Helen Bamber Foundation

Our Ambassadors for Change, a group of survivors with lived experience of the UK asylum system, have released a powerful new short film, 'Finding Sanctuary', which illustrates how a welcoming environment can make all the difference to people seeking protection. Watch the film below 👇 And read this briefing to know more about the Ambassadors for Change and their recommendations for asylum accommodation in the UK: https://lnkd.in/dr5_E936

Out now: New analysis by After Exploitation & the Anti Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG) (Anti-Slavery International) documents how often survivors of modern slavery are being turned away from support and left unable to challenge decisions: ⚫ New evidence burdens are hitting survivors hard. More than half of first-stage decisions were rejected due to 'insufficient evidence' last year, compared to just 3% in 2022. ⚫ Survivors now have just 30 days to challenge a rejection, despite it taking much more than a month to gather the documents needed, secure mental health/legal support, and get advice. ⚫ Most refusals are later overturned—but the damage is already done. Most survivors never go on to submit a reconsideration because of these barriers Read the report co-authored by Emily Vaughn, Eleonora Fais and Maya E. here: https://lnkd.in/eNu4GSf7 Thank you to our contributors: The Human Trafficking Foundation Bawso ECPAT UK Flourish NI Focus On Labour Exploitation (FLEX) Helen Bamber Foundation Just Right Scotland, KALAYAAN Scottish Refugee Council Snowdrop Project TARA UNICEF UK Causeway Charity Bindmans Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea City of Westminster Duncan Lewis, Migrants Organise Southwell & Partners Hammersmith & Fulham Council

🚨 OUT NOW     New Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG) and After Exploitation briefing provides an overview of the barriers faced by survivors unfairly excluded by the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and the challenges to overturn these decisions. The briefing highlights growing barriers for survivors of modern slavery in accessing support. Stricter rules under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 have led to a sharp rise in refusals at the first stage of identification, increasing from 12% in 2022 to 47% in 2024. Survivors who are denied support can challenge the decision, but a new 30-day limit, lack of legal help, and high evidence requirements make this difficult. With 70% of reconsiderations leading to positive outcomes, the briefing highlights concerns in relation to inconsistent decision-making and poor quality of NRM  referrals. Read more in the briefing: https://lnkd.in/e2mJsvVY

The Helen Bamber Foundation is seeking a visionary CEO to lead their pioneering human rights organisation supporting survivors of trafficking, torture and extreme human cruelty. From their new Trauma Centre in London, the successful candidate will drive forward the Group's mission to provide safety, freedom and power to the most vulnerable individuals. They're looking for someone with strategic leadership experience, advocacy skills, and a passion for human rights, who can guide their team of staff and volunteers through a challenging global landscape. The new CEO will build on the Group's legacy of providing trauma-informed care and legal protection while expanding their reach and influencing policy at the highest levels. If you're a compassionate, results-driven leader committed to justice and human dignity, with proven ability to create lasting impact, visit https://buff.ly/z6DuUX2 to learn more and apply. #HumanRights #LeadershipOpportunity #RefugeeRights #SocialJustice #NonprofitLeadership

🚨 In a judgment today, the High Court has found that the government acted unlawfully in accommodating three victims of trafficking, torture & other extreme human cruelty in the asylum camp at RAF Wethersfield. The High Court also found that the government failed to assess the 'equalities impact' of changing its asylum accommodation policy. This means that vulnerable asylum seekers with special needs or disabilities may be judged suitable to be accommodated at Wethersfield. Experts have provided a wealth of evidence showing that placing people in camp accommodation on ex-military sites has caused profound and long-lasting harm. It is shocking that the site still remains open in face of this. The government must act on the commitment made by the Prime Minister before the general election and close Wethersfield. If asylum claims are processed fairly and quickly there is no reason why people seeking protection should not be housed in communities, instead of camps. Read our entire statement here: https://lnkd.in/djBhumPu

The Helen Bamber Foundation is looking for a compassionate, skilled, and enthusiastic volunteer who can commit two hours per week to co-facilitate our weekly Textiles Group. This group is part of our Creative Arts and Skills Programme which sits within the Community and Integration strand of our work. Through the Community and Integration Programme, our clients can engage in activities unrelated to their trauma and form safe and positive relationships with others in a similar position. They learn new skills and develop confidence and independence, which in turn helps them find the strength to move on. Want to apply or find out more? Head to our website: https://lnkd.in/ewR5EEbJ Apply by 04/04/25

Survivors of trafficking from countries such as Vietnam have often endured prolonged abuse & exploitation in places such as cannabis farms, brothels & nail salons in the UK. This can lead to chronic health problems & significant psychological trauma. Providing survivors with support measures such as safe housing, healthcare, legal advice & therapy is fundamental for their recovery. Without support, survivors can remain trapped in cycles of exploitation and be vulnerable to being trafficked again. https://lnkd.in/dahCqAdz

Time and again, we have warned that hundreds of children seeking asylum are wrongly treated as adults and put at risk of serious harm. But the UK's asylum system continues to fail them. It's unclear what more evidence is needed before action is taken. https://lnkd.in/dDz4kpb3

The UK’s asylum system is failing vulnerable children. This must change. Hundreds of refugee children arriving alone in the UK are being wrongly treated as adults due to flawed age assessments. Children who have fled war, and persecution, and experienced unimaginable trauma are then being placed in adult accommodation, left exposed to further harm, with some cases of children being wrongly convicted and sent to prison. Amara*, 17, shared:* "They asked me about my age three hours after I arrived, I can’t even remember what I said, I was almost out of my mind. They asked me about my age, and how I got here, and all about how I came, but I needed rest, I couldn’t remember all the details they were asking me for." Adil, who arrived in the UK at 16, shared:* "When I told them I was sixteen, they didn’t accept my age. They said, ‘You haven’t got any evidence.’ I kept saying, ‘This isn’t my real age,’ but no one listened. I was put in a hotel with adults, and the situation was dangerous. It took months before they finally believed me." Why is this happening? The Home Office relies on visual checks, judging a child's age based on appearance instead of expert assessments. The consequences? Children are left unprotected and at risk of abuse. Some are wrongly placed in adult prisons. Many are deprived of education and proper safeguarding. This cannot continue. Age assessments must be conducted by child protection professionals, not border officials. The system must prioritise safeguarding. No child should be left at risk. The Home Office must publish clear data on age assessments. Our latest report, produced in partnership with the Refugee and Migrant Children’s Consortium, the Helen Bamber Foundation, and Humans for Rights Network, exposes these failures and urges the Government to urgently take action to protect vulnerable children. *Names changed to protect identity.

Volunteer With Us! We are looking for volunteers to support two essential areas of our back-office work. With a large volunteer base carrying out very varied tasks, Volunteer Management at HBF is fast-paced, and the support of our Volunteer Management and Training Volunteers helps us to give volunteers the best possible experience at HBF, through carrying out research, managing volunteering data, organising logistics of recruiting volunteers, and other tasks as required. Volunteers will also assist with the planning, creation and implementation of our new internal and external training project, supporting staff with administration, organisation, proof-reading, and designing training. For more information and to apply, head to our website: https://lnkd.in/e7eP_aru