Understanding the Role of Faith Based Organisations in Anti-Trafficking
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Sociological Studies
Abstract
This research will be at the forefront of providing a deeper understanding of changes to the welfare state in neoliberal capitalist societies and the role of religion in the public life of secular societies by exploring how faith shapes anti-trafficking responses.
The terms 'human trafficking' and 'modern slavery' have a range of meanings and therefore estimations of their precise scale are contested, but commonly indicate a global growth of these practices. The International Labour Organization estimates that worldwide, at any one time, there are 2.5 million people in sexual or labour exploitation. These trends indicate an urgency of response and there is growing concern and attention to tackling modern slavery from governments and civil society . Responses are varied, ranging from international criminal justice legislation right through to local civil society activities.
Innovative in nature, this research addresses a significant gap in our understanding of anti-trafficking efforts - the growing role of faith based organisations (FBOs) in anti-trafficking efforts to tackle 'modern slavery' in England. FBOs include 'faith-based NGOs' that offer support to marginalised groups, but also other types of religious organisation from 'apex bodies' that represent faith traditions in the UK (e.g. the Church of England, the Sikh Council UK) to individual places of worship.
The study will provide important new insights into the role of FBOs in three areas: support for trafficked persons; campaigns and public awareness; and government and statutory responses. These areas will be explored through the following research questions:
1. Who are the FBOs operating in the field of support and provision and what are their roles?
2. What representations of trafficking circulate in campaigns and public awareness?
3. Why has there been a growth of FBOs in UK provision and responses to trafficking?
Bringing together the disciplines of Sociology, Human Geography and Religious Studies, the study combines: mapping of faith positions held by anti-trafficking organisations; case studies of service providers across the faith-secular spectrum involving qualitative in-depth interviews with managers, volunteers and trafficked persons; textual and visual analysis of organisational and campaign materials; analysis of Parliamentary debates coupled with interviews with key statutory figures; and international exploration of the anti-trafficking landscape in selected European locations. The research will consider whether the particular features of the UK case are exceptional by exploring alternative faith/ secular spectrums in anti-trafficking responses in The Netherlands, a secular Protestant country where a prominent anti-trafficking network is based, and Spain, a Catholic country where there are examples of radical faith-based responses.
The project will build a new body of empirical evidence to critically explore our understanding of the role of FBOs in tackling 'modern slavery' in a mixed welfare economy and will maximise the potential for societal and academic impact in this field. The findings will offer significant new knowledge with the potential to improve anti-trafficking practice and help build secure futures for trafficked individuals. Research beneficiaries and users will be engaged through outputs targeted at specific audiences, to include: practitioner workshops to develop a guide and video for faith-based services to identify the most effective mechanisms for supporting trafficked individuals and designing public communications on trafficking, articles in international peer-reviewed journals and relevant practitioner journals; and a closing symposium to launch the research report and guide. The goal of the research is to influence policy and practice alongside furthering our academic understanding in this area.
The terms 'human trafficking' and 'modern slavery' have a range of meanings and therefore estimations of their precise scale are contested, but commonly indicate a global growth of these practices. The International Labour Organization estimates that worldwide, at any one time, there are 2.5 million people in sexual or labour exploitation. These trends indicate an urgency of response and there is growing concern and attention to tackling modern slavery from governments and civil society . Responses are varied, ranging from international criminal justice legislation right through to local civil society activities.
Innovative in nature, this research addresses a significant gap in our understanding of anti-trafficking efforts - the growing role of faith based organisations (FBOs) in anti-trafficking efforts to tackle 'modern slavery' in England. FBOs include 'faith-based NGOs' that offer support to marginalised groups, but also other types of religious organisation from 'apex bodies' that represent faith traditions in the UK (e.g. the Church of England, the Sikh Council UK) to individual places of worship.
The study will provide important new insights into the role of FBOs in three areas: support for trafficked persons; campaigns and public awareness; and government and statutory responses. These areas will be explored through the following research questions:
1. Who are the FBOs operating in the field of support and provision and what are their roles?
2. What representations of trafficking circulate in campaigns and public awareness?
3. Why has there been a growth of FBOs in UK provision and responses to trafficking?
Bringing together the disciplines of Sociology, Human Geography and Religious Studies, the study combines: mapping of faith positions held by anti-trafficking organisations; case studies of service providers across the faith-secular spectrum involving qualitative in-depth interviews with managers, volunteers and trafficked persons; textual and visual analysis of organisational and campaign materials; analysis of Parliamentary debates coupled with interviews with key statutory figures; and international exploration of the anti-trafficking landscape in selected European locations. The research will consider whether the particular features of the UK case are exceptional by exploring alternative faith/ secular spectrums in anti-trafficking responses in The Netherlands, a secular Protestant country where a prominent anti-trafficking network is based, and Spain, a Catholic country where there are examples of radical faith-based responses.
