Call Services for Bedfordshire on 0800 0282 887
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking involves recruitment, harbouring or transporting people into a situation of exploitation through the use of violence, deception or coercion and forced to work against their will.
In other words, trafficking is a process of enslaving people, coercing them into a situation with no way out, and exploiting them.
People can be trafficked for many different forms of exploitation such as forced prostitution, forced labour, forced begging, forced criminality, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and forced organ removal.
Many people who fall victim of trafficking want to escape poverty, improve their lives, and support their families. Often they get an offer of a well-paid job abroad or in another region. Often they borrow money from their traffickers in advance to pay for arranging the job, travel and accommodation. When they arrive they find that the work they applied for does not exist, or the conditions are completely different. But it’s too late, their documents are often taken away and they are forced to work until their debt is paid off.
Modern Slavery
Someone is in slavery if they are forced to work, if they are owned or controlled by an employer, if they are dehumanised and treated as a commodity, or bought and sold as ‘property’, or if they are physically constrained or have restrictions placed on their freedom of movement.
There is no ‘typical’ victim of modern slavery. Victims can be men, women and children of all ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds. They are forced into a situation through the use or threat of violence, deception or coercion. Victims may enter the UK legally, or on forged documentation, or they may be a UK citizen living in the UK who is then forced into slavery.
Modern slavery covers a range of exploitation including; human trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced labour, debt bondage, domestic servitude, criminal activities, child labour, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and forced and early marriage.
1. Bedford Salvation Army 
The Salvation Army can provide a wide range of support for victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.
This support ranges from medical treatment and translation and interpretation services.
This support ranges from medical treatment and translation and interpretation services.
2. Paws Protect
Domestic violence and pets can make for an unsafe situation, which is why we offer our Paws Protect cat fostering service. Through a network of cat fosterers, the service provides a retreat for pets of those going into a refuge until the owner has a safe place to live and they can be reunited.
All information between the cat owner and foster carer is kept confidential. Our fosterers do not know the identity or whereabouts of the cat owner and vice versa, ensuring complete anonymity.
While it is not possible for the owner to visit their cat while it is being fostered, the Paws Protect team visit the fosterer on a regular basis and provide monthly updates to the owner to give them peace of mind.
Paws Protect covers all the costs of fostering for domestic violence – including cat food, feeding bowls, beds, vaccinations etc so owners know their pet is receiving the best care.
All information between the cat owner and foster carer is kept confidential. Our fosterers do not know the identity or whereabouts of the cat owner and vice versa, ensuring complete anonymity.
While it is not possible for the owner to visit their cat while it is being fostered, the Paws Protect team visit the fosterer on a regular basis and provide monthly updates to the owner to give them peace of mind.
Paws Protect covers all the costs of fostering for domestic violence – including cat food, feeding bowls, beds, vaccinations etc so owners know their pet is receiving the best care.
3. The King's Arms Project 
The Kings Arms Project supports vulnerable individuals to secure stable accommodation and employment opportunities. By working with socially excluded and marginalised groups their aim is to reduce re-offending, break the poverty-cycle and reliance on the benefits system and move clients forward to become contributing members of their communities.
4. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army can provide a wide range of support for victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. This support ranges from counselling, medical treatment and translation and interpretation services.
5. Womens Aid in Luton 
Founded in 1972, Women’s Aid in Luton provide support and refuge to women and children who have been subjected to domestic abuse.
Services include a helpline which runs 10-5 Monday to Friday, refuge accommodation in Luton, outreach support to women and children living in Luton, and resettlement support to women moving on from our refuges. We work with women and children from all backgrounds and circumstances.
Our services offer access to peer support groups, education, one to one sessions with trained staff and access to legal advice.
We run a children’s service which is an integral part of Women’s Aid in Luton, the trained and skilled children’s support workers are able to work with the children that come into refuge to allow them to come to terms with their experiences.
Helpline: 01582 391856
Enquiries: 01582 876636
Email: info@womensaidinluton.org
Services include a helpline which runs 10-5 Monday to Friday, refuge accommodation in Luton, outreach support to women and children living in Luton, and resettlement support to women moving on from our refuges. We work with women and children from all backgrounds and circumstances.
