Others Magazine

Help The Salvation Army help victims of modern slavery

The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales. Our confidential Referral Helpline 0300 3038151 is available 24/7. Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in the UK Centuries after slavery was officially abolished, thousands of people are still being exploited and sold as slaves across the UK. They can be forced to work in the sex trade, used as domestic slaves, exploited for labour or criminal activity, or have their organs removed to be sold. Victims trafficked into the UK often are often unable to speak English, have their travel and identity documents removed, and are told that if they try to attempt an escape, they or their families will be harmed. The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales through a government contract which was first awarded in 2011. We deliver a specialist support programme to protect and care for all adult victims of this heinous crime. Everyone we support receives access to a wide range of specialist services to meet their individual needs whether that is within a safehouse or through outreach support. This can include access to: confidential legal advice; health care; counselling; and educational opportunities financial support support in obtaining employment and housing Successfully managing the delivery of support is never static and it requires The Salvation Army to monitor and anticipate trends and work with our subcontractors to ensure we are flexible and responsive to the continuing growth in referrals. It is also underpinned by a continuous search for ways to improve outcomes for the people in our care. In addition to the government contract, The Salvation Army also operates: an International Response programme, aiming to stop trafficking at the source; a Victim Care Fund, providing additional support to victims in the UK; and Community Hubs, to provide continued support to victims moving towards an independent life. How you can help. Contact our confidential referral helpline 0300 3038151, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if you suspect that you or someone you come across is a potential victim of modern slavery in need of help How are victims identified and referred? The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the process by which an individual is identified as a victim of modern slavery. Referrals to the NRM can only be made by authorised agencies known as First Responders. Authorised agencies in the UK are the police force, the UK Border Force, Home Office Immigration and Visas, social services and certain Non-Governmental Organisations including The Salvation Army. The Government’s NRM team have a set target of five working days from receipt of a referral to decide whether there are reasonable grounds to believe a person is a potential victim of modern slavery. If it is decided that they are a potential victim then they will be offered safe accommodation, if needed, and granted a period of reflection and recovery and access to specialist support for a minimum period which can be extended if the victim needs this kind of support for a longer period or if making the decision takes longer. During this time further information is gathered relating to the referral from the First Responder and other agencies. They will then decide whether the person is indeed a victim of modern slavery. To find out more go to: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery This was a production made by Fat Lemon (http://fatlemon.tv) who kindly produced it for The Salvation Army.