Tuesday, 09 June 2026
New research released today in the House of Lords, by Sophie Hayes Foundation, the Rights Lab at the 海角黑料, and King’s College London – funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)/Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre – evidences the role access to employment can play in preventing re-trafficking.
Modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labour, and debt bondage, remains a significant global and national issue. According to UK Parliament’s , there are an estimated 130,000 people living in modern slavery in the UK today.
Once they have escaped exploitation, survivors often continue to face ongoing social, economic, and structural vulnerabilities that can increase the risk of re-trafficking. These can include insecure housing, limited social networks, mental health difficulties and lack of Right to Work due to immigration status.
The newly released research recognises how Employability Programmes such as the one provided by Sophie Hayes Foundation can support meaningful progress for survivors of modern slavery through strengthening capabilities closely associated with reduced vulnerability to re鈥憈rafficking. For example, by helping survivors gain stability confidence, literacy, social connection and a clearer sense of the future.
What this research shows is that prevention doesn鈥檛 end when exploitation ends. Survivors may be safe, but many feel unable to move forwards. Programmes like this are important because they help rebuild the confidence, skills and stability needed to reduce vulnerability to re-trafficking and support long-term independence.鈥�
Sophie Hayes Foundation has been running an employability programme for women survivors over the last 15 years.
The findings come as the new Support for Victims of Modern Slavery contract is being tendered by the Home Office at a cost to the taxpayer of £800 million. While this is a vital investment in the fight against slavery in the UK and in supporting survivors, it will be important to monitor whether employability and access to employment features as a significant part of recovery for survivors within this new contract.
Numerous barriers therefore stand between survivors and the kind of financial and social independence that would be decisive in breaking cycles of risk and vulnerability to exploitation. The report calls for a collective response to ensure survivors are not left to overcome these structural barriers alone. It urges Government, business, frontline services, funders and researchers to work together to make safe employment a realistic route to independence and protection from re-exploitation.
These findings underline the need to move beyond short-term responses to modern slavery. If we are serious about prevention, we must create the conditions that enable survivors to access safe, sustainable work. This requires coordinated action across Government, business and the voluntary sector to ensure survivors are not left to navigate structural barriers alone.鈥�
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More information is available from Dr Nicola Wright in the 海角黑料 Rights Lab, via nicola.wright@nottingham.ac.uk
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