Our services offer access to peer support groups, education, one to one sessions with trained staff and access to legal advice.
We run a children’s service which is an integral part of Women’s Aid in Luton, the trained and skilled children’s support workers are able to work with the children that come into refuge to allow them to come to terms with their experiences.
Helpline: 01582 391856
Enquiries: 01582 876636
Email: info@womensaidinluton.org
National Listings
Barnardo's 
Welcome to Boloh, Barnardo’s COVID-19 helpline and webchat for those 11+
Call us on 0800 1512605 or chat to us online
Are you a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic child, young person, parent or carer, affected by Covid-19? You can speak to us about your worries, problems and stresses during this time, and we can provide emotional support, practical advice and signposting to other organisations who can provide further help.
If you’re a professional, you can also contact us to discuss how to support a child or young person they are working with.
Call us on 0800 1512605 or chat to us online
Are you a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic child, young person, parent or carer, affected by Covid-19? You can speak to us about your worries, problems and stresses during this time, and we can provide emotional support, practical advice and signposting to other organisations who can provide further help.
If you’re a professional, you can also contact us to discuss how to support a child or young person they are working with.
British Red Cross 
The Red Cross offers both practical and emotional support for victims of human trafficking.
Crimestoppers 
Crimestoppers is an independent charity helping police locate criminals and solve crimes through anonymous reporting. The site also provides crime prevention advice for a number of crimes.
Refuge 
Refuge offers a range of services including refuge, outreach and resettlement support to women and children who have experienced domestic violence, stalking, honour-based violence, trafficking, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army can provide a wide range of support for victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.
This support ranges from medical treatment and translation and interpretation services.
This support ranges from medical treatment and translation and interpretation services.
Stonewall Housing
We give advice about different housing related issues to hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people every year. We understand what you, or your friends, might be experiencing. So if you need advice, contact us. You can phone us, or you can come along to one of our drop-in surgeries. Some of the housing issues we’ve helped LGBT+ people with include:
if you’re homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;
if your relationship with your family has broken down because of your sexual orientation or gender identity;
if you’ve been victimised or harassed;
if you need to escape from domestic abuse;
if you need advice about a dispute with your landlord;
if you need advice with your housing benefits.
if you’re homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;
if your relationship with your family has broken down because of your sexual orientation or gender identity;
if you’ve been victimised or harassed;
if you need to escape from domestic abuse;
if you need advice about a dispute with your landlord;
if you need advice with your housing benefits.
The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) 
The Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) is
an independent charity founded in 2003. Trained
volunteers offer free, confidential, emotional support
and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and
others attending an Inquest at some of the Coroners’
Courts in England. We can signpost people to other
appropriate organisations and prior to the Inquest
we can give you support and information via our
Telephone Helpline.
an independent charity founded in 2003. Trained
volunteers offer free, confidential, emotional support
and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and
others attending an Inquest at some of the Coroners’
Courts in England. We can signpost people to other
appropriate organisations and prior to the Inquest
we can give you support and information via our
Telephone Helpline.
Unseen 
The Modern Slavery Helpline is a UK-wide, free, confidential, independent helpline which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Based in Bedfordshire, specially trained Helpline Advisers provide help, advice and support to callers, including potential victims in need of help, members of the public who may have spotted signs of modern slavery, statutory agencies, businesses and others. If callers do not speak English, the Helpline has access to interpreters in over 70 languages. The Modern Slavery Helpline practices a victim-centred approach, which respects the wishes of adult victims. Advisers engage in safety planning, offer emotional support and discuss various options, including the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The Helpline also receives online reports through its website. In addition, the Helpline’s Resource Centre contains a directory of national and local services, charities and helplines.
Based in Bedfordshire, specially trained Helpline Advisers provide help, advice and support to callers, including potential victims in need of help, members of the public who may have spotted signs of modern slavery, statutory agencies, businesses and others. If callers do not speak English, the Helpline has access to interpreters in over 70 languages. The Modern Slavery Helpline practices a victim-centred approach, which respects the wishes of adult victims. Advisers engage in safety planning, offer emotional support and discuss various options, including the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The Helpline also receives online reports through its website. In addition, the Helpline’s Resource Centre contains a directory of national and local services, charities and helplines.