The project will build a new body of empirical evidence to critically explore our understanding of the role of FBOs in tackling 'modern slavery' in a mixed welfare economy and will maximise the potential for societal and academic impact in this field. The findings will offer significant new knowledge with the potential to improve anti-trafficking practice and help build secure futures for trafficked individuals. Research beneficiaries and users will be engaged through outputs targeted at specific audiences, to include: practitioner workshops to develop a guide and video for faith-based services to identify the most effective mechanisms for supporting trafficked individuals and designing public communications on trafficking, articles in international peer-reviewed journals and relevant practitioner journals; and a closing symposium to launch the research report and guide. The goal of the research is to influence policy and practice alongside furthering our academic understanding in this area.
Planned Impact
The findings will offer significant new knowledge with the potential to improve anti-trafficking (AT) practice. They will positively influence the possibilities for recognition and implementation of effective mechanisms for building secure futures for trafficked persons (TP) which can better enable the making of informed decisions to overcome difficulties. The research beneficiaries will be engaged through activities and outputs targeted at specific audiences, drawing on AT academic and non-academic networks to advertise events and disseminate outputs, to include:
1. TP service providers and the TPs they work with. The research will directly consider models of service provision across a secular/ faith spectrum. It will explore the role of faith in supporting trafficked persons offering findings and outcomes relevant to organisations within the National Trafficking Support Contract, non-contracted service providers, and faith actors.
2. Faith-based organisation (FBO) and faith networks, representative faith bodies, religious leaders and informal faith groups working directly with, or encountering, TP. Research and impact activities designed for faith actors will develop awareness of the role of secular and faith-based organisations in AT work, and offer guidance and workshops to enhance practice and develop appreciation of rights-based approaches to offer the potential for longer term improvements to postsecular relationships in this area of welfare.
3. Lobbying, NGO and campaigning organisations involved in modern slavery and human trafficking awareness work in the UK and beyond. These groups will benefit from debates generated on the role of faith in representations of trafficking and whether this contributes to or detracts from wider goals to combat 'modern slavery', linking with more developed discussion of these issues in the United States.
4. Migrant, refugee, women's support and advice sector. This sector will have a strong interest in exploration of the religious dimensions of governmental funding and relationships, and in discussing the most effective sources of support for TP. This has relevance for the future of the migrant sector and linked areas of welfare provision with postsecular dimensions including homelessness, family planning, food aid and youth work.
5. Government officials, senior figures, and local, regional, national policymakers. The research will contribute to improved understandings of postsecular relationships and the role of FBOs in the highly topical area of modern slavery, with the UK positing itself as a world leader. Beneficiaries will include civil servants involved in 'combatting modern slavery' and contracting services, particularly in the Home Office; key governmental modern slavery figures in the Police, politicians (Lords and MPs involved in Modern Slavery Act debates and committees); equality and migrants' rights policy-makers and lobbyists such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
6. International stakeholders in the Netherlands and Spain will benefit from the in-depth UK research findings, and will ensure our research's wider resonance. This is of interest to European networks (e.g. the Spanish Network Against the Trade in People, La Strada International European network, Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe) and beyond Europe (e.g. Free the Slaves, GAATW, Santa Marta).
With extensive experience of working in the migrant sector as a volunteer and policy researcher, the PI is capable of bridging the worlds of policy and academia. The PI and Co-Is have extensive track records of practitioner publications and user engagement with non-academic stakeholders; their network of contacts in AT and FBOs will play a key role in maximising the potential for research impact. Impact activities will be significantly enhanced by the commitment and expertise of research partners who have engaged in consultation on the development of this proposal.
1. TP service providers and the TPs they work with. The research will directly consider models of service provision across a secular/ faith spectrum. It will explore the role of faith in supporting trafficked persons offering findings and outcomes relevant to organisations within the National Trafficking Support Contract, non-contracted service providers, and faith actors.
