Medaille Trust celebrates 20 years of fighting against trafficking

Archbishop John Sherrington with staff and trustees of the Medaille Trust

Medaille Trust has celebrated 20 years of providing restoration and support for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery at a celebratory Mass and reception at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

The charity, founded by Sr Ann Teresa SSJA with the support of Catholic Religious, began by providing hospitality and a safe house for vulnerable women working in street prostitution in Southampton in 2006. It has now grown into a national charity supporting more than 700 people a year with intensive wraparound support including ten safe houses, five community projects, a criminal justice programme to help victims pursue their exploiters and a prevention project in Albania.

The celebrations in Liverpool included a Mass presided by the Archbishop of Liverpool John Sherrington and a display of artworks produced by survivors.

Archbishop Sherrington thanked the staff and volunteers for their commitment to fighting for justice. He spoke of the importance of accompaniment and support on "the journey from victim to survivor, the rediscovery of light in a dark life, freedom in despair, and love where there was only oppression."

Medaille Trust CEO Dani Wardman said: "Over the last 20 years, Medaille has helped thousands of survivors find safety, rebuild their lives and move towards lasting freedom. As we begin our next chapter, our ambition is to ensure every survivor has the opportunity to build a future of safety and dignity"

Medaille Trust is one of the UK's leading providers of modern slavery survivor support services and one of the largest Catholic charities in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. We work to support more than 700 survivors a year through safe house and outreach projects in addition to awareness raising in the UK, prevention work in Albania, and pursuit work that helps survivors to engage with police and the justice system to secure convictions against their abusers.

LINK

Medaille Trust: www.medaille-trust.org.uk