This page, set up by HTF in collaboration with Emily Vaughn, is a place to find opportunities for work and research participation, to find resources on education, housing support, the NRM, mental health support and includes directories which detail support providers and legal advice across the country. To add resources or opportunities to this page please contact info@humantraffickingfoundation.org.
The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline offers confidential help and advice on modern slavery 08000 121 700 (Open 24/7). If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.
NEWS BOARD
FREEWHEEL BY RIDE FOR FREEDOM
Ride for Freedom aims to utilise cycling to raise awareness, educate and forge partnerships to end modern slavery and to provide remedy to survivors through its Freewheel programme.
If you are based in London, Barking & Dagenham or the West Midlands, you may be able to access a bike, accessories and cycling proficiency and road awareness training from one of their hubs. Cycling is a fantastic way of improving mobility and benefitting mental and physical health.
Contact info@RideForFreedom.org for additional information.
RESTORATIVE DANCE WORKSHOPS
The Natashas Project have resumed their drop-in monthly dance workshops for survivors of modern slavery and exploitation on Thursdays in Bethnal Green Mission Church, London, E2 9LH. On each date they have two types of workshops that individuals are welcome to attend. One workshop is aimed at mothers with their young children (under 5s) from 10:30am-11:30am and another is just for women (18+) to attend from 12:00pm-1.00pm. To find out when the next workshop is being held, email restorative@thenatashasproject.co.uk
FREE TRAUMA INFORMED PILATES
The Willow Institute is running trauma-informed Pilates classes on Zoom every Friday. Available for all levels of experience, participants can choose to have their cameras on or off, and can also choose to share names, or participate from a distance. These classes are all free, and all you need to attend is a mat (or a towel). Contact Anna at thewillowinstitute@gmail.com to sign up.
Fridays at 9.30am - trauma informed classes. Wednesdays at 5pm - trauma informed flow class
JOB Opportunities
Samworth Foundation - Trustee Opportunity
The Samworth Foundation is an independent, grant making foundation based in the East Midlands who fund throughout the UK. They are currently currently recruiting for a Trustee with lived or learned experience. Find out more about the role and how to apply here. Deadline: 5pm 2nd June 2024.
Bright Future Partnership Programme
Bright Future Partnership Programme aims to remove barriers to employment in partnership offering paid work placements. Contact your caseworker for more information on the programme.
The Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre
The Modern Slavery PEC opportunities for engagement in research are advertised here. Their research ideas form can be accessed here where you can let the Modern Slavery PEC know what topics you think they should research.
Magistrates are volunteers with no previous legal experience, who make vital decisions on a variety of cases in the criminal court and family court to help create positive change. You’ll be expected to dedicate a minimum of 13 days a year, plus training days, for a minimum of five years, for magistrate duties.
Guidance Around Work
If you are engaging in consultancy work you may need to register as self-employed. This step by step guidance on setting up as self-employed could be helpful.
Citizens Advice have detailed pages on knowing your rights and entitlements in the work place.
Working as a consultant in the sector, it is helpful to gather references from organisations you have worked with on projects or research to secure future employment and to build your CV. Ask organisations to provide references that include the project aims, your involvement in the project, how your contributions added value to the overall aims of the project and any comments on your approach or skills brought to the project.
Align - Opportunity to contribute to research
Align has been engaged to carry out a trauma-informed, survivor-centred research project, working with ExperienceLab, part of Serco. This research aims to ensure that those with lived experience of modern slavery are meaningfully included in any current or future support service design and delivery. The main focus of the interview will be on the support participants received during their time in the NRM - what was good about it, what was lacking, and how things can be improved for future service users entering the government’s support systems. Participants will not be asked about what led them to enter the NRM. If you would like to participate, please email contact@alignltd.co.uk
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice
Natasha Project is working with an inclusive theatre company called Chicken Shed, who have a BTEC level 3 National Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice course in partnership with Middlesex University. You do not need any qualifications to be able to start this course. Should a student wish to continue on into higher education they have possibilities through the process to be able to go on an do a BA (Hons) Degree. Open day on the 16th of March to find out more about the course.
Code Your Future Software Development Course
Code your future offers software development courses for beginners, no need for coding experience. This course offers technical and employability skills that are in demand from the job market and offers a huge community of tech professionals, including many graduates from CodeYourFuture to support you.