2. Faith-based organisation (FBO) and faith networks, representative faith bodies, religious leaders and informal faith groups working directly with, or encountering, TP. Research and impact activities designed for faith actors will develop awareness of the role of secular and faith-based organisations in AT work, and offer guidance and workshops to enhance practice and develop appreciation of rights-based approaches to offer the potential for longer term improvements to postsecular relationships in this area of welfare.
3. Lobbying, NGO and campaigning organisations involved in modern slavery and human trafficking awareness work in the UK and beyond. These groups will benefit from debates generated on the role of faith in representations of trafficking and whether this contributes to or detracts from wider goals to combat 'modern slavery', linking with more developed discussion of these issues in the United States.
4. Migrant, refugee, women's support and advice sector. This sector will have a strong interest in exploration of the religious dimensions of governmental funding and relationships, and in discussing the most effective sources of support for TP. This has relevance for the future of the migrant sector and linked areas of welfare provision with postsecular dimensions including homelessness, family planning, food aid and youth work.
5. Government officials, senior figures, and local, regional, national policymakers. The research will contribute to improved understandings of postsecular relationships and the role of FBOs in the highly topical area of modern slavery, with the UK positing itself as a world leader. Beneficiaries will include civil servants involved in 'combatting modern slavery' and contracting services, particularly in the Home Office; key governmental modern slavery figures in the Police, politicians (Lords and MPs involved in Modern Slavery Act debates and committees); equality and migrants' rights policy-makers and lobbyists such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
6. International stakeholders in the Netherlands and Spain will benefit from the in-depth UK research findings, and will ensure our research's wider resonance. This is of interest to European networks (e.g. the Spanish Network Against the Trade in People, La Strada International European network, Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe) and beyond Europe (e.g. Free the Slaves, GAATW, Santa Marta).
With extensive experience of working in the migrant sector as a volunteer and policy researcher, the PI is capable of bridging the worlds of policy and academia. The PI and Co-Is have extensive track records of practitioner publications and user engagement with non-academic stakeholders; their network of contacts in AT and FBOs will play a key role in maximising the potential for research impact. Impact activities will be significantly enhanced by the commitment and expertise of research partners who have engaged in consultation on the development of this proposal.
Publications
Waite L
(2023)
Faith, bordering and modern slavery: A UK case study
in Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space
Tomalin, E.
(2021)
Contemporary faith-based responses to modern slavery and human trafficking.
| Title | Unhidden in Plain Sight image collection |
| Description | Photographer Jeremy Abrahams worked with academics Hannah Lewis and Gwyneth Lonergan at the University of Sheffield, and three anti-trafficking organisation partners to develop a collection of photographs associated with text to communicate complex journeys into and out of modern slavery. The purpose is to challenge objectifying, sexualised or sensationalist imagery commonly seen in anti-modern slavery communications. The collection shows a journey from arrival, into exploitation and out into long-term journey away from severe exploitation. The aim of the project was to centre personhood, complexity and agency of individuals in order to distance from dehumanising images of people, usually in little clothing, often in ropes or chains which do not reflect the realities of contemporary coercion. The project considers challenging 'typical' objectifying and unrealistic modern slavery images important because if the images used to depict modern slavery are inaccurate, the risk is that they suggest solutions that will be ineffective. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | The collection was displayed during the ten-day Festival of the Mind in the Sheffield Winter Garden, 20-30 September 2018. The Winter Garden has a footfall of several thousand members of public a week. 51 people completed and returned feedback forms. Of these, 37 said they would do something differently as a result. Many of the responses indicated that the careful attention to detail in the exhibit had desired and notable impacts: "More awareness of the presence of people dealing with the long term impacts of trafficking. The CV was also a really effective supplement - way of thinking about the disruption this causes in the person's life trajectory and how to rebuild normal life from it". "Yes - the co-op programme. Also seeing how much human trafficking is from a personal journey." The decision was taken to use an actor and to construct a 'montage' of issues affecting many people in or exiting from 'modern slavery'. Feedback indicated this was successful: "The story of a fictional character via photographs. Unbelievably powerful." Even though the specific goal to challenge images using 'chains' was not mentioned in the exhibition, this was noticed: "Yes - that exploitation does not have to be represented by chains. That there are 'chains' we cannot see and that recovery takes a long time and is a long process.". Our intention to challenge a singular focus on 'rescue' as an end point to intervention was also picked up: "More awareness of long-term impact as a form of trauma inadequacy of 'rescue' on its own.". As a result of viewing the exhibition, 31 said they were more likely to donate to an anti-trafficking charity; 22 more likely to volunteer for an anti-trafficking charity; and 24 more likely to write to their MP about modern slavery. |
