The Salvation Army UK and Ireland Territory

We would like to thank everyone- members of the public, businesses, MPs, churches, and charity shops- who have raised their voice and raised awareness on behalf of survivors of modern slavery this October. Thank you for supporting our Anti-Slavery Day campaign by downloading our digital toolkit, purchasing and wearing one of our ‘We Are Not For Sale’ temporary tattoos, and shared our messaging on social media. All the funds raised from our temporary tattoos will go towards our Survivor Support Fund. We would particularly like to thank Jess Phillips, Safeguarding Minister, who met with modern slavery survivors at an informal gathering last week. The Home Office also announced measures to reduce wait times for decisions on modern slavery cases. We are encouraged by these promising signs, but victims and survivors of modern slavery still need our support. Recent legislative and societal changes have made it easier for criminals to trick, trap, and trade people: Join us in calling for the government to restore the rights of survivors so they get the help they need: https://brnw.ch/21wO67X

We are awarding Christmas Badges of Honour to celebrate our top Corporate Supporters. A donation from your workplace will provide hope to those suffering from hunger and loneliness this Christmas. - Eligible organisations will receive either a Red, Silver, or Gold Christmas Badge of Honour in recognition of the impact they are making. Register here: https://brnw.ch/21wO1iw

Modern slavery survivors met Jess Phillips, Safeguarding Minister, at an informal gathering last week. Having received life-changing support through The Salvation Army and our partner, Medaille Trust it was wonderful to hear these women's insights on how to protect and support survivors of modern slavery. The Home Office also announced measures to reduce wait times for decisions on modern slavery cases yesterday. These are encouraging signs that the government recognises the needs of survivors and is actively listening to them. Read more: https://lnkd.in/enBaKB39

We are concerned that we may be heading for a new crisis as modern slavery victims are too fearful to seek help. New figures released to mark Anti-Slavery Day in our annual report show that fewer modern slavery victims in England and Wales are accessing Government specialist support. Our report reveals that for the first time in thirteen years, there has been a 22% decrease in the number of people accessing the modern slavery support services The Salvation Army runs on behalf of the Government. In the past year, 2,741 potential victims of modern slavery entered our support services. This is 792 fewer people than the previous year. Record numbers of people are turning down the opportunity to be referred to specialist support to recover by choosing not to enter the Government system for identifying and supporting victims, knows as the National Referral Mechanism. (NRM) We attribute the downturn in people coming to The Salvation Army for help to recent changes in law conflating modern slavery with immigration which have made victims fearful that contact with official authorities will lead to prison or removal. In addition, stricter eligibility criteria have meant fewer people are being recognised as victims of modern slavery and so unable to access vital support. Major Kathy Betteridge, Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery at The Salvation Army said: “Modern slavery remains a low risk, high reward operation for criminals. When we speak to survivors in our care, it’s clear that, before they experienced the support and protection we provide, many felt it was safer to suffer at the hands of their captors than risk speaking to authorities and being treated as a criminal rather than a victim. “Two key pieces of legislation designed to tackle immigration could be having the unintended consequence of driving modern slavery further underground - The Nationality and Borders Act (2022) and the Illegal Migration Act (2023) which has not been implemented yet due to the change in Government.” We are calling on the public to help identify and report signs of exploitation and for the government to reassess policies that may be inadvertently pushing victims further into the shadows. Learn more: https://tsa.link/4dHrT8U Join us in calling for the Government to restore the rights of survivors so they get the help they need. Write to your local MP today: https://tsa.link/ASDmp24

Slavery still exists but we’ll stamp it out quicker working together. As a proud member of Coalition to Stop Slavery we’re shining a light on #modernslavery through the award-winning spoken word poet Dai Woolridge. Take a moment to listen to what he’s produced: https://brnw.ch/21wNQTs Our Partners in the Coalition include: International Justice Mission UK Medaille Trust Unseen UK Hope for Justice and Slave-Free Alliance Justice and Care Ella's Causeway Charity A21 UK

Our Partnership Trophy tournament not only celebrates skills on the field but also highlights the importance of positive wellbeing and mental health support for those dealing with homelessness. Learn more about how we are helping people rebuild their lives beyond homelessness. https://brnw.ch/21wNDTu #PartnershipTrophy #HomelessnessAwareness

Modern slavery can be hard to spot- even when it’s hidden in plain sight. People you see in streets and shops, farms, and factories, building sites and bars could be living and working in appalling conditions, held against their will with violence and threats to themselves and their families. We can all play our part in helping people escape modern slavery and find protection and support to build a better life. Here are some ways you can help: • If you have come into contact with someone who you suspect may be a victim of modern slavery and in need of help, phone our free 24/7 confidential referral helpline: 0800 808 3733 • In recent years, criminals are finding it easier to trap people in modern slavery because their victims are too scared to speak to authorities. Please write to your MP today and ask the government to restore the rights of survivors so they get the help they need: https://tsa.link/ASDmp24 • Support our #AntiSlaveryDay campaign this October by sharing our digital toolkit online, purchasing and wearing one of our temporary #WeAreNotForSale tattoos or donating to our Survivor Support Fund: https://tsa.link/ASDtsa24 • Volunteer with our Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit: https://tsa.link/ATMSvl

We are concerned that recent changes in the law could make it harder to break the cycle of exploitation and push victims back into the hands of traffickers. In recent years, criminals are finding it easier to trap people in modern slavery because their victims are too scared to speak to authorities. However, there is hope as we can all play our part in helping these vulnerable people escape and find the protection and support they need. Join us in calling for the Government to restore the rights of survivors so they get the help they need. Write to your local MP today: https://tsa.link/ASDmp24 #WeAreNotForSale #AntiSlaveryDay #WeAreNotForSale24 #AntiSlaveryDay2024

News broke this week via BBC News that victims of Modern Slavery were being forced to work at a McDonalds branch and a factory supplying bread to major supermarkets. We are deeply saddened but not surprised to hear of the ordeal these survivors endured at the hands of their traffickers, residing in squalid conditions and working excessive hours under a promise of a better life in the UK. Shockingly, this case is not a one-off. People being forced into exploitative work like this is something we see all too often. The signs are there that abuse and exploitation is taking place if you know what to look for. In this case so many red flags were missed leading to victims being abused over many years: victims who couldn’t speak English which traffickers used to control them by acting as translator in job interviews, wages paid into one bank account controlled by the traffickers and 9 victims registered to the same address. Over the last 13 years we have supported nearly 22,000 survivors to rebuild their lives, but it’s estimated that there are a further 122,000 people are experiencing modern slavery the UK today. We need your help to ensure that people are able to escape this kind of abuse. Join our campaign and learn to spot the signs of modern slavery: https://tsa.link/STS24   Watch the BBC’s documentary ‘Slavery on the High Street’ to find out more about the victims of forced labour working in McDonalds and also major supermarkets: https://lnkd.in/efg6CNYp   (Image credit- BBC iplayer)

Modern slavery is happening right here in every corner of the UK. Anyone can become a victim of modern slavery and that includes British citizens. Imagine if you had to flee your home because of war or discrimination or accepting a job offer to keep your starving family alive, pay for your mother’s medical treatment or keep the drug dealers from hurting you, only to find yourself working for no pay and threatened with violence to you or your family if you run away. People like that are in every town, village, and city in the UK, often hidden in plain sight. Which is why it is so important to spot the signs of modern slavery. Learn how to stand with survivors and raise awareness this #AntiSlaveryDay: https://tsa.link/ASDtsa24