AFRUCA Safeguarding Children

11/06/2026

What is trafficking? Watch our video - We made it over 10 years ago but it is still very relevant because nothing has changed.

This video was written, directed and produced by the young people c...

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

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, abuse, 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

20/05/2026

Ongoing - third Residential Research Programme taking place in offices in Manchester. Professor Neena Samota addresses participants on Conducting Research projects. Day One.

18/05/2026

📌*COS/ Sponsorship exploitation and related issues - Free Advice & Support Available!*

, UK BME Anti-Slavery Network, , and AFRUCA Safeguarding Children are offering FREE support for migrants on sponsorship/COS, experiencing visa issues, exploitation, emotional stress, housing difficulties, or uncertainty about their future in the UK.

This support includes free immigration advice, wellbeing support, advocacy, and practical help.

Limited spaces are available, complete this form now to get FREE help today.

15/05/2026

14/05/2026

AFRUCA 25 For 25 Project: Honouring Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

We at AFRUCA Safeguarding Children are proud of our work over the past 25 years supporting, protecting and safeguarding thousands of survivors of abuse, exploitation and modern slavery.

To celebrate our achievements, we are launching the 25 for 25 We Project to honour 25 individuals supported by AFRUCA over the years who experienced different forms of human trafficking, exploitation and modern slavery. We want to celebrate their journeys towards independence and safety.

We will produce a publication to share these stories of resilience and recovery. We hope it will help to change the current rhetoric on the hostile environment and anti immigration. All stories will be anonymised to protect identity.

14/05/2026

AFRUCA 25 For 25 Project: Honouring Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

We at AFRUCA Safeguarding Children are proud of our work over the past 25 years supporting, protecting and safeguarding thousands of survivors of abuse, exploitation and modern slavery.

To celebrate our achievements, we are launching the 25 for 25 We Project to honour 25 individuals supported by AFRUCA over the years who experienced different forms of human trafficking, exploitation and modern slavery. We want to celebrate their journeys towards independence and safety.

We will produce a publication to share these stories of resilience and recovery. We hope it will help to change the current rhetoric on the hostile environment and anti immigration. All stories will be anonymised to protect identity.

14/05/2026

New week, new opportunities to support our community. 💜

Are you on a COS or Care Work Visa and working as a carer or healthcare professional? Join us today for a community conversation on your rights, support available, and shared experiences.

📅 Monday, 9 March 2026
⏰ 11:30 a.m.
📍 Caring & Sharing Hub, 78 Yorkshire St, Rochdale

Tag a colleague and spread the word. Refreshments provided (Ramadan considerations observed).

04/12/2025

Book Launch: Scars of Silence - A Journey Through Trafficking and Survival

Date: Saturday 13 December 2025

Time: 12pm to 2:00pm

Venue: St Mark’s Church, St Mark’s Rise, Dalston, London E8 2LJ

We at AFRUCA - SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN are really happy and delighted to support this important event by a former AFRUCA service user who has written a much needed book about her first hand lived experience of being trafficked and exploited in the UK and her journey towards healing and recovery.

The author recently wrote to us at AFRUCA: “ I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the role your organisation played in my development and recovery”. We are grateful for this positive acknowledgement of our important work.

We invite you to attend this important book launch which we expect will help to shed more light on what is often a missing gap in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking - the genuine voices of those affected.