| URL | http://www.jeremyabahams.co.uk/unhidden |
| Description | This project has played a pivotal role in filling substantial gaps in scholarship about faith responses to modern slavery in the UK through mapping the breadth, as well as exploring in depth of initiatives led by faith-based organisations and their relationships with secular organisations. It has also explored the uniqueness of the UK case through comparative research in the Netherlands and Spain. Faith actors and faith-based organisations (FBOs) involved in the UK's anti-modern slavery sphere are mainly Christian. But there is no one 'Christian response' to modern slavery. The picture is complex. A mapping of anti-modern slavery organisations and analysis of parliamentary debates revealed that faith actors and FBOs represent around 30% of analysed responses to modern slavery. FBOs are more likely to be single-issue anti-modern slavery organisations delivering direct service provision than their secular counterparts, and particular faith actors and FBOs make a significant contribution to political lobbying. FBOs feel there is mistrust and doubts over their professionalism and that they have to 'go the extra mile' to develop relationships of trust in the sector, particularly with secular organisations. Some FBOs are distinctive from secular organisations in the anti-modern slavery field through the subtle use of a 'faith lexicon'; such as extolling 'love' through practice, and 'having a heart' for work in this sphere. Many Christians would consider this to be a form of indirect evangelism that spreads the Christian message but which avoids the coercive nature of proselytism. Evidence that FBOs working within the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) are riddled with direct evangelism, proselytism and spiritual abuse was not found, despite some fear that this is the case. Credible reports were articulated of this occurring in isolated parts of the NRM and in peripheral and pre- or post National Referral Mechanism (NRM) arenas. People exiting modern slavery asserted the importance of religious worship and spirituality to their recovery. They were confident in seeking this out for themselves in parallel with support services. This underlines the potential damage in support environments of undue influence in trying to shape the religious identities of people with past experiences of severe exploitation. Issues with standards and quality of care affect both secular organisations and FBOs within the anti modern slavery field, and the key problems facing people exiting modern slavery require detailed, long term, sensitive and dedicated responses. Our key recommendation is for organisations, projects and services working to support people exiting modern slavery to implement the Human Trafficking Foundation (HTF) Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards, including 1.1.5 on Freedom of thought, religion and belief. The roles of faith-based organisations in delivering government and non-statutory provision to survivors of modern slavery, as well as participating in policy processes and influencing legislation are more significant than in the Netherlands, where mainstream provision is held by statutor providers. In Spain, Catholic organisations play a central role in provision of support, alongside secular non-governmental organisations and statutory roles are limited to enforcement activities. |
| Exploitation Route | The project offers novel research findings on survivor experiences of religious practice, on the roles of faith based organisations in provision of services, influencing policy and shaping public representations of modern slavery, and their relationships with secular organisations. The primary user group we identify is faith-based modern slavery initiatives in the UK who have established modern slavery programmes and extensive networks of influence. These initiatives are rapidly growing a group of interested and concerned individuals and organisations who are 'new to the issue', and include a range of local faith actors, staff and volunteers in religious congregations/communities at the local and national levels that focus on modern slavery. Their contribution to the sector is largely 'non-professionalised'. Our research demonstrated that there are risks of religious proselytisation in these 'peripheral' support environments, so we consider this is the audience where there is the most change possible to improve 'Freedom of Thought, Religion and Belief' for people exiting coercive modern slavery situations. Beneficiaries of any changes include broad groups of vulnerable adults at risk of or in severe exploitation and engaging with Christian social action and welfare. A secondary user group comprises a) the Home Office, the Salvation Army (NRM Survivor Care contract) and the Care Quality Commission (who will oversee the implementation of care standards in the modern slavery victim care contract); b) the 13 NRM subcontracted organisations; c) pre- and post-NRM third sector support; and d) wider providers (100+ UK organisations both secular and faith-based focused on anti-modern slavery activities) who will be mandated to 'not proseyltise' thanks to the new element of the Victim Care Contract contributed by our project. Beneficiaries include service users ('survivors'); statutory and third sector bodies they train. A third user group includes all communications staff and volunteers in a broad range of statutory and voluntary organisations engaged in public awareness work on modern slavery. Our partnership with Freedom United to deliver training and offer resources to improve ethical representation in visual and written communications aims to challenge dehumanising images and text frequently used in the sector. We offer direct advice about how to overcome these issues to make communications more realistic, more likely to be recognised by those in exploitative situations, and more effective in communicating the complexity of contemporary forms of severe exploitation. For academic users, our findings demonstrate the need for a more nuanced conceptual framework than one that suggests that the rapprochement between faith and secular actors in the anti-TFLS field is convincingly postsecular. We argue that it is not, as it does not equally value and recognise faith and secular identities. Going forward, it is critical that sociological research around the postsecular explores the nuances of how, and on what terms, particular faith actors are entering specific public arenas. The nature and extent of a postsecular rapprochement between faith and secular actors may depend on the specific terrain of engagement and activities undertaken. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | http://www.faithantitrafficking.org |
