Meet Unseen’s frontline heroes fighting modern slavery – webinar

Have you ever wondered about the faces behind the fight against modern slavery? This World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Unseen invites you to meet the incredible frontline and helpline teams who are making a real difference in the lives of survivors.
Meet Unseen's Frontline Heroes - free webinar

Imagine a world free from exploitation. That’s the goal Unseen works towards every single day, and we couldn’t achieve it without our incredible frontline heroes – the individuals on the ground making a real difference in the lives of survivors. 

This World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July, we invite you to meet these remarkable people at a special free webinar: “An Audience with Unseen’s Frontline and Helpline Teams”.

In this insightful session, you’ll hear directly from the people behind our critical services – the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, our safehouses, and our dedicated outreach team. 

Event details

Date and Time: Tuesday 30 July (World Day Against Trafficking in Persons) at 12-12:45pm BST 

Format: Free virtual event (link provided to registered participants) 

Highlights: 

  • Hear firsthand from the frontline workers about the realities of modern slavery and the vital services they provide. 
  • Gain insights into the inner workings of our Helpline and safehouses, and the life-changing support they offer survivors. 
  • Discover how you can play a role in ending modern slavery, from raising awareness to direct donations. 
  • Ask questions directly to our frontline and helpline teams during the webinar’s Q&A function. 
     
Who will you meet?
  • Lauren Saunders, Head of Policy and Research (and former Head of Frontline Services) at Unseen: Lauren brings eight years’ experience working with survivors of modern slavery during recovery. She has contributed to several academic research papers on the issue of modern slavery and, in 2022, pioneered Unseen’s Survivor Consultant Group. This group, made up of those with lived experience of modern slavery, works to inform government policy and the work of Unseen and statutory agencies tackling this horrendous crime. 

 

  • Natasha Mitra, Head of Helpline Services at the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline: Natasha Mitra has worked in the charity sector for eight years on frontline projects with a focus on criminal justice issues including imprisonment, domestic abuse, and modern slavery. Having joined Unseen two years ago, Natasha oversees the Helpline. Last year, Natasha co-authored a timely report, “Who Cares?”, a review of exploitation in the care sector.
About Unseen’s frontline services

Unseen offers a comprehensive support network for survivors of modern slavery. Our confidential Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline provides a crucial 24/7 lifeline, offering support and information to anyone experiencing exploitation or concerned about someone who might be. 

For those needing a safe haven, our secure safehouses offer a place to heal and rebuild their lives. Finally, for those moving on from our safehouses, our dedicated outreach services provide ongoing practical and emotional support, from healthcare access to legal assistance, empowering survivors to resettle and integrate into the community. 

Who should join the event:
  • Supporters of Unseen.  
  • Advocates for human rights and social justice. 
  • Those passionate about ending modern slavery. 
  • Individuals working in or interested in the anti-slavery sector.
Register now!

Secure your spot today and be part of the solution. Register now for this free webinar and learn how you can help create a world free from modern slavery. 

What next?

Share this post on social media and help raise awareness about our fight against modern slavery. 

Related stories

Justine Currell

As I came to understand more about the issue, including through a visit to an Unseen safehouse, I knew I needed to do more to stop this abuse and exploitation.

For the last five years of my Civil Service career, I was the Modern Slavery Senior Policy Advisor in the Home Office and led on development of the Modern Slavery Act, including the transparency in supply chains provision and business guidance.

I joined Unseen to lead the development of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and Unseen’s work with businesses. I am regularly called upon to present at national and international conferences and use my experience of working with Ministers to influence other governments internationally to take action to address modern slavery and, in particular, business supply chain issues.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit, music, reading and travelling.

Andrew Wallis

What ultimately compelled me to act was a report on how people from Eastern Europe were being trafficked through Bristol airport to the USA. Kate Garbers, who went on to be an Unseen Director, and I wrote to all the city councillors, MPs and the Police Chief Constable challenging them on the issue. The challenge came back to us: this city needs safe housing for trafficked women. And so Unseen began.

But we never wanted Unseen to be just about safe housing. We wanted to end slavery once and for all, and that remains our driving focus.

I chaired the working group for the Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report “It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to Fight Modern Slavery”. This is now acknowledged as the catalyst behind the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015. It was a great honour to be awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours that year. On the other hand, I’ve also been described as “the loveliest disrupter you could ever hope to meet”.

This job has taken me from building flat-pack furniture for safehouses, to working with businesses to address slavery in supply chains, to delivering training, raising awareness and advising governments around the world.

When not at work, I enjoy travelling, spending time with my dog Harley, cooking, supporting Liverpool and Yorkshire CC, music (I’m a former DJ) and endurance events such as the Three Peaks Challenge and Tribe Freedom Runs – which I vow never to do again. Until the next time.