“Twenty years ago, when Medaille Trust began supporting survivors of modern slavery, we could not have known how much the nature and scale of exploitation would change. Today, we are seeing record numbers of potential victims referred.
This Anti-Slavery Week, we’re continuing to centre survivor voices, to show that behind every statistic is a person whose life has been profoundly affected by exploitation.
As we mark twenty years of Medaille Trust, our commitment is as strong as ever: to stand alongside survivors, support their recovery and independence, and work for a society where people are protected from exploitation and modern slavery.”
— Dani Wardman, CEO of Medaille Trust
As Medaille Trust enters Anti-Slavery Week during our 20th anniversary year, we are looking ahead as well as reflecting on two decades of work alongside survivors.
The latest figures from the Home Office show that 25,373 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the UK’s National Referral Mechanism in the year to June 2026, the highest number ever recorded. The figures are a reminder that modern slavery is both a UK and global issue, crossing borders and taking many different forms.
Our pledge is to keep putting survivors at the heart of our work: providing safety and specialist support, helping people rebuild their independence, amplifying lived experience, and campaigning for systems that protect people from exploitation and re-exploitation. We are also calling for a stronger safety net, including fair access to housing, healthcare, legal aid and financial support, alongside meaningful opportunities to work and rebuild a future.
Through our 20 Years, 20 Stops Art Roadshow, we are celebrating the creativity, resilience and voices of survivors themselves, sharing their artwork and stories with communities across the country.
This Anti-Slavery Week, help us keep survivor voices at the centre of the conversation. Watch and share the below survivor stories, learn more about modern slavery and continue to support our work to help survivors build safe, independent and hope-filled futures.