| Description | In the first year of the research, we have been engaging with key organisations as participants in the research. Those that have a faith orientation have described how internal discussions about engagement with this research project have triggered reflection on the manner in which faith is represented by the organisation in public documents, etc. websites, and in their daily activities. In the second year of this research we have engaged in three significant activities with non-academic audiences: Unhidden, a photography collaboration; the Slavery and Trafficking Care Standards; and the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI) on Faith & Local Communities - Anti Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Hub. Through Unhidden, NGO partners described how discussions about academic understandings of agency and precarity led them to stop using the term 'vulnerability' in their external training on modern slavery, and to instead emphasise more multiple forms of precariousness and structural (over personal/psychological) factors. The image work through Unhidden has begun to have some notable non-academic impacts. We have begun discussions with the UK Government Cabinet Office to present this work to a cross-government meeting of communications professionals whose work relates to modern slavery. We are developing a network of NGOs and government representatives to form a virtual advisory group to develop a guidelines document on the ethical use of images. The Human Trafficking Foundation, the Office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Stop the Traffik, and La Strada International, as well as the Spanish Network Against the Traffick (Red Espanola Contra La Trata), among others, have expressed interest in helping to develop and to share the guidelines when they become available. We worked with the Human Trafficking Foundation and Equality and Human Rights Commission to include a clause on non-proselytisation in survivor care for people exiting modern slavery. We hope this will highlight the necessity of openness of services to individuals regardless of religion, and will clarify the need for separation of the promotion of religion from service provision. The Home Office has agreed to use these Standards as a basis for re-contracting government funded provision for suspected victims of modern slavery. Through the JLI Hub we are able to immediately disseminate emerging research findings to shape international practice of faith based organisations in anti-trafficking. In the third year of the research we have begun to develop initial outputs for public audiences. We had a very successful academic and practitioner conference in January 2020 which launched our initial findings report 'Faith Responses to Modern Slavery'. This was attended by 90 people across research, statutory and third sectors and involved workshops on ethical use of images as well as panels of papers and a roundtable on victim care standards for survivors of modern slavery. The conference press release led to coverage in the Church Times and a BBC Radio 4 interview on 'Sunday', the religion and ethics programme. Following on from this, we are working closely with key NGO partners on the implementation of the 'Freedom of Thought, Religion and Belief' standard we fed into the Human Trafficking Foundation's Trafficking and Slavery Survivor Care Standards. Building on the conference workshop, we developed a pathway leading on from the Unhidden photography collaboration to work with NGO Freedom United to promote their pledge 'My Story, My Dignity' to improve the representation of modern slavery to develop guidance and training on image selection for those working in the field of anti-modern slavery. In Year 4, this was developed into a co-produced online workshop combining Freedom United's 'My Story, My Dignity' campaign and our academic input into visual representation of modern slavery. This was delivered over a set of three interactive online workshops in September 2020 to 29 delegates from non-governmental and statutory organisations as well as international NGOs and researchers. The workshop is being developed into a guidance briefing on the ethical use of images in anti-slavery. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Citation in The Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards, influenced and drafted inclusion of 'non-proselytisation' clause |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.humantraffickingfoundation.org/s/HTF-Care-Standards-Spreads-2.pdf |
| Description | Defining modern slavery in research, 21 November 22 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Good practice case study in Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner review Preparing for impact: How we can overcome barriers and cultivate a culture of collaboration, understanding, and respect to achieve impact on survivor support |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | This ESRC project on understanding the roles of faith based organisations in anti-trafficking is highlighted as a national good practice case study for academic research having an impact in the field (p.15/16) in the report published Thursday 2 July by the office of the Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner: 'Preparing for impact. How we can overcome barriers and achieve a culture of collaboration, understanding, and respect to achieve impact on survivor support' The report is intended for an audience of researchers and practitioners in that field, and offers sections on 'barriers to impact' (p.20-28) and recommendations for how to improve this ('addressing barriers to impact' p. 43, 44) for many areas of social science seeking to influence welfare provision and support of 'vulnerable' groups. |
