The Sheffield story

The Diocese of Sheffield’s response to modern slavery launched in 2018 with a high-profile event in the cathedral, which featured speakers from The Clewer Initiative, the Snowdrop Project, and the police. Since the launch event, the diocese has worked to bring together interested faith leaders, members of the public, statutory agencies, and charities to see where the gaps are in the local response to modern slavery; the diocese is seeking to explore how the Church can help bridge those gaps.

Sheffield benefits from being home to several organisations working in the anti-slavery sector, including the Snowdrop Project, Ashiana Sheffield, and City Hearts. The diocesan response in Sheffield, which has included delivery of awareness raising deanery training, is just one part of a wide range of activity.

Working in partnership

The diocese works closely with its partners to provide a comprehensive response to modern slavery. Key partners include the police, particularly the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), the Mothers’ Union, and the South Yorkshire Modern Slavery Partnership, which bring together a number of statutory and non-statutory services.

A spectrum of exciting projects

Sheffield is home to a range of innovative approaches to anti-slavery projects, including:

• The Mothers’ Union’s ‘Bags of Hope’ initiative provided bags packed with the essential items that someone might need in the first few days after they are rescued from modern slavery. The Clewer Initiative got involved with this project, and pulled together around 150 bags which were given to the police and passed onto victims.
• St John the Baptist, Owlerton and local community development partner, Zest, deliver detached youthwork on the Winn Gardens Estate, which aims to build relationships and strengthen the community, so that children and young people do not end up falling into exploitative situations like County Lines gangs.
• The Family Works, a family support project based out of St. John’s Owlerton, is training all of their family mentors and staff in County Lines awareness, using The Clewer Initiative’s training.