UK BME Anti-Slavery Network

27/05/2026

I started AFRUCA Safeguarding Children in May 2001 because I was bothered about children being trafficked into the UK for exploitation, being harmed, abused, even killed.

That was exactly 25 years ago.

So many people have passed through our doors in all that time. Many are still in contact with us. Some are not.

I have often wondered - how do we measure the long term impact of all the work we did with the survivors? How can we be sure that the support we provided 15 years ago has been instrumental in someone’s journey up till the present day?

To collate all this data, I am delighted we are launching the 25for25 project at AFRUCA.

We will follow the stories of 25 of our former service users we worked with many years ago, tracking their journeys of resilience, survival, recovery and independence. We will capture these stories in a compedium for publication online and hard copy as part of our legacy.

This is important especially because government today makes it seem like victims and survivors of modern slavery are out to scam the system. Our experience at AFRUCA points otherwise. Rather than scamming the system, the people we have helped over the years have all overcome the adversity of human trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation against all odds. They are to be celebrated, not derided.

Debbie Ariyo OBE
Founder and CEO of AFRUCA Safeguarding Children

15/05/2026

We at BASNET UK BME Anti-Slavery Network recently held our Modern Slavery Knowledge Mobilisation conference where we were proud to launch five new research reports by our members, each addressing different themes of modern slavery and it’s various intersections. We were delighted to be hosted by our partner St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

24/04/2026

Press Release

“Amplify Voices of Communities and Lived Experience in Modern Slavery Policy and Research” - BASNET

Participants at a major conference to be held later today to launch UK BME Anti-Slavery Network 2026 Knowledge Mobilisation Research Project Reports are expected to strengthen calls for the sector to amplify the voices of ethnic minorities in modern slavery and human trafficking policy and research.

BASNET is a part of AFRUCA Safeguarding Children

BASNET’s Knowledge Mobilisation Programme is aimed at creating an ethnic minority led body of knowledge on issues of exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking. The goal is for BASNET members who are community and lived experience leaders to “tell their stories” of exploitation through the prism of Black and minority ethnic leadership, filling a crucial gap in inclusivity in modern slavery research.

The knowledge mobilisation programme is a direct outcome of BASNET’s two-day Research Residential programme designed to support participants to build their research skills and develop their ideas into tangible outputs. Over six months, BASNET members worked with volunteer research mentors to shape their initial concepts into viable research projects. The various outputs derived from this project will be launched at the conference, hosted by and with the kind support of St Mary’s University, Twickenham Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse, Twickenham.

The research projects

Five research projects, each addressing different themes ranging from digital inclusion and modern slavery, building resilience to tackle the exploitation of Black boys, to the absence of African men in responses to address modern slavery despite their numbers as well as exploring structural inequalities and how these contribute to modern slavery.

The BASNET researchers utilised a variety of methodologies including focus groups, interviews, desk research and participatory dialogue to conduct their projects, with a range of outputs produced including research reports, a briefing paper and a comic strip to create different narratives informed by their own lived experiences.

Debbie Ariyo OBE, Chair of BASNET said: “For far too long, the voices of Black and minority ethnic communities, especially those with lived experience of exploitation and modern slavery have been pushed to the margins of research, policy and practice. Today, we can celebrate a future of anti-slavery work rooted in justice, shaped by lived experience and powered by inclusive research”.

To download and read BASNET’s 2026 Knowledge Mobilisation research reports, please visit BASNET website

BASNET Knowledge Mobilisation Programme Our Knowledge Mobilistion Programme is aimed at creating a body of knowledge on issues of exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking based on the direct lived experiences of BME community and lived experience leaders. It is a direct off-shoot of our th...

23/04/2026

Certificate of Sponsorship visa for Care Workers. BASNET Awareness raising on Exploitation events across Greater Manchester

23/04/2026

“There was a quiet moment in the room — not because there was nothing to say, but because people finally felt heard.” Support & Action for Womens' Network - SAWN

This April, our partners across Greater Manchester held another series of “Know Your COS Rights” events to support migrant care workers in understanding their rights under the Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) and how to stay safe from exploitation in the care sector.

With funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, our community education sessions with our regional partners have helped to create a safe and open space where real experiences were shared, voices were heard, and important information was provided.

At these events, we discussed fair pay, safe working conditions, employment contracts, and where to turn for help when something doesn’t feel right.

Additionally, our partner Wonderfully Made Woman in Manchester provides culturally appropriate food for displaced workers struggling with their COS visa or job placements.

Horf, UK BME Anti-Slavery Network, AFRUCA Safeguarding Children, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Gambia Manchester Network

16/04/2026

BASNET 2026 Research Residential Programme

We are excited to hold our Third Research Residential Programme for UK BME Anti-Slavery charity and lived experience leaders in May 2026.

The BASNET Research Residential is a comprehensive and rigorous two-day skills development event, designed to support participants to build their research skills and understand how to develop and refine their own research ideas from the outset. Through structured sessions and collaborative learning, participants will shape their initial concepts into viable research proposals. They will also learn from our expert trainers, including senior academics from Kings College, St Mary’s University, the Modern Slavery Policy & Evidence Centre and STOP THE TRAFFIK, about the ins and outs of the research process, what it takes to lead a successful research project, and how to most effectively translate their insights into fully developed outputs.

What to Expect
At the training event, we will:
- Deep dive into the rudiments of conducting a community research project
- Learn how to take your ideas to proposal stage and take raw concepts into a viable research plan
- Learn from the experts: Master the research process alongside our trainers.

Date: 19-21 May 2026
Location: AFRUCA Office, Manchester
Cost: Free for BASNET UK members. We are happy to have a few number of non-BASNET members attend for a fee.

For enquiries, please contact Thomas, BASNET Policy and Research Officer at [email protected]

14/04/2026

We UK BME Anti-Slavery Network are so happy to be celebrating AFRUCA Safeguarding Children 25th anniversary this year 2026. We have a lot of positive memories of all AFRUCA’s work and achievements since inception in 2001, propelled by the deaths of children newly arrived in the UK, killed by their carers and others. AFRUCA has been around to participate and influence a range of government policies, legislation and systemic changes to improve protection and safeguarding of children, improve protection for victims of abuse, modern slavery and human trafficking. AFRUCA’s work has directly and positively impacted tens of thousands of children, young people, their families and their communities. The past few years have been tough, just like for many other small charities in the UK as a result of gaps in financial support but we are very delighted AFRUCA will still be around to continue fighting for children for many years to come.

25/03/2026

Many congratulations to the Republic of Ghana for this landmark achievement

The landmark resolution calls for an apology and contributions to a reparations fund, without specifying an amount.

25/03/2026

We UK BME Anti-Slavery Network are delighted to welcome over 20 of our member organisations to our 2026 online capacity building programme. Over the next three days, we will engage in a series of training and capacity building activities to help strengthen our members' resolve in addressing modern slavery and exploitation in their various communities.

We look forward to having Vic Hancock Fell James Clarry Advita Patel Robin Brierley Debbie Ariyo OBE join us at this important gathering, sharing their knowledge and expertise with our members.