| URL | http://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/media/1433/iasc-review-preparing-for-impact-july-2020.pdf |
| Description | Publication of the JLI scoping report 'Faith and freedom - the role of faith actors in anti-modern slavery and human trafficking' |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://jliflc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Print_JLI-report-FINAL.pdf |
| Description | Festival of the Mind |
| Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 09/2018 |
| Description | Freedom United - My Story, My Dignity |
| Organisation | Freedom United |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We have worked with Freedom United to develop guidelines and training on the ethical representation of modern slavery, to link our collaboration to create the 'Unhidden' collection of photography with Freedom United's ongoing campaign 'My Story, My Dignity'. Together, we have developed a workshop for people involved in communications in NGOs and statutory roles relating to modern slavery which was delivered to 24 practitioners, policy makers and researchers online in September 2020. Freedom United Director, Joanna Ewart-James said '"being able to work in partnership - we wouldn't have managed to do it without you. Your input to develop the workshop was invaluable. By working together we have achieved more than the sum of our parts" |
| Collaborator Contribution | As part of this, Freedom United have used some of the images from Unhidden in their digital communications, including a MOOC they contributed to with University of Nottingham's Rights Lab. Freedom United have utilised their contact list and signatories to their 'My Story, My Dignity' pledge to develop content guidelines that they published on their website, which we discussed and contributed to. Freedom United have co-developed a workshop with us and managed invitations and promotion on social media, through email, etc. for sign up to the workshops. |
| Impact | Outcomes: use of Unhidden images in Freedom United digital and online communications. Online workshops on ethical representations in modern slavery. A briefing associated with the training workshops. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities - Anti Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Hub |
| Organisation | Salvation Army |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | 2017 Professor Emma Tomalin (co-I) has led the establishment of a new hub in the JLI on Faith and Local Communities on 'Anti Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery'. As a co-Director she has established the hub, setting up Terms of Reference, sharing contacts to identify key organisations and individuals to invite as members, and has participating in the launch event (20 October 2017), along with Research Associate Gwyneth Lonergan. 2018 The activities of the JLI in 2018 have included: 1. Scoping study - May 2018 - £10,000 grant from Anglican Alliance to prepare a scoping study on the role of local faith actors in anti-human trafficking activities. - August 2018: employ Dr John Frame to lead scoping study, with support from two University of Leeds undergraduate students on work placement. The timeline for this work is as follows: TIMELINE Literature Review: September 2018-November 2018 Gap Map Analysis: November 2018 Interviews and write-up: November 2018-January 2019 Finalise and launch study: March 2019 CONTENTS/STRUCTURE OF SCOPING STUDY (provisional) 1. Executive Summary 2. Introduction: the Hub's purpose and its strategic goals 3. Gap map analysis and introduction of themes explored in the remainder of the report 4. Presentation and discussion of the material (a synthesis of literature, interviews, and case studies) 5. Key audiences and recommended policy processes to influence, gleaned from the policy mapping process 6. Areas to be followed up by the JLI next (i.e. recommendations) 2. A further £10,000 has been secured from the Anglican Alliance to expand the focus of the scoping study to also cover the global north. 3. Event: Anglican Communion Office, London - 20/2/19: this international event involved Salvation Army and Anglican Alliance anti-trafficking staff and involved an introduction to the JLI, an update on the scoping study and workshop activities. 30 people attended and there was also an online hub meeting involving a further 15 people in different locations across the globe. 4. Dr Christa Crawford from Payap University, Thailand, has joined the hub as regional Asia Pacific co-chair. https://www.freedomresource.org/about-us |
| Collaborator Contribution | The hub is jointly led by Professor Emma Tomalin and Anna Gregora, The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army and Anglican Alliance organised the JLI London event, 20th February 2019, organised a venue and invitations. The Salvation Army have contributed time and expertise to funding applications made for the JLI. |
| Impact | A funding proposal to support the work of the hub was developed and submitted to the British Council, Bridging Voices. The hub is multidisciplinary: development studies, politics, sociology, religious studies. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | American Association of Geographers Annual Conference 3-7 April 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Waite presented the paper 'Trafficking, unfreedom and modern slavery in the UK' in the panel 'Unfreedom in Contemporary Labour Regimes' at the AAG 2019 in Washington DC, thereby bringing the work of our project into dialogue with labour geographies and a US/ international audience of geographers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://aag.secure-abstracts.com/AAG%20Annual%20Meeting%202019/sessions-gallery/22819 |
