Modern slavery: health and wellbeing services and resources

These resources provide information on accessing health and wellbeing support in relation to victims and survivors of exploitation.

Modern slavery is the exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. It has a severe impact on the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors. It is vital that people with lived experience of exploitation have access to health and wellbeing support. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 provides the legislative framework in England and Wales for tackling modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation.

People of all backgrounds can experience modern slavery and exploitation. The largest numbers of victims of modern slavery in Wales are British citizens, alongside people from many different countries. In Wales, as set out in the refreshed Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (2024), we are committed to being a Nation of Sanctuary. A place where people who have experienced trauma, including survivors of modern slavery, are treated with dignity and supported to rebuild their lives.

Research commissioned by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (‘Placing Survivor Wellbeing on the Policy and Evidence Map’) highlights the importance of psychological assistance for survivors of modern slavery. People with lived experience of exploitation rely heavily on individual coping strategies and personal resilience to cope with triggers and overall distress. Access to other assistance and support can therefore play a key role and a range of community-based institutions and resources are important for survivors’ mental wellbeing.

In Wales, various organisations provide specialist support for survivors of modern slavery. Adults victims of modern slavery are primarily supported through the Modern Slavery Victim Care and Coordination Contract (MSVCC). This is a Home Office contract, sub-contracted in Wales by The Salvation Army to Bawso. Bawso are a registered charity that provides support to adult victims of modern slavery and their dependants. The MSVCC provides support, including medical support and psychological assistance to people who have been referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) as potential victims of modern slavery. There is also support provided for survivors once they have exited the NRM, which is called Reach-in Support. You can see more detailed information about this in the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance for England and Wales.

Support provided includes:

• safe accommodation (where needed)
• practical help and advice
• interpretation and translation services
• financial support
• healthcare to meet physical, emotional and mental health needs
• specialist legal advice
• education for school-aged dependent children
• transport to important appointments
• future-planning support

Support for child victims of modern slavery is provided by local authorities. This is in addition to the specialist Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service delivered by Barnardo’s National Counter Trafficking Centre.

Wales Modern Slavery Safeguarding Pathway

The Wales Modern Slavery Safeguarding Pathway  describes what to do if you encounter a potential victim of modern slavery. Following this Pathway ensures that the appropriate support is provided based on individual needs, including health services, local authority services, and specialist services as required.

Bawso

Bawso delivers the Modern Slavery Victim Care and Coordination contract in Wales as described above. These services include safehouses for men and women as well as a pan-Wales outreach service working in every local authority in Wales. Bawso supports survivors who have been referred to the NRM. Bawso works closely with the police, health and other partner agencies to support and safeguard survivors. Bawso support workers work with survivors to create individual support plans. Bawso is also a First Responder and submit NRM applications when they identify potential victims of modern slavery.

Barnardo’s: Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship service

Barnardo’s National Counter Trafficking Centre provide support for children who have been trafficked. Children with lived experience of exploitation will be given a support worker who is trained and understands that child victims of trafficking are particularly vulnerable and need support specific to their needs.

Barnardo’s run the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service in England and Wales under a Home Office contract. The services seek to:

• build trusting relationships with trafficked children to help them build a positive future
• help children navigate the criminal justice, immigration and social care systems
• give practical support, such as help with housing, medical needs and education
• give emotional and psychological support
• train professionals working with children so they can spot the signs of trafficking and know how to support trafficked children

In Wales and England, Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs) are an independent source of advice for trafficked children. Somebody who can speak up on their behalf and act in the best interests of the child. 

ICTGS work directly with children who do not have someone with parental responsibility for them in the UK. They meet children face-to-face to build trust relationships to support them through the complex systems and processes they find themselves in, helping children build a positive and safe future.   

ICTGs work indirectly with children who do have someone with parental responsibility for them in the UK. In some cases, ICTGs also work directly with these children. ICTGs support the professionals that are making decisions about their lives through advice, guidance and professional challenge to make sure that actions for children are in their best interests at all times.   

