Modern Slavery and Human Exploitation
There are an estimated 136,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK. That’s 2.2 people per 1,000.
Together in Sussex works with local communities, Regional Partnerships, and national initiatives to help see those who are trapped in slavery, and support routes to freedom.
More than 200 years after the abolition of slavery it is estimated over 45 million men, women, and children are trapped in modern slavery. Archbishop Justin Welby says:
‘William Wilberforce convinced his generation slavery was a sin. That belief has not changed. The sin lies in our ignorance of its existence around us’.
The Clewer Initiative forms part of the Church of England’s approach to eradicating modern slavery. Funded by the Clewer Sisters, an Anglican order of nuns founded in 1852 to help marginalised young women, it provides shelter and teaching a trade.
The Clewer Initiative’s aim is to enable the Church of England dioceses and wider Church networks to develop strategies to detect modern slavery in their communities and provide victim support and care. It works with the Church locally, identifying resources to be utilised, developing partnerships, and creating a wider network of advocates seeking to end modern slavery together.
Nationally, it involves developing a network of practitioners sharing models of best practice and providing evidenced-based data to resource the Church's national engagement with statutory and non-statutory bodies.
The tools to end modern slavery already exist within the local community. The Church, present in all communities and at the heart of many, has a responsibility in leading these efforts. Find out more about Clewer Initiative.
Modern Slavery Ambassadors
We help to assist the Modern Slavery Ambassador (MSA) Network. Becoming a MSA is not a demanding role but important regardless. Our MSAs come from all over the county (as well as Surrey) and volunteer by coming together to raise awareness about modern slavery in our communities and local area. Find out more information on how you can get involved here.
Organisations Working for Mental Health Across Sussex
There are many organisations working to help end the fight against modern slavery in the UK. These organisations are working in a variety of ways, both on the front-line and to help raise awareness on this issue.
Justice & Care
"We empower individuals, families and communities impacted by modern slavery to live in freedom, we pursue those responsible for trafficking and create change at scale."
Justice & Care are a charity committed to putting an end to modern slavery. They work with the police to identify men, women and children trapped in modern slavery and support them to walk free. They provide specialist aftercare and journey with them on the road to recovery. Starting as a small team in India in 2008, they now operate around the world.
You can find out more about their multi-stage mission at their website here: https://justiceandcare.org/
Hope at Home
Hope at Home is a charity that trains and support hosts across the UK who have a spare room and a loving heart to welcome survivors into their homes. "Our hosts are couples, families, singles and retirees who care about the marginalised in society and want to see individuals find freedom. Hope at Home could be another way for you to bring individuals into freedom, through offering a spare bedroom."
Check out their website here: https://www.hopeathome.org.uk/
Sussex Police
The Sussex Police are another organisation fighting to end modern slavery across our local area. Their website offers helpful advice whether you yourself are a victim or know someone else that is being affected by modern slavery.
Taken from the Sussex Police website:
If you think modern slavery is happening, tell someone as soon as you think it’s safe to. This could be about a victim, a suspect, or a particular business or place. You will always be taken seriously, and protection and support is available.
You can report modern slavery to us using our online crime reporting service.
Or call us on 101 at any time. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101.
If you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 999 now.
To report a suspicion or get advice you can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline confidentially on 08000 121 700.
If you want to to remain anonymous you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
If you, your church or community group would like to know more about the work that TiS is doing to help combat modern slavery across Sussex, please contact info@togetherinsussex.org.uk