| Description | Brexit & Beyond IMISCOE conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Drs Lewis and Lonergan presented a paper entitled 'Faith based anti-trafficking organisations, the 'good' victim, and the strengthening of border regimes' which brought the anti-modern slavery/ anti-trafficking field into debates in migration/border studies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.imiscoe.org/news/news-from-members/836-international-conference-transforming-mobility-an... |
| Description | British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2019, Glasgow Caledonian |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Lewis presented the paper 'Distinctive or professionalised? Understanding the postsecular in faith-based anti-trafficking responses in the UK' at the BSA 2019 conference in the Sociology of Religion stream, bringing our project to the attention of the UK Sociology of Religion network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.britsoc.co.uk/media/24997/ac2019_final_print_prog.pdf |
| Description | Cambridge University Geographical Society talk, Feb, 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Waite presented our research to the Cambridge University Geographical Society, Feb, 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Church Times article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Article in the Church Times drawing on the press release (see separate entry). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/14-february/news/uk/anti-slavery-groups-uneasy-about-dis... |
| Description | Departmental seminar, Sociological Studies, Sheffield, 25.5.17 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Paper: ''Modern slavery and human trafficking': The re-emergence of the intersection of faith and slavery in postsecular contexts'. 16 university colleagues and 3 practitioners from anti trafficking organisations attended this research seminar. The academic audience included colleagues from law, criminology, sociology, social work. The difficulties of representing modern slavery in images in campaigns and charitable work were discussed. Third sector representatives requested to participate in the study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/socstudies/research/research-seminars/archive |
| Description | Development Studies Association conference panel, 27-29 June 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Emma Tomalin organised a panel at the annual Development Studies Association conference entitled 'The role of faith identities and actors in combating modern slavery and human trafficking' at the University of Manchester, 27-29th June 2018, around 20 people attended, international academics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | International Association for the Study of Forced Migration conference 2018, Thessaloniki, Greece 24-27 July |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Hannah Lewis organised a panel with Dr Patricia Hynes (Bedfordshire) and presented a paper in the panel at the IASFM 17 conference in July 2018, Thessaloniki Greece, 25 July 2018. Panel: What are the relationships between human trafficking, modern slavery and forced migration? Paper: Victimhood and deservingness in forced migration and modern slavery. An interested group of postgraduates gathered afterwards saying they had not considered the agency of those involved in process of human trafficking. The panel developed links with the group of scholars working on human trafficking at the University of Befordshire. We are developing the papers for submission as a special edition of a journal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | International Sociological Association World Forum, Toronto, July 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Paper: Secularization or specialization? Understanding the roles of faith based organisations in anti-trafficking in the UK ISA World Forum July 15-21 Panel: RC 19 (Sociology of Poverty, Social Welfare and Policy) Rethinking the Religion and Social Policy Nexus at the Global Level - discussion of a special edition emerging from the panel - sharing data across countries/ fields of faith practice, especially food banks in Germany and Wales |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | JLI Event, 20 February 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Anglican Communion Office, London - 20/2/19: this international event involved Salvation Army and Anglican Alliance anti-trafficking staff and involved an introduction to the JLI, an update on the scoping study and workshop activities. 30 people attended and there was also an online hub meeting involving a further 15 people in different locations across the globe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Launch event JLI Anti Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Hub 20.10.17 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | 30 practitioners and religious leaders who have an interest in anti-trafficking and faith attended the London launch of the JLI hub. The main outcome was networking and creating connections to establish the work of the hub. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://aht-ms.jliflc.com/ |
