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Policy Work & Partnerships

At Snowdrop Project, we are passionate about using our direct service delivery experience to inform policy campaigns and best practice recommendations. Initially, our primary campaign was to ensure that post-NRM support was accessible to all modern slavery survivors. After eight years, we saw the development of Reach-In support, which is a step in the right direction. We continue to work towards fair and equal access to tailored support for all survivors regardless of circumstances, age, nationality etc. 

Tackling modern slavery cuts across many sectors: policing, local authority, public health, immigration, education, and mental health, to name but a few. Necessary policy and practice change cannot happen in silo. We have high regard for partnership working, and love being part of the movements and collectives below. 

Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG) 

ATMG was formed in 2009 to act as the UK watchdog for overseeing the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT). Nine founding organisations opened the invite to the Snowdrop Project in 2016. Today, the membership of the monitoring group has grown to reflect different specialisms and representatives from the devolved administrations. The organisations are: 

  • Anti-Slavery International (Chair)
  • Ashiana Sheffield
  • BAWSO
  • Children's Law Centre
  • Easter European Resource Centre
  • ECPAT UK
  • Flourish NI
  • Focus on Labour Exploitation
  • Helen Bamber Foundation
  • Hope for Justice
  • Kalayaan
  • NI Law Centre
  • Scottish Refugee Council
  • Snowdrop Project
  • TARA Service
  • JustRight Scotland
  • UNICEF

ATMG aims to monitor the ECAT, examine the impact of human trafficking measures in the UK, and identify and highlight examples of good practice. Together, these 17 organisations share knowledge, best practice and insights from the sector, suggest and participate in research, provide thoughts and support in political conversations, collaboratively sign letters to MPs and report to GRETA. 

Moving On Project 

In December 2020, The Medaille Trust and the Snowdrop Project obtained funding from the Tampon Tax to expand long-term support in the UK using Medaille's locations and staff, and Snowdrop's model. Snowdrop worked closely with Medaille to provide training sessions, group supervision, support and guidance for the team. The Moving On Project is now successfully established across five counties in the UK: 

  • Manchester
  • West Midlands
  • London
  • Hampshire
  • Wiltshire

UK Training Standards 

Since the beginning, many advocates within the sector have noted the wide variation in standards of practice and training. In 2018, the Snowdrop Project and St. Mary's University started working together to create training standards for the sector and to produce an in-depth, high quality, standardised training program for practitioners. As a result, Skills for Care and Development published the 'UK Training Standards for the Identification, Care and Support of Victims and Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking'. A steering group comprising of people from the third sector, police, local authorities, the CPS and public health contributed towards a comprehensive standard that is applied in different industries for varying levels of interaction with survivors. 

Tier 1 is aimed at anyone who might encounter a victim of modern slavery within their workplace. 

Tier 2 is aimed at those with First Responder status, or those who must provide care and support to survivors as part of their job. 

Tier 3 is aimed at professionals whose sole job is to provide care and support to survivors of trafficking or have a supervisory or leadership role within the sector. St Mary's University (The Bakhita Centre) runs an entire Tier 3 training course for practitioners. 

The UK training standards can be found here.

Independent Modern Slavery Advocates (IMSAs) 

Following on from the UK Training Standards, Snowdrop partnered with Hope for Justice and the British Red Cross to explore the idea of Independent Modern Slavery Advocates. Over the last few years, Hope for Justice evaluated their own IMSA project, recommending a collaborative trail to take the programme one step further.  Snowdrop has always been keen on this idea, so we are thrilled to be working with such reputable and passionate organisations. During 2021/22, the three organisations worked together to create a standardised role, organisational requirements and training before releasing the pilot of IMSAs in 2022/23.