The Bramber Bakehouse Programme
The Bramber Bakehouse programme is an 8-week course for women who have experienced exploitation. In a safe and caring community, you can learn fundamental baking skills and take part in sessions that support and empower you to achieve your aspirations.
For more information and to request an application form with your caseworker email referrals@bramberbakehouse.co.uk.
Fircroft College Free Thinking Course
Applications are open for this free, residential adult learning course is available to people living in the West Midlands including Birmingham. The programme includes ESOL lessons, employability skills, well-being, IT development and team building. Eligibility and more information can be found on their website or send Fircroft an email to find out more. Information on 2023 courses here.
FutureLearn is an online education provider that offers free online courses on a vast range of subjects from creative arts and media to healthcare. There are hundreds of online courses from top universities and specialist organisations.
Her Equality Rights and Autonomy (HERA)
Provides women in London with access to a business training programme, delivers workshops in setting up a business, gaining a career in a business sector and personal development. Referrals must be made through a caseworker.
This UK University Scholarship Directory details all universities that provide funding for those with refugee or asylum status.
MAPPING TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR SUPPORT SERVICES
This map shows available support services for survivors of trafficking in the UK. The map details the type of support available from accommodation, education and training, advocacy and casework, psychological and counselling to legal advice. It also offers information on how to access services and organisations’ contact information.
SOLICITOR DIRECTORIES
A list of Legal Aid solicitors in England and Wales can be found here. This Find A Solicitor tool can be used in Scotland here. The Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery Expert Directory (below) provides the contact details of specialist solicitors working in counter-trafficking across the world.
LONDON SERVICES DIRECTORY
This Directory of Survivor Support Services lists accommodation, advice, employment and education, health, interpreters and legal aid services and specifies whether you can self refer. It includes organisations’ contact information and further details on services across London and beyond.
THE SALVATION ARMY CONTACT DETAILS
If you are supported within the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and you need to escalate any concerns you may have or give feedback on your experience you can contact The Salvation Army using the following details:
HOUSING support
Shelter provide free confidential housing information, support and legal advice on all housing and homelessness issues call 0808 800 4444 or use their webchat service. Housing advice guides on topics from how to ask for help from the council with housing to evictions can be found here.
Advice Local offers help with benefits, work, money, housing problems and more. Enter a postcode and choose an advice topic to find links to tailored information for your area, including details of independent advice organisations who can help you get the advice and support that you need. Access the website here
The Passage offers a wide range of services, all year round, to meet the needs of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Passage services include a Resource Centre, which provides support with mental and physical health concerns, health services, education and training, welfare, immigration services and housing options. The Passage has also four housing services which provide supported accommodation alongside prevention projects which reduce the risk of repeat homelessness. If you are homeless or in housing crisis please contact clients@passage.org.uk or call 020 7592 1850. You can also visit The Passage Resource Centre for support, advice, food and healthcare services. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Closed between 12 and 1pm for essential cleaning The Passage, St Vincent’s Centre, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL.
counselling & mental health support
Bloom offers remote trauma support courses in Creating Boundaries, Managing Anxiety, Reclaiming Resilience in Your Trauma Story, Healing from Sexual Trauma, and Recovering from Toxic and Abusive Relationships. These online courses are completely free and combine both information and therapeutic practices to help heal from trauma.
Street Talk provides free psychotherapy to women survivors of trafficking and modern slavery, specialising in cases of sexual exploitation based in London and is open to self referral, contact by email or phone 07913817046.
This simple how to register with a GP guide could be useful as a starting point for accessing mental health support.
The Helen Bamber Foundation offer support videos and audio clips on soothing breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and calm and safe relaxation exercises. It is possible to self-refer to Helen Bamber’s therapeutic support services through their website.
This website offers an extensive list of free mindfulness meditation resources for mental health.
Rehab4Addiction offers resources and information about addiction and mental health, and a helpline that offers immediate assistance to those struggling with addiction. They also offer a comprehensive directory of treatment centres throughout the UK.
survivor Support and advocacy Groups
Survivors Alliance brings survivors in the UK together to benefit from their survivor community and programs which include:
Meaningful Inclusion: social calls every other Saturday, training webinars on how to be a survivor leader.
Economic Empowerment: leadership programs and consulting opportunities about how to improve anti-trafficking work.
Wellbeing Integration: peer mentorship and befriending, talking about self care and handling our trauma.
