Salvation Army welcomes partners in supporting slavery victims

The Salvation Army is pleased to announce the appointment of the specialist partners which it will work with to manage the support of adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales through the Government’s new Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC).

The new and extended contract goes live in Winter 2020/2021, following a period of transition from the current service. It enables The Salvation Army and its partners to build on relationships and expertise developed since 2011 when the church and charity was first appointed to manage the wide-ranging specialist support services needed to help survivors of slavery recover and move on with their lives. The organisations are now working together to be ready to transfer and expand the support existing survivors already receive to all stages of their recovery from the point of rescue and as they journey towards independent living.

Agreements are in place with the following organisations, including The Salvation Army’s own specialist services, which provide people with a safe place to stay, where required, and a dedicated support worker to help them access the help they need:

• Ashiana
• Bawso
• BCHA
• Black Country Women’s Aid
• City Hearts
• Hestia
• Medaille Trust
• Migrant Help
• Saint John of God Hospitaller Services
• Snowdrop Project
• Palm Cove Society
• Unseen UK

Major Kathy Betteridge, Director of Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery for The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland, said: 

“We are pleased to welcome our partners, some for the first time and others we have worked with for nearly a decade.  All bring important expertise and a shared passion to change the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“We are looking forward to working together in the coming months and years as we introduce new services to meet the increasing numbers of people being referred to us for help.

“Together we will ensure that services are delivered to the highest standards, with the needs and voices of survivors at the centre of all we do.

“We believe that working in partnerships with those engaged in the fight to end slavery is the best way to continue to help survivors overcome the challenges they face as they rebuild their lives.”

The new MSVCC runs for an initial five year period. During this time The Salvation Army will review its services and consider new partnerships so that its services can respond to demand in a fair and dynamic way.

Our partners

Ashiana

Ashiana has worked with victims of trafficking since 2009 providing accommodation to women and their children as well as high level outreach support to male and female victims of trafficking living in the wider community. We have been a sub-contractor to The Salvation Army services since 2011. Ashiana workers have an in-depth knowledge and experience of the issues facing this group. We recognise the sensitivity and intensive support needed from within Ashiana as well as external agencies to work with individuals who have experienced significant trauma to enable them to move on successfully. Ashiana has also delivered support to clients outside the National Referral Mechanism and was involved in the STEP project, in partnership with the British Red Cross and Hestia. Ashiana was instrumental in setting up the South Yorkshire Modern Slavery Partnership and is lead partner driving this forward. 

Ashiana Chief Executive, Nicola Lambe said: “Ashiana are pleased to continue working alongside The Salvation Army to offer accommodation, services and support for survivors of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.  We welcome an opportunity to further develop these services, enabling survivors to recover and achieve safe and stable futures.”

Bawso

Bawso is the leading organisation in Wales with 20 years’ experience in delivering support to people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds who have been affected by domestic abuse, honour based violence, forced marriages and female genital mutilation. It has 10 years’ experience in supporting victims of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. This is through the Diogel project which started in October 2009 and in 2011 becoming a subcontractor for The Salvation Army and receiving funding from the Welsh Government for safe house provision in North Wales.

Bawso CEO, Mutale Merrill, said: “We find the partnership with The Salvation Army extremely productive and helpful. It is a very good example of how a lead organisation should work with sub-contractors in order to deliver effective services to the most vulnerable people of society.   We are delighted to continue working in partnership with The Salvation Army.”

BCHA

For over 50 years BCHA, a charitable homelessness and housing association working across the South West, has sought to help people to lead better, more independent, fulfilled lives, by providing and building safe, affordable, secure homes with support where needed. Our commitment to providing customer focused outstanding services is a continual driver for our staff and volunteers, whether we are developing sites, supporting survivors of modern day slavery, building communities or delivering employability and life skills. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity, respect and as individuals.

BCHA Chief Executive, Martin Hancock, said: “BCHA is proud to be continuing its important partnership with The Salvation Army and committing to the delivery of the new Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract. We believe in the importance and value of every individual and in our work will focus not only on providing a safe place to stay, but also enabling each victim to take control of their life and find a better way forward. Providing practical and emotional help to prepare for the future, our support workers have specialist knowledge and expertise in  supporting victims of Modern Day Slavery and understand the impact this has on individuals, their children and families. It’s vital we work together to raise awareness of this coercive and abusive practice to help bring an end to this modern day slavery.”

Black Country Women’s Aid 

Black Country Women’s Aid (BCWA) is an independent charity which has supported survivors of abuse and exploitation in the West Midlands for 30 years. BCWA’s range of integrated services includes support for women, children and men who are victims of domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence, stalking, exploitation and modern slavery. They also offer support to women in the criminal justice system and those with complex needs. BCWA’s sensitive and holistic support helps over 9000 victims of abuse each year to escape from violence, cope with trauma and rebuild their lives.  

BCWA have supported victims of modern slavery since 2010, and their Modern Slavery Support services now include refuge and outreach for victims of modern slavery and international human trafficking. They also offer outreach and engagement for women who have been sexually exploited.  BCWA work alongside local authorities and other partners to offer training and partnership work to improve the identification of and response to victims.   

BCWA Chief Executive, Sara Ward said: “We are extremely pleased that we will continue to work alongside The Salvation Army and other partner charities to support survivors of modern slavery. These services offer an essential lifeline for people who have suffered some of the worst exploitation imaginable. We are proud to be part of a national network which offers safe spaces, refuge and support to help survivors escape from exploitation and rebuild their lives.” 

