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Modern slavery survivor shares her story on BBC Points West

Tricked into a life of exploitation, Tania’s escape and recovery offers hope to survivors everywhere. She recently shared her harrowing experience with the BBC.

Tania* arrived in the UK with a six-month visa, dreaming of a career in archaeology. 

Instead, she was ensnared by a gang and forced into gruelling labour on farms in England. 

Her escape led her to an Unseen safe house where she received the support she needed to rebuild her life. 

Tania recently shared her story as a modern slavery survivor on BBC Points West, the regional news programme for the West of England. 

Also featured in the video is Unseen partner The Salvation Army, where the film crew visit a safe house and interview a survivor and member of staff. 

In a related report, the BBC noted a record number of calls in 2023 to the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline. 

Calls to the Helpline and contacts via the service’s webform and app surged by 20%, up from 9,779 in 2022 to 11,700 in 2023, indicating increased awareness and the critical need for services. 

Alice, part of Unseen’s Helpline team (pictured below), educated viewers about the importance of being aware of modern slavery signs. She encouraged the public to contact the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline with any concerns. 

Image credit: BBC Points West

Would you like to help modern slavery survivors like Tania on their journey to recovery? 

Our new #ThroughTheirEyes appeal asks you to step into the shoes of a survivor and witness the challenges they face. With your generous support, we can continue to offer comprehensive services like safe housing, skill-building workshops and trauma-informed care to empower them to rebuild their lives.

learn more

*Name changed to protect identity

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• Registered charity number 1127620
• Unseen UK is a registered charitable company limited by guarantee in England and Wales
• Registered company number 06754171

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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.