Anti-Slavery Day
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Published 18 Oct 2024 in Raising Awareness
Today marks the Human Trafficking Foundation’s Anti-Slavery Day, a day which aims to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery, and encourage government, local authorities, companies, charities and individuals to do what they can to address the problem.
Modern slavery is, unfortunately, still a global challenge. A recent United Nations report revealed that trafficking victims hail from 152 different countries, showing the scale of the issue.
Our involvement with Bright Future Co-operative illustrates our dedication to creating a better future for survivors – not only through membership but also by having colleagues serve on their Board and offering employment opportunities within our trading business.
Founded in 2020, Bright Future Co-op brings charities and businesses together to provide stable employment for survivors of modern slavery. As founding members, our Chief Values Officer, Pete Westall, is chair of the Bright Future Co-op Board, and our Society’s Senior Legal Counsel, Sean McGovern, acts as Secretary.
Today, it boasts over 30 members, including ourselves, Morrisons, Currys, Aldi and East of England Co-op, collaborating to provide survivors with a four-week paid work placement that leads to a non-competitive job interview and potentially a permanent position.
To date, Bright Future Co-op has facilitated stable employment for over 80 individuals, which is an outstanding accomplishment. However, we hope this is just the beginning. The success achieved over the past four years is testament to the co-operative movement's unwavering commitment to eradicating modern slavery and the significant progress possible when we work together.
Our Society purpose states that we’re using the power of co-operation to build a fairer, more sustainable, and ethical future. A key part of that is helping to overcome barriers to employment where possible, which includes through our work with The Fairer Futures Programme. By providing personalised mentoring, counselling, and work experience, in its first year alone the programme has successfully supported 22 young people in the West Midlands into long-term employment, providing them with the tools and support they need to build a brighter future.
A fortnight ago, The Fairer Futures Programme was recognised at the People in Retail Awards, where it was honoured with the ‘Community Engagement Programme of the Year’ award. This recognition underscores the remarkable impact the programme has had on the local community and its dedication to social responsibility. To find out more watch Phil's update here.