The service tailors support to children’s needs, and listens to what children say, acting on their views and opinions.

An ICTG’s involvement throughout the decision-making process is intended to ensure the child is protected from further harm, to prevent possible repeat victimisation, re-trafficking or going missing, and to promote the child’s recovery.

ICTGs are independent of authorities who are responsible for making decisions about the child. If the first responder considers a child to be a potential victim of modern slavery, they should refer them to the ICTG service by completing the online ICTG referral form.

Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline

The Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline operate 365 days a year. It is free to use, available in more than 200 languages, and confidential. Helpline Advisers are there for support and advice, not only for the victims of modern slavery, but for the public, businesses and statutory agencies like the police, NHS and local government. The Helpline is delivered by the anti-slavery charity Unseen. If you need help, have concerns, or need advice, please call 08000 121 700. 

Live Fear Free helpline

This helpline provides help and advice about violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. This helpline also provides help and support for those who are experiencing or know someone experiencing modern slavery. The Live Fear Free Helpline can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for free advice and support or to talk through options. You can contact the helpline by phone and text on 0808 8010800 as well as online.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) provide confidential, specialist support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted, or abused. They offer a range of services, including crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception, emotional support and testing for sexually transmitted infections. They can also arrange access to an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA), as well as referrals to mental health support and voluntary sector sexual violence support services. The NHS Wales Executive has developed an animation to help explain what happens at a sexual assault referral centre and the kind of help and support someone can expect.

111 Press 2

If someone needs to talk to someone urgently about their mental health, or they are concerned about a family member, they can call 111 and press OPTION 2. The service is available for people of all ages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in all areas of Wales to ensure those in need of support can access it quickly when they need it most.

111 Option 2 will place people in direct contact with a mental health professional in their area. The number is free to call from a landline or mobile, even if they have no credit left on their phone.

111 Option 2 also provides a range of mental health and wellbeing support.

CALL

CALL (Community Advice and Listening Line) is the Mental Health Helpline for Wales and is available 24 hours a day to listen and provide support – including anyone who is a victim of modern slavery. CALL uses the interpretation service Language Line to support callers who cannot (or prefer not to) speak English or Welsh. Call 0800 132 737 or email call@helpline.wales.

DAN 247: Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline

The Wales Drug amd Alcohol Helpline, also known as DAN 24/7 is a free and bilingual telephone helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information and/or help relating to drugs and/or alcohol. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The helpline will assist individuals, their families, carers, and support workers within the drug and alcohol field to access appropriate local and regional services.

Royal College of Psychiatrists: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

There is a leaflet which has been prepared by the Royal College of Psychiatrists on coping after a traumatic event (which contains information for anyone who has experienced a traumatic event, or who knows someone who has), and also a leaflet on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

They also provide advice on Translations of their mental health information.

World Health Organisation

The World Health Organisation has developed a self-help guide “Doing What Matters in Times of Stress”. This has been developed for communities affected by adversity and has been translated into multiple languages. “Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide” is a stress management guide for coping with adversity. The guide aims to equip people with practical skills to help cope with stress. A few minutes each day are enough to practice the self-help techniques. The guide can be used alone or with the accompanying audio exercises. Informed by evidence and extensive field testing, the guide is for anyone who experiences stress, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Hub Wales

The ACE Hub Wales has developed a number of resources explaining the effects of being exposed to distressing events. Resources include a short guide to understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences and a Navigating the Storm Animation.

The ACE Hub Wales and Traumatic Stress Wales have developed the Trauma-Informed Wales Framework in co-production with people and organisations across Wales and supported by Welsh Government. This establishes how individuals, families/other support networks, communities, organisations and systems take account of adversity and trauma, recognising and supporting the strengths of an individual to overcome this experience in their lives. It also sets out the support they can expect to receive from the organisations, sectors and systems that they may turn to for help. It is inclusive of people of all ages, from babies, children and young people right through to older adults.

