We at AFRUCA Safeguarding Children @afruca are so happy to be celebrating our 25th anniversary this year 2026. We have a lot of positive memories of all our work and achievements since inception in 2001, propelled by the deaths of children newly arrived in the UK, killed by their carers and others. We have 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. Our 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 for us, just like many other small charities in the UK as a result of gaps in financial support but we are very delighted to still be around to continue fighting for children for many years to come.
AFRUCA 25 For 25 Project: Honouring Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
We at @afruca 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.
AFRUCA Training Specialist Events on Safeguarding Children in Faith Settings (Manchester and London)
We @afruca are holding a series of specialist training events on Improving Safeguarding for Children in BME Faith Settings for faith leaders and workers in Manchester (27 June 2026) and London (4 July 2026).
These specialist training events will support participants to enhance their understanding of how culture and religion can impact the safeguarding and protection of children in the UK. We will explore the role of faith leaders and workers in supporting parents/carers to develop improved child protection practices and how faith settings can be “sanctuaries” for children. Ultimately, our events will support participants to gain the skills to help improve child protection practices within their faith organisations.
This training will focus on:
-Exploring Links Between Safeguarding, Culture and Religion in the Context of BME Faith Organisations
-Identifying the Safeguarding Needs of Children Attending Faith Settings
-How To Prevent Risks of Harm to Children in Your Faith Group
-Developing a Code of Conduct for Your Faith Workers
-Adopting New Ways of Working With Children in Your Faith Organisation
This event will be held as part of a series of activities to mark AFRUCA’s 25th anniversary.
Dates: Saturday 27 June 2026 (Manchester) and Saturday 4 July (London)
Time: 10am to 3pm (refreshments and light lunch will be provided)
Venue: AFRUCA Offices in London and Manchester
Cost: £20 per delegate.
Trainer: Debbie Ariyo OBE, Founder of AFRUCA
To register email us at [email protected]
Fantastic dramatisation of the exploitation of women in domestic work - Angela’s story. At the UK BME Anti-Slavery Network BASNET Knowledge Mobilisation conference
“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.
#MigrantCareWorkers #EndExploitation #StrongerTogether
BASNET 2026 Research Residential Programme
We are excited that our network @basnet_uk The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network will hold its 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]
We are delighted to welcome over 20 member organisations of our network @basnet_uk UK BME Anti-Slavery Network 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.
UK Certificate of Sponsorship Visa - Exploitation of Care Workers and Your rights
This March 2026 members of our network BASNET are holding events across Greater Manchester to raise awareness about Care Workers Visa, Exploitation and Problems with employment. We will signpost or refer you to appropriate support - free support - no payment, no fee.
Join our members’ events holding in Rochdale, Manchester and Oldham. See attached flyers for details on how to register. Across Ummah Cic, Support & Action for Womens' Network - SAWN, Caring and Sharing Charity Organisation, HouseofRainbow Horf, AFRUCA Safeguarding Children, UK BME Anti-Slavery Network, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
UK Certificate of Sponsorship Visas for Health and Social Care Workers: Awareness Events on Exploitation and Access to Support
Alongside our partners across Greater Manchester, we are holding a series of community engagement and awareness raising events between February and June 2026 on social care work visas, the risks of exploitation and to explore access to available government support for displaced workers.
Our project is funded by the @mayorofgm Mayor of Greater Manchester @greatermcr Greater Manchester Combined Authority, co-ordinated by our Network @basnet_uk BASNET - UK BME Anti-Slavery Network and will run till end of June 2026. In February 2026, we held five awareness raising events across Greater Manchester and virtually, attracting over 400 participants and resulting in over 50 requests for additional support and signposting to services.
Please see details of planned March events on the flyer. To attend any of our partners’ events, please send us an email (see flyer)
@acrossummah_@houseofrainbow_@basnet_uk
