British Red Cross - Anti-Trafficking Support

"The British Red Cross might be able to help people who have been: • deceived about work conditions • threatened and forced to work or carry out activities they don’t want to do • forced to work to pay off a large debt • treated badly by others and in ways they did not want to be treated. People might still be in exploitation and not ready to leave; have recently left exploitation; or have left a while ago. Some people don’t think of themselves as trafficked people. Some don’t wish to enter the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and prefer to explore their options. Regardless of what stage they are at, we aim to help people make an informed, safe decision. Survivors of trafficking and exploitation are very vulnerable and need help within the first few days of asking for it. They can get immediate help and longer-term support from a range of Red Cross services. We have specialist anti-trafficking officers in London, the north-west and the east Midlands. They can give more complex support to people and are also able to help other frontline workers. People who are trafficked are often separated from their families, and sometimes unable to find them. We can help them look for their loved ones and, if eligible, be reunited with them. Treating trafficked people with respect, kindness and dignity, we help them understand all their options. They can then make informed decisions about what to do next. We focus on helping people understand all the possible options they have so they can make informed decisions on what to do next. We believe that if people are given enough time, the right information and support, they can make their own choices about their next steps. We never tell people what they should do, such as leave exploitation or enter the National Referral Mechanism. Choices must be made by the trafficked person when they are ready to make them. Our support is usually time limited – mostly ranging from between three and four days or six to twelve weeks. But we offer our services for as long as people need them. Our longer-term support programme is offered for months or years. Ultimately, we want trafficked people to be independent again and we will support them to get there. We also acknowledge that people’s need for help will change over time and anyone may come back to us for further support when necessary."