It is estimated that in in 2019, in the UK, 136,000 men, women and children were trapped in modern slavery. Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October provides an opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery in an effort to end the exploitation of people everywhere.The Clewer Theme for Anti-Slavery Day this year is #Ordinary Activist which shines a light on some of the amazing acts of service and projects that ordinary volunteers devote their time to. More than a dozen men and women who have joined the fight against modern slavery will share their story. They are all people who felt compelled to act, who give their time freely to care for victims and raise awareness of modern slavery.
Sian Owen, Hidden Voices Bridgwater has been nominated for an Anti-slavery Day Award by the Human Trafficking Foundation recognising her work to fight modern slavery and human trafficking. Sian has been nominated in the Reducing Vulnerabilities catagory.
Bridgwater was the first town council to petition the government against the slave trade in 1785. Hidden Voices Bridgwater is continuing in that tradition and working hard to tackle the issues of modern slavery in their community. The Hidden Voices county lines work over the summer months has included contact with 800 people face to face, many more on social media and a booklet being put into foodbank 150 foodbank parcels. This year St Mary’s Church in Bridgwater is inviting people celebrate Bridgwater's history on Anti-Slavery Day Monday 18 October, and to once again pledge to work together towards a slave free town and world. An art exhibition organised by Hidden Voices Bridgwater has seen a large number of local people contribute their own work depicting their view of modern slavery, some examples of which you can see below.
St Stephen’s church in Bath is hosting an Anti-Slavery Day service which Bishop Alastair Redfern is preaching at and lighting the building red to declare to passers-by that slavery must stop. Bath Abbey is hosting an Anti-Slavery Day service and using The Clewer Initiative’s Women in the Shadows films showing how women get dragged into modern slavery.
The Clewer Initiative has produced a number of Anti-Slavery Day resources, including liturgy, prayers, and home group materials to help churches mark the day.
Bishop Ruth shared this message for Anti-Modern Slavery Day.