ACE Hub Wales has developed an e-learning course on ACEs and Trauma-Informed Practice in Wales. In reference to the National Trauma-Informed Wales Framework, this online course is considered to be at the “trauma-aware” level.

Traumatic Stress Wales toolkit

There is a toolkit that has been developed by the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) that can be used directly by people who have experienced traumatic events. This is available in over 20 different languages and is available on the Traumatic Stress Wales website. The ideal use of this would be for an individual to go through the exercises with a trusted member of staff and then have a copy of the booklet to keep practicing such exercises for times of distress. 

Mind Cymru

Mind is a key mental‑health charity supporting people across Wales, offering counselling, practical resources and specialist wellbeing support through its network of 15 local Minds. Internally, colleagues have highlighted Mind Cymru as an important organisation to include in wellbeing and safeguarding materials because of the accessibility and breadth of its services.

Sanctuary

This website has been created by Welsh Government to help sanctuary seekers in Wales to understand their rights, and the website can be used in many different languages. The website provides information about local areas in Wales, housing, education, health and wellbeing, jobs, money, staying safe, and asylum law.

Meic

Meic is the helpline service for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales. From finding out what’s going on in your local area to help dealing with a tricky situation, Meic will listen even when no-one else will. We won’t judge you and will help by giving you information, useful advice and the support you need to make a change.

Call or WhatsApp 0808 80 23456 or Text 07943 114 449. Helplines are open 8am-midnight.

Shout

Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Text 85258 for immediate help.

Samaritans

You can access confidential emotional support at any time from Samaritans either by emailing or by calling 116 123.

Childline

Childline is a free, private and confidential service that you can access online and on the phone. They can provide help and support for people up to their 19th birthday.

Additional local and regional organisations

There are a number of local and national third sector organisations and charities that provide front line support services for the victims of modern slavery. There is often capacity to provide support in multiple community languages. 

Dewis Cymru

Dewis Cymru is an online database of health and wellbeing services across Wales. You can search this database for community organisations that can offer help and support.

Some examples of locally based organisations:

EYST

EYST (Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales) was set up in 2005 by a group of ethnic minority young people in Swansea. EYST provides a targeted, culturally sensitive and holistic support service to meet the needs of young BME people aged 11 to25. Since then, EYST has expanded its mission and vision to also meet the needs of BME young people, families and individuals including refugees and asylum-seekers living in Wales. It does this through the provision of a wide range of services including education, employment, health, family support and community safety.

Community Care and Wellbeing Service (Cardiff)

CCAWS is a local mental health charity based in Cardiff supporting the diverse communities of Cardiff and Southeast Wales. CCAWS aims to help improve the mental wellbeing of all those who access their services.

Diverse Cymru Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub 

Diverse Cymru offer support, service and advice to Black Asian and Minority Ethnic people throughout Wales who are affected by mental ill health.

Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Mental Health Support 

BMHS is a not-for-profit organisation focused on education and advocacy to inspire a mentally healthy Ethnic Minority community by providing support appropriate to their mental health and wellbeing.

New Pathways

New Pathways are the largest sexual violence support provider in Wales, They provide specialist therapeutic support to adults and children affected by the trauma of rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse.

The Children's Society

The Children’s Society has dedicated more than 100 years to protecting the hopes of children threatened by abuse, exploitation and neglect. From its early beginnings, the organisation has remained committed to its mission of transforming the lives of young people across the country. Its work continues to strive toward creating a society that supports and empowers all children.

St Giles 

St Giles help people held back by poverty, unemployment, the criminal justice system, homelessness, exploitation and abuse to build a positive future. 

St Giles are a national charity using real-life past experiences to provide advice, training and support to people facing challenges today.

Action for Children

Action for Children is a UK-wide charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable children, young people, and families.