Students gain insight into modern slavery support

Students from the University of Lancashire have been learning first-hand how to support victims of modern slavery from the Medaille Trust charity.

Both postgraduate and undergraduate international social work and community development students met Medaille Trust case workers and modern slavery survivors in Manchester to learn how the charity helps some of society’s most vulnerable people.

The Medaille Trust is one of the leading providers of survivor support services in the UK for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. The national organisation manages safe houses across the country, runs community awareness projects and helps people recover from their traumatising experiences and integrate into society.

The visit provided a unique opportunity for the University of Lancashire students to see how the charity operates and meet people who have benefited from it. This includes a survivor who shared their story of how they became a victim of modern slavery and how the Medaille Trust helped them to escape the gang who had abused them.

The day also included a tour around a local safe house which has been used by the organisation for many years.

“It was particularly interesting for first year BA International Social Work and Community Development students, who have a module on modern slavery and transnational crime as part of their course,” said lecturer Bob Walley.

“It’s so valuable for our students to work with organisations such as the Medaille Trust, which does incredible work and literally saves peoples’ lives. Our students can learn so much from learn from these opportunities and then use this fieldwork learning to get their dream job after they graduate.

“Some students now want to start volunteering with the Medaille Trust so they can learn more about this important issue and gain experience, training and skills.”

MA student Oluwatomilayo Omoolorun Oluyamo said: “It was an eye opener to see the realities of the victims and survivors of modern slavery. We have heard these stories in class but meeting someone who has lived this experience made me aware of the realities these people go through, and how important it is that we provide them with the right level of support. Visits like this mean I’m not just learning the theory, I’m actually seeing the real life impact.”

Petra Smrckova, the local coordinator for the Medaille Trust in Manchester, added: It's always lovely to see that students are keen to learn more about the important and challenging topic of modern slavery and human trafficking, and we hope the session was beneficial for them to understand the complexity and difficulties surrounding the victim care and support.”

This is just the start of collaborations between the International Social Work and Community Development course and the Medaille Trust, as they help support each other and raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.

More information about the Medaille Trust and how to volunteer for the charity is available on the charity’s website - https://www.medaille-trust.org.uk/