Southend Against Modern Slavery (SAMS) Partnership is a Antislavery Community Partnership working within the Borough of Southend-on-Sea. SAMS is held within the The Together Free Foundation.
The Partnership includes thirty local charities, faith organisations and the voluntary sector. SAMS works in partnership with law enforcement and the statutory sector towards ending exploitation and human trafficking. We appreciate the unique quality and power of local knowledge and relationships to bring an end to modern slavery and human trafficking. SAMS relates with all people in need regardless of their religion, ethnicity, race, gender or sexuality.
SAMS is led by a steering group comprising of six community leaders from different organisations. SAMS employs an antislavery co-ordinator and a survivor care co-ordinator. Quarterly partnership meetings help us to work in collaboration towards a slave-free Southend-on-Sea through:
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Partnering together with local community groups, organisations, law enforcement and statutory partners
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Raising awareness through campaigns, literature and social media
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Developing and delivering training
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Survivor Care for survivors of modern slavery within the local community
Artwork © Jacky Douglas
Supported by
Survivor Care Project
The Project provides community-based support to adult survivors of all types of modern slavery in Southend-on-Sea, including sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, domestic servitude and criminal exploitation. The project aims to: increase their well-being; encourage community integration; reduce survivors’ loneliness; improve access to local services, and finally; build resilience and new skills. This is done in three ways:
1. Befriending
A befriender is available to meet with a survivor on a weekly basis for 1-2 hours to provide regular social contact, to decrease loneliness, to help create gateways into groups, to help a survivor to access local services and to help build community connections. For example, going together for a coffee, a walk in the park, shopping or attending a local creative or sports group. The befriender will be there to celebrate the survivor’s achievements as well as talk through any setbacks.
2. Mentoring
A mentor is available to meet with a survivor on a weekly basis for 1-2 hours for goal focussed support, to build confidence and to increase employability and life skills. A mentor could help a survivor update their CV, make an application for study, volunteering or employment or help them join the library. The mentor could accompany and advocate for a survivor at an appointment if required. The mentor will be there to celebrate the survivor achievements as well as work through any setbacks.
3. Practical Help
Practical help is available for survivors. Our practical helper volunteer co-ordinator facilitates community volunteers when needs arise. This could involve: cooking/baking, DIY, gardening, deliveries, bike repair, welcome boxes, IT.