Anti-Slavery Day 2025
Saturday 18th October 2025 marked Anti-Slavery Day, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about modern slavery and human trafficking. The day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need for action from individuals, businesses, and charities to combat exploitation and support survivors.
To commemorate the occasion, a Council’s Modern Slavery Coordinator hosted a special conversation with a Lived Experience Consultant, someone who has personally experienced modern slavery and now works to inform and inspire change. Their reflections offered a deeply personal and urgent perspective on why responding to modern slavery must remain a priority.
This conversation highlighted how a lack of awareness among professionals can delay a survivor’s path to safety and healing. The Lived Experience Consultant described being met with disbelief, inadequate support, and even rejection when seeking help, experiences that prolonged their trauma. They reflected that earlier understanding and trauma-informed care could have made a profound difference. Their story is a powerful reminder that professional awareness isn’t optional but essential.
Their insights offer a powerful firsthand perspective. Here is the full conversation that followed:
What do you wish more people understood about modern slavery and its impact?
That it’s not always visible, it doesn’t always look like what you see in the media. It can happen behind closed doors, in workplaces, homes, or relationships, and often to people who don’t even realise they are being exploited. I wish people understood that the trauma doesn’t end when the exploitation stops. Survivors often carry years of fear, shame, and mistrust, and rebuilding a sense of safety takes time and patience. Many of us become hyper-aware of our surroundings and the intentions of others, not because we’re paranoid, but because it’s how we’ve survived.
How did awareness of modern slavery (or lack of it) among professionals affect your journey to safety and support?
There simply was no awareness. At the time, there weren’t any charities set up to deal with what I had been through, and there was no internet to browse to find out what support existed. Some organisations only started several years after my exploitation. Most people were shocked, in their minds, things like that just didn’t happen here; it was something you saw on TV, not real life. When I went to professional counsellors, many were visibly shocked by what I shared. Some were too busy clock-watching, ending the session just as I began to open up. There were no resources or follow-up support to help me cope with the emotions that came after talking. Others turned me away altogether, admitting they had no experience with trauma like mine. Over time, I did notice improvement, practitioners began to understand more and listen better. But had there been adequate awareness and support earlier, my healing journey would have been much faster. It could have helped me build better relationships and manage my emotions more effectively. My CPTSD didn’t properly surface until I had children, and when it did, it hit me like a tonne of bricks. Awareness back then could have changed everything.
Why is it important for frontline staff (e.g. housing officers, social workers) to act quickly when they suspect modern slavery?
Because hesitation can cost someone their freedom, or even their life. When a professional acts quickly, with care, not panic, it sends a message that the person matters, that someone believes them. Many survivors are on the edge of giving up hope; that one moment of being believed can be the turning point. Quick action can also prevent perpetrators from moving or silencing victims. But equally important is how that action is taken, calmly, clearly, and with respect. Survivors need to know what’s happening next, not to be left guessing. Clarity creates safety.
What are some key signs or behaviours that you think professionals often overlook?
- Extreme compliance or fear of authority. Many survivors will agree to anything just to avoid trouble or conflict.
- Inconsistent stories. This doesn’t mean someone is lying, it can be trauma, fear, or confusion.
- Lack of identification or personal belongings.
- Unusual relationships. For example, someone always speaking for another, or an adult who seems controlled by a partner, employer, or “friend.”
- Body language. Survivors often avoid eye contact, flinch easily, or scan the room constantly. Professionals need to learn to read the unsaid.
What role do you think training and education play in improving responses from public services?
Training is everything, but it has to be real. Not just policy tick-boxes, but training that includes lived experience, body language, tone, and trauma informed approaches. Professionals need to understand both the systems and the humans behind them. Education helps them spot patterns, know what questions to ask (and what not to ask), and respond with compassion instead of judgement. Every survivor’s story is unique, but awareness gives staff the confidence to act without fear of “getting it wrong.”
How can organisations build trust with survivors and communities affected by exploitation?
Start with honesty and consistency. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Be clear about what you can do, and what you can’t. Trust is built in moments, through tone, presence, and follow-through. Survivors have learned to read people quickly; we notice everything from your body language to your eye contact. You build trust when your words match your actions. Also, involve survivors in your planning and training. We notice the difference immediately when our voices have helped shape something. It creates a culture of “with us,” not “about us.”
What message would you give to leaders in local authorities about prioritising modern slavery awareness?
Modern slavery isn’t an isolated issue, it connects to housing, health, crime, education, and social care. Every department touches it in some way. If leaders make it a priority, it sends a ripple effect through every level of service. It says: we see you, and we won’t look away. Survivors shouldn’t have to rely on luck to find someone who understands. Awareness needs to be embedded, in policy, practice, and everyday human interaction. This is not just about compliance; it’s about humanity. The earlier we act, the more lives we change.
To learn more about modern slavery, the support available to victims and survivors, and our dedicated referral pathways, visit: What modern slavery is | Modern slavery | Birmingham City Council