City Hearts

City Hearts exists to bring real change to some of the most vulnerable and exploited people in society.  Over the past five years, City Hearts has supported over 3000 survivors of modern slavery through our immediate and long-term support programmes. We are committed to each person’s recovery, helping to rebuild independence and freedom.

City Hearts CEO, Ed Newton, said: “We are pleased to continue delivering support to some of the most vulnerable and exploited people. We support survivors from the moment they are free from modern slavery, helping them to live independently and integrate back into society. Over the next five years, we will continue to deliver the highest standard of care to those who need it most.”

Hestia

At Hestia we support adults and children in times of crisis. For 50 years we have been delivering services, as well as campaigning and advocating nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with. From giving someone a home, to helping them to get the right mental health support, we support people at the moment of crisis and enable them to build a life beyond crisis.

Hestia is one of the largest providers of domestic abuse refuges in London and one of the largest organisations supporting victims of modern slavery in the UK. We are proud to be the home of UK SAYS NO MORE, a national campaign to end domestic abuse which launched the groundbreaking Safe Spaces initiatives.

Chief Executive at Hestia, Patrick Ryan said: “Over the last decade, Hestia has supported over 4,000 adults and dependent children to recover and rebuild their lives after being a victim of modern slavery. Our dedicated team has been proud to walk alongside survivors and in partnership we have built a programme of support that recognises both their needs and their aspirations. We know there is still much more to be done to both support victims and to bring about an end to modern slavery and we are pleased to be able to continue this work through our partnership with The Salvation Army.”

Medaille Trust

Medaille Trust exists to provide refuge and freedom from modern slavery. Today, we are the largest provider of supported safe house beds for victims of modern slavery in the UK.

We combat human trafficking and modern slavery by: offering safe housing; providing support for victims; raising awareness in communities; partnering with law enforcement authorities.

Medaille Trust Chief Executive, Garry Smith said: “Working in partnership on the Victim Care Contract with The Salvation Army for a number of years now has given The Medaille Trust an opportunity to develop and share best practice through regular networking events. Modern Slavery isn’t something that can be solved by one organisation, we are stronger together with each member of the partnership contributing towards the whole.”

Migrant Help

Migrant Help is a national charity offering support and guidance to vulnerable migrants, helping them feel protected, informed and safe. It provides advice and guidance to asylum seekers and refugees, specialist support to victims of human trafficking across the UK and assists with EU Settlement Scheme applications. It started assisting victims of modern slavery in 2008 and currently works as a subcontractor to The Salvation Army in the South East, and as a prime contractor in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Migrant Help Chief Executive Officer, Caroline O’Connor said: “We are delighted to be able to continue assisting victims of modern slavery alongside The Salvation Army. We are looking forward to expanding our services under the new contract to enhance the support available to our clients. Modern slavery is happening every day in our communities and it is crucial that we continue our efforts to eliminate it and protect the human rights of its victims.”

Saint John of God Hospitaller Services

SJOG is a charity that's been supporting people in the UK since 1880.  In that time the world has changed, so the way we support people has changed, but we remain faithful to our values that are underpinned by Hospitality. Every day we say 'come in you are most welcome." 

The charity has grown as we strive to meet need and are currently working in 37 communities across the country. We remain ambitious for the people we are here to help, and we deliver on that ambition through being an ally; working alongside people; and embracing the power of people supporting people. 

SJOG Chief Executive Paul Bott, said: “Through the Salvation Army’s support SJOG have been able to be there in a time of need for people who have been subject to Modern Day Slavery. We’re really pleased with the announcement and with our continuing and developing relationship with The Salvation Army.” 

Snowdrop Project

The Snowdrop Project was established in 2012 as a direct response to major shortcomings in the long term support provided  to survivors of trafficking. Since 2015, we have grown from being an organisation run by 18 volunteers supporting 10 people at one time to a team of 14 paid staff supporting 124 people over the course of one year in 2019. We have pioneered the provision of long-term, person-led support, which has been developed and is continually refined in consultation with survivors. We do not place a time limit on how long a person is able to access Snowdrop’s services but tailor this as an individual moves towards independence.

The Snowdrop Project CEO, Lara Bundock, said: “Snowdrop Project are excited to bring their experience of Post-NRM support to the contract and being involved in the development of Reach In support and ensuring survivors have support after the NRM where it is needed.

Palm Cove Society

Palm Cove Society provides supported accommodation and activities which benefit communities. Our focus is on refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, victims of slavery, human trafficking, domestic violence, forced marriage, honour based violence, FGM, homeless people. We particularly welcome, women, men and children who are leaving abusive circumstances or other individuals similarly disadvantaged. 

Managing Director and Co-Founder of Palm Cove Society, Yvonne Hall, said: “It is a privilege to be able to continue our work in partnership with The Salvation Army to give survivors of slavery the opportunities, respect and personal control needed to come to terms with their situation and go on to realise their potential.”

Unseen UK

Unseen is working towards a world without slavery. We provide safehouses and support in the community for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery. We also run the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline, and work with communities, business, governments, other charities and statutory agencies, such as the police and NHS, to stamp out slavery for good.

Unseen CEO, Andrew Wallis OBE said: “We are delighted to be working with The Salvation Army on supporting survivors of modern slavery and helping them recover safely and rebuild their lives. Our work provides a vital lifeline for this extremely vulnerable group of people who often go unseen and need our specialist help and support to recover and re-establish their lives safely and securely.”