The contribution and motivation of faith-based volunteers in a UK antislavery partnership: a case study

ABSTRACT

Modern slavery and human trafficking are crimes impacting local communities with the most vulnerable being exploited. As such, there is a need for communities to partner towards slavery-free communities. Faith communities are encouraged to partner in these responses. The article presents a small-scale case study of one UK antislavery partnership (AP) and interviews participants of Christian faith, who volunteer within it. The study asks, to what extent does the AP benefit from volunteers of faith? And what motivates the volunteers’ involvement within that AP? The findings indicate that APs can benefit from the skills and experience of faith volunteers. The study highlights that the volunteers’ Christian faith and previous experiences of working with vulnerable individuals motivate their present praxis. Through reflection relating to lines of connection between life and faith, the common good, public faith and spirituality, the study explores how faith communities and APs can develop mutually beneficial partnerships.

KEYWORDS:

• Modern slavery
• human trafficking
• antislavery partnership
• volunteer
• faith responses

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Shared with permission and name changed.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Together Free Foundation: [Grant Number N/A]; The MB Reckitt Trust: [Grant Number N/A].

Notes on contributors

Dan Pratt

Dan is founder of The Together Free Foundation. Together Free resources communities and churches to respond to modern slavery and human trafficking. This work includes founding antislavery partnerships in Southend, Chelmsford and Colchester. Dan is associate tutor in Practical Theology at Westminster College, Cambridge.