More than 200 years after the abolition of the slave trade there are still an estimated 40.3 million men, women and children trapped in modern slavery, and up to 136,000 potential victims in the UK alone.
As a Diocese we are working in partnership with The Clewer Initiativeand the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority, who are resourcing us to raise awareness of modern slavery and helping us to develop strategies to detect modern slavery in our communities and help provide victim support and care.
How we are working on this issue
We have teams of anti-slavery volunteers in each archdeaconry who can deliver training and awareness-raising events.
In this short film, one of our anti-slavery volunteers explains why she has been motivated to make a stand against modern slavery.
Please contact the team to arrange a visit to your church, school or community group. The Diocese is also working closely with local police and other organisations to do everything we can to support the fight against modern slavery in the local area.
How you can get involved
Get informed
The fight against modern slavery can only be won if we work together, and there are ways everyone can get involved. You can get all the latest news and resources by signing up to The Clewer Initiative’s monthly newsletter, or following them on Twitter (@theclewer), Facebook, Instagram or Linkedin. If you would like to hear about local activities, please sign up for the quarterly Diocesan newsletter by emailing thekentishabolitionist@gmail.com or follow the thekentishabolitionist.comblog written by one of the Diocese's Anti-Modern Slavery volunteers.
Safe Car Wash App
Many hand car washes are legitimate businesses, but some of them are not, with people forced into labour and living in appalling conditions. The Clewer Initiative's Safe Car Wash App allows you to assess and report any concerns you may have. Download the app
Farm Work Welfare App
The Farm Work Welfare App contains a reporting tool, which farm businesses, workers or local people can use to flag up concerns, suspicions or seek help. The information gathered will be processed by the Modern Slavery Helpline and will help identify hot spots, enable criminal investigations and, most importantly, support victims. Download the app
Raise awareness in your community
The Clewer Initiative’s Resource page has many excellent posters and resources you can use to highlight awareness of how to spot the signs of modern slavery in your community.www.theclewerinitiative.org/resources
Slavery-proof your church projects
Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable. Any church project supporting vulnerable people – for example, a foodbank, soup kitchen or homeless shelter – is at risk of being targeted by traffickers and may be supporting people who have been victims of modern slavery. Access safeguarding training about modern slavery online from the Church of England’s safeguarding portal.
Mobilise your young people
If you work with young people in a church, school or community group then you can access free teaching resources on modern slavery at:www.modernslaveryeducation.com. The Clewer Initiative worked with Just Enough, an educational charity, to create easily adaptable lesson plans and collective worship materials for school-aged children from Key Stages 1 to 5
Key Contacts
Magali van der Merwe
Lead Community Engagement and Social Action Adviser