| Description | One day symposium 'Rights, dignity and religion: responding to modern slavery', 24 January 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Our end of award symposium, 'Rights, dignity and religion: responding to modern slavery' was held in Sheffield on 23 January. It had 99% attendance with 90 pracititioners, policy makers, academics, postgraduates and statutory representatives. The day comprised of a range of academic presentations, a policy maker roundtable and panel, and practitioner workshops. These included: a keynote with Dr Yvonne Zimmerman, Methodist Theological College, Ohio (US) ["It was a great keynote speech, which challenged many of the preconceptions I had on the collaboration between FBO and secular organisations."], a research presentation from our project, five academic paper panels with a range of academic, postgraduate and practitioner papers, two workshops on the ethical use of images with photographer Jeremy Abrahams and NGO Freedom United, and a closing plenary panel and Q&A with Dame Sara Thornton (Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner), Clare Gollop (police), Sister Marie Power (RENATE), Dr Revd Alastair Redfern (The Clewer Initiative), and Minh Dang (Survivor Alliance). The feedback indicates that we acheived the key goal to bring academic and practitioner perspectives together to provide a space to directly address the roles of faith and faith based organisations in responses to modern slavery which is rarely openly considered: "As an atheist in a secular NGO, in particular I learnt the value of faith to victim's recovery". The event launched our short report (see separate entry) which is promoting implementation of our HTF Care Standard on Freedom of Thought Religion and Belief (see separate entry): "We will discuss producing a clear statement and policy refering to the care standards and the sharing of belief etc .. we hope to produce this and possibly run some staff training in this withun 6 months. We do already follow the standards but believe it would be helpful to clarify further on this particular issue." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://faithantitrafficking.group.shef.ac.uk/events/conference/ |
| Description | Paper at BSA SocRel Chair's Response Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Paper presented as part of the British Sociological Association Sociology of Religion Study Group Chair's Day, 2.5.18. Paper title: 'Becoming 'professional': secularisation and questions of identity among FBOs involved in anti-trafficking.' The paper offered a critical perspective on the contracting of faith based organisations by government to deliver primary welfare services; while other perspectives on they day were largely complimentary, sparking debate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Press release - Faith responses to modern slavery report |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The university press office issued a press release. https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/report-looks-at-role-faith-based-charities-responding-modern-slavery-study-sociology-1.879921 relating to our conference and launch of our initial findings report 'Faith responses to modern slavery'. This led to an appearance on Radio 4 (see separate entry) and an article in the Church Times. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/report-looks-at-role-faith-based-charities-responding-modern-sla... |
| Description | Radio 4 interview, 'Sunday' religion and ethics show, 2 Feb 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by Emily Buchanan on Radio 4's 'Sunday' religion and ethics programme (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000dzlm starts 30m53s). The item centred on the findings from our short research report 'Faith responses to modern slavery' and focused on the question of non-proselytisation, in discussion with Caroline Virgo, The Clewer Initiative (The Church of England's modern slavery initiative). It led to widespread circulation on Twitter beyond our usual social media networks, and pushed the Church of England to be the first major insitution to publicly endorse our Survivor Care Standard on Freedom of Thought, Religion and Belief. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000dzlm |
| Description | Religion and Immigration workshop, Leeds, 19 June 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Drs Waite, Tomalin and Lonergan presented a paper on faith & modern slavery about the research study. The event was attended by a specialist group of academics and practitioners working in the field of faith & migration issues. A fullsome debate was had about the independence or co-option of church and other faith actors in political projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Royal Geographical Society-IGB conference panel & paper, 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Waite and Dr Lewis organised a panel on 'Faith and Social Action' at the RGS-IGB 2017, 31 August 2017 which brought together a double panel of academics working on research addressing diverse fields of social welfare/ action and the role of faith based organisations. The networking enabled by the panel created valuable international academic links between researchers in this sub-field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ConferencesAndSeminars/Annual+International+Conference/ |
| Description | St Mary's Conference Modern Slavery, 9 February 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Dr Waite presented a paper on faith and modern slavery at the First International Conference on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking organised by the new Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery at St Mary's University, Twickenham. The conference was attended by high profile actors, politicians and faith leaders in the field of tackling modern slavery in the UK, including the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner for the UK, Kevin Hyland. The conference offered a valuable opportunity to connect with faith-inspired researchers and practitioners operating in the field of modern slavery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/events/2017/02/centre-study-modern-slavery-international-conference |
| Description | Talk to PG and UG new students, 21.9.17 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research paper presented to UG and PG students as part of Intro week to profile research being undertaken in the department. There was a long discussion, and several PGs stayed to continue to discuss the issues raised, which had implications for their work on sexual exploitation, social work, immigration policy, etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |