IMSA® Pilot Phase Begins!
Today, Snowdrop will join other organisations, including the British Red Cross and Hope for Justice, for the launch of the pilot phase of the Independent Modern Slavery Advocate® (IMSA®) project in London. The pilot phase will take place across the next four years and will see the IMSA® model rigorously tested across all four nations of the UK, before it’s rolled out more widely.
Ahead of the event, Snowdrop’s CEO, Rachel Medina, reflects on the project and the urgent need for IMSAs® across the UK:
"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.
These words from a survivor have echoed in my mind since she first spoke them years ago. It may seem like a very extreme thing to say; however, it comes from her experience of knowing what it’s like to have no one to turn to.
Since Snowdrop’s inception, we have worked to bridge the gap that’s left when a survivor has ongoing challenges and needs, but support services have come to an end. We know that recovery is a journey, that it takes time and is not linear. We know that each individual’s experiences are different, and therefore they should be at the absolute centre of the support they receive - defining their needs, identifying their goals, determining what justice and independence mean for them.
The stakes for survivors are so high. Systems are complex and difficult to navigate. In the UK there is a well-known “postcode lottery” of access to high-quality and long-term support.
When we were approached by Hope for Justice in 2021 to join a partnership to address this gap - by developing an accredited Independent Modern Slavery Advocate® role - we thought that this solution-focused collaboration was a great fit with our mission, our vision and values. It involved innovating and working in partnership to ensure survivors of modern slavery are empowered to rebuild their lives and thrive. It was such an easy yes. You can read more about this first phase of the project here.
Now, four years into the IMSA® model partnership, I am both excited and proud to launch the pilot of the IMSA® model in London. This will mean we are able to start testing the model, trying it in practice, learning what it looks like on the ground, in different nations and organisational contexts.
I am looking forward to bringing more organisations onboard who want to test the IMSA® model, to learn from each other and continue to improve access for survivors of modern slavery across the UK.
The pilot presents an incredible opportunity to standardise and accredit the role that Independent Modern Slavery Advocates® have – meaning that each and every survivor will know what they can expect in terms of the role, values and standard of care they will receive from a qualified IMSA®.
The standardisation of the role is twofold: bringing the accreditation to both the role itself, as well as the organisation that hosts an IMSA®. IMSAs® will complete a PgCert course with St Mary’s University in Twickenham, to ensure that everyone working as an IMSA® has the same level of training and knowledge - it’s what survivors deserve.
IMSA® hosting organisations will receive training and can achieve the IMSA® Excellence Award, which will involve undergoing training to protect the independence of the role and to protect caseloads.
At the launch event, I will be speaking about the role of one of our IMSA® specialisms - a Child Trafficking Transition Specialist, who will work to ensure that children who have been trafficked are adequately supported to move into adult services, should they want this.
We will also be following the launch with a Roundtable event in Westminster to further engage parliamentary decision makers about the benefits of the IMSA® role and the work we are doing.
This is a dream that is becoming a reality. Survivors will be empowered with the knowledge that they can turn to an IMSA® at any point in their journey in order to receive consistent, high-quality advocacy. An IMSA® will be someone who can journey alongside them for as long as they need.
We are so proud to be able to launch this next phase of the partnership, and we are so excited to be hosting three IMSA® roles within Snowdrop as part of the pilot. I look forward to sharing more with you as the project moves forward!
With warm wishes,
Rachel Medina
CEO of the Snowdrop Project