About the Snowdrop Project
The Snowdrop Project is a Sheffield-based charity which supports and empowers survivors of modern slavery and exploitation in South Yorkshire to recover from their pasts and rebuild their futures.
Snowdrop provides holistic, long-term, community-based support to survivors so that they can reach a place of independence. Our approach covers all key support needs, including independent living, physical and mental wellbeing, community engagement, education and employment. We achieve this holistic support through our casework programme, which is based on social work principles, our in-house counselling service, house renovations and community activities.
"Long-term support is crucial for any survivor's recovery. Without it, you may as well not have been rescued at all." – Sabah, Snowdrop Client.
Our Values
We value the individual
Our clients
Our support is based around the individual needs, strengths, likes, history and hopes of each survivor. Support length and design is based on the individual.
Our volunteers
We value the unique input of every person who volunteers, whether they have sewing skills, a passion for mums and toddlers, professional training in social care or simply time to give.
Our staff
We create a safe atmosphere where staff can be themselves and talk about how they feel and think. We aim to create a supportive environment that considers individual wellbeing.
We are committed to the oppressed
Empowerment is the essential value behind every action of the Snowdrop Project. Making decisions and choices for ourselves is something we take for granted, but for many of the people we work with, this basic right has been stolen. Snowdrop supports those who have had their freedom taken away; we advocate for social change and we give voice to those still trapped in modern slavery today.
We work in partnership
One organisation cannot end modern slavery. We recognise the benefit of working with local authorities, the government and other NGOs so that as many people as possible are empowered to live new lives. We are committed to co-working and sharing knowledge to develop the most effective support for survivors, in the UK and beyond.
We value integrity and transparency
We want everyone who comes in to contact with us to know where they stand and how we operate. We are committed to transparency in our accounting, HR and operations. We want every aspect of our operations - from our volunteer t-shirts, to our banking - to reflect our stance against modern slavery.
We value innovation and best practice
The Snowdrop Project is proud to be one of the first charities to provide long-term support in the UK. We are committed to doing this to a high standard through a culture of shared learning and development. We want to continue to improve the support we offer, particularly from the input of beneficiaries. We also value learning from other services, policy makers and academics about ideas we can trial to complement our work. We recognise the importance of research and seek to provide ongoing evaluation of the impact of our service.
2012
May – The Snowdrop Project’s launch! Over 100 like-minded people came together to hear about the idea of providing support to survivors of modern slavery beyond the safe house.
Autumn – We trained our first six volunteer caseworkers, who would take on our first eight referrals and form the beginning of Snowdrop.
2013
June – We were invited to meet the All Party Parliamentary Group Against Trafficking
October – We were awarded the Marsh Award for outstanding contribution to the fight against modern slavery
2014
October - We were granted charity status!
2015
June – We launched our counselling support service
July – Our first skydiving fundraising event raised £7000, which meant we could lease our very own office
2016
March – The Big Lottery confirmed our successful application. This funding allowed us to employ staff members and explore new support service opportunities
June – We received funding from the Brown Source Trust, enabling us to support male survivors, stabilise our counselling service and employ an office manager
August – We received our first male referral, and a new chapter began at Snowdrop
September – After lots of applications and interviews, we grew our staff team from zero to nine!
2017
May – Snowdrop's fifth birthday! We celebrated with a black tie fundraising event at Millennium Gallery
June - We launched an eight week photography project, 'Sharing Hope', which saw clients learn photography skills
June – Our first Eid celebration with clients
2018
September – We needed more space! We moved from Carver Street to Furnival Gate with the help of Sheffield Businesses Together
2019
February – Snowdrop's longest standing volunteer, Helen Jones, received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award
July – After much campaigning, the Home Office withdrew the 45 day limit on support for confirmed survivors
August - A total of £110,000 has been won in compensation for clients, as acknowledgement of the immense wrongdoings that have happened to them
October – We received our second funding from the Community Fund, for just under £500,000
2020
February – Snowdrop expanded its services to reach Barnsley
March – We adapted our services to support clients remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic
September – In partnership with Skills for Care and Development and St Mary's University, we launched the Training Framework for the Identification, Care and Support of Victims and Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
November – The purchase of our new building was completed
December – We partnered with the Moving-On Project, funded by the Tampon Tax
2021
January – Snowdrop joined the government’s Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract as a Reach-In Support Provider
May – We moved into the new building
June – We won the Centre for Social Justice award
June – We partnered with the British Red Cross and Hope for Justice to develop the IMSA model
2022
March - We celebrated 10 years of the Snowdrop Project!
August - Snowdrop staff contributed to a key research report focusing on support and recovery for British victims of human trafficking
September - An amazing group of fundraisers climbed Kilimanjaro in aid of Snowdrop, raising over £30,000 in the process
2023
March - Sadly, we had to cancel our gala due to snow - but our supporters' incredible generosity meant that over £15,000 was still raised for Snowdrop!
June - Snowdrop contributed evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry into human trafficking
September - We launched the second stage of the IMSA Model Development in partnership with Hope for Justice and the British Red Cross
September - Snowdrop's co-founder, Lara, stepped down as CEO and headed for pastures new!
October - We lowered our referral age from 18 to 16 years old
October - Rachel Medina took over as CEO of the Snowdrop Project
November - Snowdrop was visited by Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
December - Snowdrop was visited Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield
December - We heard we were successful in our application for National Lottery funding. This will fund our counselling service and alternative therapies for the next four years
2024
January - Snowdrop welcomed Sam Dixon as our new Chair of Trustees
January - We welcomed the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to Snowdrop HQ
February - We were thrilled to be chosen as the charity partner for the 2024 Pints of Sheffield!
April - An amazing team of Snowdrop supporters took on the Sheffield Half Marathon, raising over £2000 for survivors of modern slavery
April - Another group of fundraisers took to the skies, raising £10,000 by completing a skydive
May - We attended the Lord Mayor of Sheffield's Installation Ceremony as one of 12 charities chosen by Jayne Dunn to be community champions for the year
August - Snowdrop was chosen as the charity partner for the Abbeydale Road Beer Festival
August - An incredible group of Snowdrop supporters conquered Mount Kilimanjaro, raising over £60,000 for survivors of modern slavery
August - We welcomed Abtisam Mohamed MP and Olivia Blake MP to Snowdrop's offices
September - Snowdrop's supporters took to the streets once again to take part in the Sheffield 10k
October - Snowdrop's CEO, Rachel Medina, attended the Human Trafficking Foundation's Anti-Slavery Day awards in London
October - Snowdrop's Head of Operations, Rachel Mullan-Feroze, met the US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights to discuss the UK's approach to tackling modern slavery and advocating for survivors
December - We took part in the Big Give's Christmas Challenge, raising over £10,000 for survivors of modern slavery in just one week!
Why the name?
Our name was chosen in consultation with our clients.
Snowdrops mark the first sign of spring emerging through the frozen soil. They may appear delicate, but snowdrops are strong and resilient, overcoming the harsh winter in order to bloom.
"You will never again see us cower or whimper, for we are the snowdrops that survived our harshest winter." - Extract from a poem by a former Snowdrop client
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