1. Alison Gardner: University of Nottingham
Modern Slavery and Homelessness: partnership challenges and opportunities
Alison Gardner: University of Nottingham

2. The Rights Lab

3. Why does partnership matter?
Complexity of Modern Slavery demands a cohesive multi-agency / multi-layer response
Complexity of victim’s needs: victim centred approach
IASC Strategic Plan – Priority 3
Modern Slavery Strategy 2014
Modern Slavery Act Review 2016
…and also crucial to addressing homelessness

6. What areas have anti-slavery partnerships?
All Multi-Agency Anti-Slavery Partnerships in the UK Spring 2017, by Police Force area.

7. What form and structure?
National, regional, sub-regional and local structures (majority organised by force boundary).
Dynamic and changing over time: informal groups or networks tended to move towards operationally-focussed sub-groups.
Some alignment to existing partnership structures, such as local Safeguarding Boards, ‘Preventing Violence to Vulnerable People’ (PVVP) Boards, or multi-agency safeguarding hubs (MASH). No single natural fit.

8. Who leads? Who is involved?
More than 50 different types of organisation engaged in anti-slavery partnerships
Vast majority of partnerships were chaired by Police
Police took responsibility for partnership co-ordination more frequently than other partners.
‘too much reliance on Police to lead the agenda’ (survey response)

9. ‘The voluntary and community sector (VCS) have an absolutely critical role to play. There’s always a whole issue of distrust around statutory organisations, especially from the victims perspective, and so the VCS are best placed to be able to provide that specialist support, where they can build that trust and those relationships with victims to help them to move on…That’s never going to be the council or the police who do that….’ (Interview, Council Officer)

10. What do anti-slavery partnerships do?

11. How is work funded?

12. Gaps, Challenges, Effectiveness
Substantially interlinked in survey responses…
Coordination and leadership: horizontally and vertically (national / regional / local).
Ownership and engagement: esp. clarity on powers / responsibilities.
Accountability – what does good look like?
Funding ‘You can’t say you are here for modern slavery victims if you won’t put finance in place’ (Police interviewee).

13. Implications for responding to MS & homelessness (see recommendations)
9) Gaps in pre/ post NRM support are currently filled piecemeal (but some recent progress from Gov/ good work from NGOs) 10) Partnership is patchy – some areas still need commitment / coordination / action plans 11) Multiple points of contact: need for local clarity and agreement 12) Referral pathways also vary locally (can be contentious).

14. Opportunities: convening partnerships
Regional leads (Police, NGOs, Regional LGA)
Local authorities – LGA guidance on responsibilities
Faith bodies (e.g. The Clewer Initiative, CUF)
Transforming communities together (Lichfield)
Civil Society Groups: e.g. Citizens UK, Rotary Clubs
Businesses (Co-op, HSBC, others?)

15. Opportunities: awareness, prevention, training
Unchosen: ‘Stay Safe from Slavery’
Films, posters and resources to help vulnerable people (and those working with them) to prevent slavery.
SW Pilot until Feb 2018

16. Slavery-free economy and Intelligence / learning
Opportunities: Place
Joint Awareness raising campaign Autumn 2017
Slavery Free Notts
Raise
awareness
Civic leadership
Front line training
Slavery-free economy and
supply
Support for victims
Intelligence / learning
Notts MSP
Nottingham Citizens
Evaluation of impact e.g. local media portrayal MS
Building referral pathways
Red Cross: Your space
HfJ training provided
Faith based initiatives, e.g. Clewer
Exploring idea of SFC with local businesses
e.g. Working with banks

17. Thank you for your attention