Arnold & baldwin launches campaign to help victims of modern slavery

The Global Slavery Index in 2016 estimated there were 136,000 people living in Slavery within the UK, with sexual exploitation being the highest reported form of slavery.

The charity helps women who have been rescued from modern-day slavery and are often pregnant or have new-born children. It provides essential toiletries and basic practical necessities for birth and motherhood for these women, as well as supporting their children with practical support to meet their basic needs.

It’s these items that are the subject of Arnold & Baldwin’s campaign. The chartered surveying firm is encouraging everyone involved in the homebuying process, including mortgage brokers, surveyors, conveyancers and estate agents to speak to home movers about donating items such as cots, prams and toys instead of throwing them away when they move house.

Joe Arnold, Managing Director of Arnold & Baldwin, said:

“Slavery may seem like the type of thing that happens in far-off places but it’s happening under our noses and, in the property industry, we find ourselves in a position to help. If you are talking to clients who are moving home, why not mention that their old baby equipment could be used to help victims of modern slavery? The charity, Their Voice, does fantastic work to empower survivors of slavery and they are always looking for donations to help them continue to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Carolyn Thorn from Their Voice says:

“Modern slavery has many forms and can include forced labour where victims are given no, or very little, money; sex trafficking; forced crime such as shop lifting and begging where children are often used as they are not at the age of criminal responsibility; domestic servitude; forced marriage and even the organ trade where organs such as kidneys and liver are harvested and traded.”

“At Their Voice, we work to empower, enable and give hope to survivors of modern slavery and we can only do this with the kind donations of people who support our charity. Financial donations are much needed to purchase items such as new cot mattresses, maternity items, hospital bags, etc., but if people are moving home and have good quality baby equipment that they are thinking of throwing away, we could use this equipment to help change vulnerable people’s lives. We are really delighted that Arnold & Baldwin has recognised the opportunity to help our charity and encouraged such donations.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation to Their Voice can visit the website or email.

ABOUT THEIR VOICE

‘Their Voice’ was started in 2015 by a social worker volunteering in a safe house for families who had been rescued from human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

Coming alongside these women, we could see the need for them to feel valued and supported.

We started to make our gift-wrapped baskets of essential toiletries and these were left in the safe house bedrooms together with a hand-written card of welcome and encouragement.

We identified the basic practical necessities for birth and motherhood for these women, who were heavily pregnant and recently rescued from sexual exploitation. Hence a hospital bag and a gift-wrapped baby basket of essentials was provided.

In addition, we are now providing children’s packs. This consists of a rucksack filled with age related toys, books and stationery. These are given to every child who arrives at the safe house.

Our work has expanded over time and we use case workers to support many families in the community.

More information is available at www.theirvoicemodernslavery.org.uk