The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline turns 5!

Since its launch in October 2016, the Helpline:

• Has received more than 28,000 incoming helpline calls and nearly 8,000 contacts through its website and app.
• In total, has raised more than 25,700 cases.
• Of these, nearly 8,000 were related to reports of modern slavery.
• More than 24,000 potential victims were indicated in these modern slavery cases.

Justine Currell, Executive Director of Unseen, comments: “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in the past five years, and how our rich data is used by the Government, businesses, the police and other organisations to raise awareness and inform their approach to tackling slavery.

“There is no room for complacency, however. Modern slavery is alive and well in this country, and there is still a worrying lack of awareness. With some experts estimating there is up to 100,000 people in slavery in the UK at any one time, we need more of us to be able to recognise the signs of exploitation and report it to the Helpline.”

To keep the Helpline running as a free 24/7 service, it relies on external financial support and charitable giving. To mark its fifth birthday, it has launched its Helpline Hero campaign and devised several challenge ideas based on the Helpline’s number – 08000 121 700. It hopes many supporters will take up a challenge to help raise cash and awareness.

Examples include running, cycling or walking 8,000 steps or 8,000 metres; scoring 8,000 basketball baskets or raising £700 via a bake sale, coffee morning, clothes drive or car boot sale.

To find out more about the UK’s Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline or how to become a helpline hero, visit:
https://www.unseenuk.org/get-involved/helpline-hero/