You can register here or email nancy@survivoralliance.org for more information on Survivor Alliance.
Media advice
It is important to consider how to keep safe and assess any potential risk if you decide to talk to a journalist:
Before you agree you can ask what the story is about and how your interview will be used in the story.
You can read the journalist’s previous articles to get a sense of their writing.
You can ask the journalist for their questions in advance to make sure you are happy with them.
During the interview you can bring someone you trust for support.
Take steps to make yourself feel comfortable, you could use another name, hide your Caller ID on your phone or say no to being recorded in the interview.
If any questions make you feel uncomfortable during the interview you do not have to answer them.
After the interview you can ask to review the article before it is published.
Tips to read before speaking to journalists can be found here.
A guide on your rights when talking to the media, and what questions they may ask can be found here. If you have been negatively affected by a journalist’s behaviour you can make a complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation on 0330 123 2220
navigating THE nrm, RNA and beyond
Multi lingual explanatory guide to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) on what you can expect if you consent to an NRM referral and the potential outcomes and opportunities if you decide not to consent. This leaflet explains what you could be entitled to through the National Referral Mechanism. The Children’s Society have developed this NRM guide for parents of children who have faced exploitation.
The Salvation Army have produced leaflets outlining how the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract operates, translations can be found here.
Information on the Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) can be found in this Home Office document.
ATLEU have created a guide on how to navigate the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and submit an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority which can be found here.
Legal advice
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is an independent statutory body, established by Parliament in 1997 to investigate potential miscarriages of justice. The CCRC reviews cases involving issues such as county lines, false document offences, shoplifting, cannabis cultivation and fraud. Self-referral is possible and legal representation is not necessary to apply. Read more information and apply here.
General advice
Hope for Justice Advocacy Advice Service offers tailored, confidential advice and signposting. An advocate may be able to intervene around a specific matter to see the outcome achieved. The advocacy team do not provide legal advice or representation but can support to understand legal rights and entitlements and support with a referral to a solicitor where necessary. To request advice please email or call 0300 008 8000.
Rights of Women phone line provides free and confidential legal advice to women on the law. This includes Family Law, Criminal Law, Immigration and Asylum Law and Sexual Harassment at Work.
The Unseen Modern Slavery Helpline 08000 121 700 is a free, independent point of contact for all modern slavery and exploitation issues offering victim-centred, trauma-informed specialist guidance open 24/7. Translation services are available. The helpline also makes referrals and offers signposts to local organisations and police where helpful.
The Work Rights Centre have developed a free and confidential tool, accessible designed to simplify access to Universal Credit. If you need help checking whether you’re eligible to claim, what evidence you need, and how to get help overcoming common problems with your claim, you can find the tool on our website. Access this here.
The Work Rights Centre have put together a guide for migrant care workers on how to stand up to exploitation. The guide covers advice on what to do if you have problems with your sponsor, what happens if you lose your job, how to go about finding a new sponsor, recruitment fees, and further resources. Access it here.
Guidance for parents
Childline on 0800 11 11 and the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 both have 24 hour helplines run by trained counsellors.
NSPCC information on the signs and effects of grooming.
Parents Against Child Exploitation (PACE) Information and Advice Centre on missing, getting help from police, using the law to protect your child, the role of Children’s Services, disclosure and much more.
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
This NSPCC page explains county lines and gangs, signs of CCE, carrying weapons and guidance on what to do if you are concerned about a child.
Gangsline offer advice for parents and a helpline to request a mentor for your child on 0800 032 9538
PACE offers local parent liaison officers across the North West of England and an online parent forum for parents whose children are at risk of, or are being criminally exploited.
Stop & Prevent Adolescent Criminal Exploitation (SPACE) offers SPACE Steps, a national, free and dynamic advocacy and advice service for families directly affected by County Lines exploitation.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
This NSPCC page offers guidance on signs of CSE, the effects, the types, the support available, what to do if a child reveals abuse, how to report CSE and guidance on prevention.
PACE works with parents and carers of children who are, or at risk of, being sexually exploitated. Their confidential advice line is 0113 240 5226 or fill out their online form.
support for children and young people
Fearless allows you to report information about crime 100% anonymously and access advice and information,.
Gangsline offer support to young people involved with or at risk of gang activity, get in touch using their online form.
The Children’s Society offer advice and guidance along with crisis contact numbers you can call for free.