An event to help shed light on the dangers and practices of modern slavery is to be held in Truro later this month.

Stay Safe From Slavery will feature two short films and an animation from the charity Unchosen, and then a Q&A session, about how to prevent modern slavery. The Q&A will feature the following experts and frontline workers:

  • Dave Grimstead (retired detective inspector of Avon and Somerset Police and National Crime Squad, and an Unchosen trustee)
  • Steve Edser (a migrant worker police community officer with Devon and Cornwall Police)
  • Martin Jones (an investigations officer from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority)
  • Júlia Tomás (project lead from Unchosen)

 

Unchosen’s research has shown which groups are more likely to be targeted by traffickers. Organisations that work with homeless people, young people in care, refugees and asylum seekers are likely to find this event particularly useful and interesting.

Toolkits are also available, with resources and information to help frontline workers spot the signs of exploitation and step in before slavery occurs.

Stay Safe from Slavery event will take place on Tuesday, October 24,  2017. The event is free to attend and will be held at The Business Space in Chiltern House, City Road, Truro TR1 2JL from 7 to 8.30pm.

Entry is free and you do not need to book.

Church initiative to stop slavery

The event comes in the wake of the Church of England’s backing of a project aimed at mobilising its 12,000 parishes in the battle to eradicate modern slavery.

The Clewer Initiative is a three-year programme to help the Church of England’s 42 dioceses work to support victims of modern slavery and identify the signs of exploitation in their local communities.

Work is already under way in some dioceses with training and information sessions on how to provide support and identify victims of labour exploitation in areas from the construction and property sector to hand car washes in British cities and shipping. Others will join the initiative later.

‘Eyes and ears’

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has encouraged churches to act as ‘eyes and ears’ in local communities to identify victims.

“We can change it so easily, so quickly” – Archbishop Justin Welby

He said: “Jesus came saying that he proclaimed freedom for captives. Freedom is something that we take for granted, but it is the gift of God, it is the purpose of God. Those who purposefully constrain, confine and traffick and enslave people will face the judgement of God for their terrible sins.

“Yet even more serious is when we choose not to see: when as it were we put on our own blindfolds and don’t see those around us who are held in slavery, oppressed, trafficked, in other peoples’ power.

“But we can change it – we can change it so easily, so quickly. We can set people free, set our society and nation free from the scourge of slavery simply by removing our blindfolds and acting on what we see.”

Kevin Hyland, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said: “Faith groups have influence, insight and rare avenues into the community; they are therefore a powerful tool in the fight against modern slavery.

“The Church of England has acted on this unique ability by launching The Clewer Initiative, which adds backbone to the church’s anti-slavery approach. Clewer offers important knowledge to leaders of the church, parish members and the public.

“By informing those who are in a position to identify and support victims of this brutal crime, I am confident that the church is living up to its potential in defending the oppressed and overcoming injustice.”