Slavery Advocate (IMSA). Both positions are based in Birmingham, and the closing date for both applications is Friday 9th June. See details and how to apply here. Unseen Vacancy Unseen are a Bristol-based frontline safehouse and support organisation who also run the UK modern slavery helpline. They are looking for a Head of Operations to lead a multi-disciplinary Operations team delivering HR, recruitment, administration and general organisational support to projects and services across Unseen. For details on how to apply, click 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 interviews. 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]. 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].