Anti-Slavery Day 2020 special!

Focus on Modern Slavery!

We’ve got a real treat for you as we mark Anti-Slavery Day 2020! Debbie is joined by James Henderson from TCT in conversation with Wendy Simms and Piotr Pula, who are on the frontline of fighting Modern Slavery in Sandwell, with Sandwell Council and Slavery Free Sandwell.

Wendy Sims has a back ground in Social work. She worked with Women’s aid for 15 years heading up work for child victims of violence, abuse and exploitation and also leading on service delivery and development. During her time with Women’s Aid she was a regional head of service she established several refuges and community services for victims of domestic and sexual violence/abuse and modern slavery. Wendy Currently leads on developing Sandwell’s strategic approach modern slavery, human trafficking and prevention of violence and exploitation. Wendy Chairs the Sandwell Strategic anti-slavery partnership and is leading on working towards a slavery free Sandwell. Wendy is passionate about training people to identify and respond to violence, abuse and exploitation and had dedicated her life to working with victims of domestic anse sexual violence and abuse and modern slavery. Visit www.smbc.gov.uk/modernslavery

Piotr has over five years’ experience of working on the front line in the fight against modern slavery. In his current role as Community Safety Officer with Sandwell Council to tackle Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking he now gets to further shape the delivery of services to victims of modern slavery and take a lead in the role of the first responder. Piotr is passionate about educating others in the signs of modern slavery and his own experience demonstrates the values of training. Within a few days of Piotr attending Modern Slavery awareness he was able to identify 2 victims of modern slavery, which led to the largest slavery network in which over 400 victims of slavery were forced into about by a Organised crime Group. Piotr’s contribution to fight against Modern Day Slavery has been remarkable, he has rescued over 300 victims in the last five years has been recognised and awarded serval times for his work. Piotr’s work has been covered in print and broadcast outlets around the world, including the CNN Europe, Sky News, TVN, BBC, ITV, Birmingham Mail, Gazeta Wyborcza, Goniec:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/16/europe/uk-slavery-network-charity-worker-intl/index.html

https://news.sky.com/story/slavery-ring-that-forced-400-people-to-work-for-pittance-is-broken-11757286

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/well-kidnap-destroy-you-death-16705456

James Henderson joins Wendy and Piotr. James has been passionate about ending Modern Slavery for many years. As well as being Senior Development Worker at Transforming Communities Together (www.tctogether.org.uk). He is also very active in WASP - Wolverhampton and Walsall Anti-Slavery Partnership which seeks to bring together a wide range of partners to raise awareness, support victims and increase intelligence. James currently serves as Acting Chair to WASP.

We want to continue to encourage one another that together, what ever circumstance we find ourselves in, we can change the narrative from one of indifference to making a difference! Let us be courageous together and talk about modern slavery.

🎵 Track Info: Happy Life by Fredji License: Royalty-free music SC: https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic