Modern Slavery Awareness

Modern slavery is an umbrella term for all forms of slavery, trafficking and exploitation. It is estimated that this could be the reality for 136,000 men, women and children in the UK. Each year the Cathedral holds various anti-slavery events and activities, including awareness of county lines, gender-based violence, and other issues, to see how we can make a difference through awareness, through shopping activities, and in helping spot the signs of exploitation.

In the 11th century, St Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, campaigned to end the slave trade from Bristol, and in our day as part of our commitment to pray for an end to injustice, these events will help us to learn more about the issues around modern slavery and how we can make a difference.

This page contains resources and links (to be found at the bottom of the page) as well as news of our latest Interchange project.

For enquiries please contact Canon Stephen Edwards via email.

County Lines: Interchange Project

As part of Worcester Cathedral's vision to be a catalyst for campaigning and raising awareness on issues of social justice, Worcester Cathedral Learning Team in partnership with The Clewer Initiative, Worcester Community Rail Partnership, Platform and Diocese of Worcester Mothers Union are developing a series of County Lines initiatives targeted at young people. The project is called, Interchange.

Interchange will use the arts as the main tool to engage with young people and challenge them to identify ways to disrupt the County Lines chain. One of the projects of Interchange is the commissioning of a short 5-minute film centred in and around Worcester. West Midlands based film maker, Nicola Prestage (Tiger Features) will be working over the next couple of months to write and create the film, shooting in locations across the county.

The purpose of the film will be to raise awareness of the dangers and to highlight the signs. It will also provide suggestions on how the community could respond if they suspect someone is caught up in County Lines. The film will demonstrate that there isn’t a certain type of young person who may be exploited by criminal gangs, and that all young people are susceptible and could be coerced with false promises and gifts. The film will also be a call to action, asking people not to sit back but to try to stand up and do something.

Alongside the film a series of workshops and teaching resources will be developed that can be used both in classrooms and in less formal settings when working with young people.

The Interchange project is also working with a theatre specialist Richard Compton, who will create, with a small group of sixth form drama students from Kings School, Worcester a piece of Forum Theatre based on real life case studies. Forum theatre provides audiences with the opportunity to step in and try to change the course of action of the play, by offering alternatives and solutions
to the issues raised.

The film, the workshops and forum theatre were premiered as part of a Schools Day at Worcester Cathedral on Wednesday 29th March, where we welcomed young people from secondary schools across the diocese to participate.

If you would like further information regarding the Interchange project or the school’s day on Wednesday 29th March please contact Jo Wilson (Learning &
Community Engagement Officer) at joannewilson@worcestercathedral.org.uk

The resources from this day are now available here.

Anti-Slavery Resources and Links

Find out more about past events and resources about modern day slavery, county lines, and exploitation.

Interchange

Resources

Past Events

Prayers for Anti-Slavery Week