Modern slavery is a blight on the UK care sector more so than other industries, however charity Causeway and the Bright Future Co-operative have created a new scheme to help victims of modern slavery.

Over 100,000 people in the UK are currently trapped in modern slavery and exploitation, and unfortunately the care sector is one of the worst offenders in recent years.

A post on the Local Government Association’s website reads: “The care sector has been identified by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority as a sector where there is a high risk of labour exploitation, including more severe forms such as modern slavery.”

Elsewhere, Unseen wrote in its ‘Who Cares?’ report: “Abuse and exploitation of workers are evident in all sectors of the UK economy. However, the risks are higher in the care sector than in other sectors because of the significant use of temporary labour and the conditions of employment.”

The modern slavery charity Causeway and anti-slavery recruitment scheme Bright Future Co-operative, however, are coming together to launch a new careers website which they believe will provide much-needed help to those who have been victims of modern slavery.

Backed by former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, the platform allows modern survivors to be fast-tracked into safe and permanent employment, and is calling on UK-wide businesses to partner and publish vacancies for them.

Bright Future Co-operative fast-tracks modern slavery survivors into employment. This had led to survivors gaining permanent roles with companies including Currys, Morrisons, Pilgrim’s UK, Greencore and the Co-op.

The Bright Future Co-operative scheme was developed by the modern slavery Causeway, one of the UK’s largest providers of modern slavery support. It is now run as an independent co-operative, with the board made up of 13 directors from UK-wide organisations.

After seven years of successful delivery, Bright Future Co-operative is now launching the UK’s first careers website for modern slavery survivors.

The organisations hope that it will allow more modern slavery survivors from across the country to access safe employment with companies who have positions specifically set aside for them.

The Bright Future Co-operative careers website will allow businesses to post accessible job adverts for modern slavery survivors to apply for. The businesses will be provided with full training, and will be supported by Causeway and Bright Future Co-operative throughout the onboarding process and during the first stages of employment.

Initially a modern slavery survivor is provided with a fully paid four-week work placement with a company. Following the end of the placement, should both parties be happy, this immediately transitions into a permanent position.

Since launching in 2017, on average 75% of survivors placed into positions through Bright Future Co-operative, have continued into full-time employment. In the past year, this success rate has risen to 90%.

The careers website will be launching in June. It is being backed by Dame Sara Thornton, former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, a role she began following the introduction of the landmark Modern Slavery Act 2015, and which she held until 2022.

Amy Bond, Causeway’s chief operating officer and Bright Future Co-operative board member, said: “Bright Future Co-operative are extremely excited to be launching this careers website, to enable more survivors to enter safe employment, as they rebuild their lives, and take back control over their futures. We have found that moving into paid work can be transformational for survivors on their recovery journey. This innovative new recruitment platform will be managed by Causeway, and we are encouraging UK-wide companies, which have a commitment to tackling modern slavery, to consider partnering with us to advertise their roles, as they look to diversity their workforce and empower some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people in our society.”

Ian Siddons, HR partner at Greencore and Bright Future Co-operative business member, said: “I knew we had someone that wanted to change their lives and was very motivated to start working with us, and knowing our team, I knew we would have the right environment to help. By the end of the initial placement, she has grown so much more in confidence and stronger in her communication. She now fits in well with our culture, and is comfortable asking questions. She is an excellent employee, and we can’t wait to welcome our next person.”