Helpline wins £1 million in funding to expand the fight against modern slavery

More people from hard-to-reach communities will be helped to escape exploitation thanks to new funding made possible by National Lottery players.

The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline has been awarded £1 million over five years, extending vital support to those who are most at risk of exploitation across England. 

The money from The National Lottery Community Fund will enable the Helpline, run by anti-slavery charity Unseen, to target hard to reach communities and meet increased demand for its 365 day a year service. 

The Helpline received a record number of calls and contacts via our web form and app in 2023. 

Our advisers handled 11,700 calls and contacts from potential victims and people requesting information and guidance, a 20% increase on the previous year. 

Leveraging lived experience to tackle exploitation

The funding will increase the capacity of the Helpline to target hard to reach communities through the recruitment of more staff and close collaboration with survivor consultants, people with lived experience of modern slavery. 

Survivor consultants will be trained and empowered to act as key advisers in the project. They will be supported to undertake research into target communities, helping co-design materials and approaches that are culturally sensitive, easily accessible in appropriate formats, and available in multiple languages. 

Taking one step closer towards eradicating modern slavery

Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen, said: “We are extremely grateful to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Community Fund for this funding.  

“The award of this grant represents a significant milestone in the fight against modern slavery in England. This funding not only strengthens the Helpline’s capacity to respond to the immediate need of helping people escape exploitation – it takes us one step close to achieving our long-term goal of eradicating modern slavery. 

“Our survivor consultants will be key to this work because they are often engaged in a wide range of communities. They understand the nuances, cultural differences, communication, social structures and social norms within different communities. These insights will help us resonate with people who are most at risk, building trust, deepening understanding of the issues and raising awareness of the potential life changing support available.” 

The project’s aims include: 

  • Improved person-centred support for 30,000 potential victims over five years via signposting to support services and referrals to statutory agencies. 
  • A 10% increase in the number of self-reports from potential victims or those with direct contact with potential victims. 

Eleanor Lyons, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said: “The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, with its independent status, is a beacon of hope for people who have been exploited or trafficked. 

“By offering confidential and impartial support, it creates a safe space where potential victims can be heard without fear or judgement. The independence of the Helpline means it can prioritise a person-centred approach, building trust and understanding with people in vulnerable positions. 

“This crucial funding amplifies our shared vision to fight back against the horrors of exploitation, empowering victims to reclaim their freedom.”  

According to data from the Helpline, labour exploitation remains the most prevalent exploitation type, followed by sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and domestic servitude. This has remained consistent since the Helpline was founded in 2016. 

The Helpline is a free, independent and confidential service staffed by trained advisers. As well as supporting victims themselves, the Helpline supports police officers, NHS workers, local government employees, and businesses on what to do if they suspect an instance of modern slavery. 

You can see the signs of slavery to look out for on Unseen’s website and call the Helpline on 08000 121 700. 

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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.