The Church of England's response to modern slavery, The Clewer Initiative, has today launched a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising £2 million over the next three years to continue its vital work.
The Clewer Initiative was established in 2016 and aims to raise awareness and mobilise the Church and communities to take action against modern slavery, promote victim identification and provide victim care and support.
Bishop Alastair Redfern, the chair of The Clewer Initiative, explains: "For the last seven years, the Community of St John Baptist (CSJB) or Clewer Sisters, an Anglican religious order of Augustinian nuns, have funded The Clewer Initiative. This generous financial support is coming to an end so we are seeking alternative sources of funding to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project.
"We receive amazing support from the Church of England at every level but, like most charities, we have to secure our own funding. Being independent means we can create an important and unique space in which church and non-church actors can meet as equal partners and collaborators.
"Setting up a GoFundMe page is a significant step for The Clewer Initiative but we pray it will enable us to tell a wider audience about the difference we've made over the last seven years and our hopes for the future. Our fundraising goal is ambitious but we are hopeful about this next stage and continuing the work we have only just begun."
Next steps
If you would like to have a confidential conversation to find out more about The Clewer Initiative and potentially supporting the organisation financially, please email
Make a donation
If you would like to make a donation today, visit our GoFundMe page or transfer money to our bank account. The details are:
Sort code: 83-91-55
Account Number: 11016838
Charity Commission number: 1186900
