BASNET Consortium To Support Victims of Exploitation Under the Health and Social Care Workers Visa Scheme
About the Consortium
Exploitation of migrant workers within the health and social care sector is a growing crisis, driven by restrictive government visa sponsorship schemes like the Health and Care Worker visa. Many migrant workers find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions, with employers abusing their power under these schemes. The result? Thousands of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds are left stranded, homeless, destitute and with little or no access to support to help address the problem experienced.
For years, BASNET -The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network and our members have been on the frontline, offering critical support to victims in various ways out of our own limited resources.
However, the demand for services far outweighs the available capacity. Today, we are proud to launch the BASNET Consortium to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive support for victims of exploitation under the Government’s Health and Social Care visa scheme.
This is a two year project with the kind support of Samworth Foundation, bringing together 3 BASNET full member organisations – AFRUCA Safeguarding Children, Tulia Group and De-Butterfly CIC to deliver comprehensive and tailored Legal, Practical, and Mental Health support to help victims regain their autonomy and stability and empower individuals exploited under this restrictive visa scheme.
Our Vision
This initiative will provide integrated support to individuals affected by exploitation in the health and social care sector across England. By addressing the root causes of vulnerability and offering practical solutions, we will build pathways to freedom and stability for migrant workers caught in exploitative cycles.
What the Project Offers
1. Legal Support and Advocacy
Victims will receive free immigration advice to explore safer visa sponsorship options and legal pathways. Qualified advisors from our member Tulia Group will provide free legal advice to help them explore their employment options.
2. Mental Health Support
Recognising the toll exploitation takes on mental health, our member De Butterfly will provide short-term therapy to address anxiety, depression, and trauma. These services will help individuals build emotional resilience and recovery from their ordeal of exploitation.
3. Practical Assistance
From securing housing to accessing financial aid and social services, our member AFRUCA will provide practical support to address immediate needs. Advocacy with local authorities and institutions will further help victims regain stability.
4. Nationwide Access
All services will be delivered remotely via telephone or online, ensuring accessibility for victims across England, whether in urban or rural areas.
5. Collaborative Coordination
BASNET will coordinate efforts between consortium member organisations and partners, ensuring seamless service delivery and monitoring progress through regular evaluations.
How to access our services:
Legal support: Use the link below to book an appointment with Tulia Group.
https://calendly.com/info-56205/free-consultation-bst
Practical and Mental Health Support, use the referral link below to refer to AFRUCA and DeButterfly:
https://forms.gle/FvRGyTZtS3UjoF9p8
Alternatively, you can contact individual organisations as follows:
Tulia Group: Call: 024 7527 8286
Email: info@tulia.org.uk
De Butterfly CIC: Call: 0794 615 5468
Email: info@debutterflycic.com
AFRUCA Safeguarding Children: Call: 02077042261
Email: info@afruca.org
This initiative marks a critical step towards addressing exploitation within restrictive visa schemes and complements our ongoing policy and advocacy efforts to achieve change in the system for those affected.