Training and Events Calendar

BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network is hosting its second residential capacity building programme for Black and ethnic anti-trafficking innovators across the UK modern slavery and human trafficking sector from 20-23 May 2024. The aim is to foster community between members who are founders and CEOs of small charities and aid in the strengthening of skills and processes needed to advance their organisations.

This programme is opened to organisations who are active members of BASNET only. There is still time to become a member!

Click here to join BASNET

BASNET Open Day London : Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the UK Modern Slavery Sector

Date: Thursday 25 April 2024

Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Join BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network for an enlightening and engaging open day event hosted by BME Volunteers CIC, where we delve into the vital work of combating modern slavery and human trafficking

Click here to register

BASNET Online Open Day

Date: Thursday 18 April 2024

Time: 1pm - 2pm

Join BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network for an enlightening and engaging open day event to introduce potential members and partners to BASNET and our work. We will explore BASNET’s mission and impact, provide insights into the Network’s ongoing initiatives, membership benefits, and what it means to be a part of our community.

Click to register here

BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network is hosting a series of “Brunch and Learn” sessions for colleagues in the anti-slavery sector. These sessions are bitesize events on various subjects developed by BASNET for the sector. This will include sessions on: best practice on cultural intelligence; race equality, diversity and inclusion in modern slavery sector; effective community engagement and service design and delivery through an EDI lens. 

The first session will be held on Tuesday 30 April from 11am to 12pm. Session will cover “Using Cultural Intelligence when Supporting BME Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.”

If there is a specific topic you would like us to cover, please let us know by emailing basnet@afruca.org.

To register for the first “Brunch and Learn” event on 30 April, visit:  https://buytickets.at/basnet/1198619

BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network unveiled a groundbreaking report on 18 March 2024 highlighting the harsh realities faced by survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking in government-funded Safe Houses across England. Based on firsthand experiences from 13 experts residing in these shelters, the report exposes inadequate accommodation and discrimination rooted in race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, and ethnicity. BASNET organized a sector-wide briefing to discuss the report's findings and recommendations, emphasizing the voices of survivors and urging systemic change. Key stakeholders, including the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, representatives from organizations like The Salvation Army and the Care Quality Commission, and survivors themselves, participated in the dialogue. The conversation underscored the importance of trauma-informed support, cultural competency training, and collaboration among stakeholders to transform safe houses into empowering havens for survivors. A commitment to tangible reforms and engaging the Home Office in collective efforts emerged from the discussion, signaling a call to action to ensure that safe houses genuinely serve as sanctuaries for those seeking freedom from exploitation.

Read the full press release

Download the full report

Download “Frequently Asked Questions”

On 13th of March 2024, BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network organised an online event titled “Exploitation of Migrant Women in the UK Health and Social Care Sector: A New Slavery?”. The event served to underscore the racial dynamics, gender inequality and migrant rights issues involved in what is now referred to as “state enabled” exploitation and modern slavery of migrant workers in the UK. The event unravelled the intricate layers of exploitation and modern slavery lurking beneath the surface of the health and social care industry. Through panel discussions and interactive sessions, the event explored the root causes, systemic implications, and potential solutions to this multifaceted, multilateral problem. BASNET continue to stand at the forefront of addressing this pressing issue that has so far remained hidden from plain sight: the exploitation of workers in the health, domiciliary and care sectors, with a high number of cases involving women from outside the UK seeking to work under different government health and social care work visa schemes.

Inspired by the first successfully prosecuted Organ Trafficking case in the UK earlier this year, this online event by BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network eld on 13 October 2023 explored the complex issues of organ trafficking, organ harvesting and illegal organ transplant and the intersections with race, migration, poverty and other vulnerabilities.

Funded by the UK Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network, a project of AFRUCA Safeguarding Children in partnership with the University of Nottingham, the St Mary’s University, Twickenham and the University of Sheffield held a launch event of our new Research report: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Publicly Funded Modern Slavery Research in the UK. The event took place on 17 July 2023 at the Exchange, St Mary’s University in Twickenham. Click here to read the research report

This International Women's Day event by BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network engaged four special women who are survivors of human trafficking and who have been supported by AFRUCA - Safeguarding Children on their journey towards recovery. They shared their candid opinion about the Modern slavery and human trafficking sector, what could work to enhance prevention and the significance of engaging survivor voices and affected communities in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking.

At this unique event held by BASNET - The UK BME Ant,-Slavery Network, community experts explored the vulnerabilities of BME LGBTQIA community to modern slavery and human trafficking and the intersections with other issues.

8 June 2022 - One Year On: The second Online Conference to mark the launch of BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network's Action Plan: 'Promoting Racial Equality, Diversity and Inclusion In the UK Modern Slavery Sector’ and explore progress made in the sector on race equality issues.

An expert dialogue held by BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slovery network on how the absence of strong policies affect the dynamics of modern slavery and human trafficking across Africa. This event was held to commemorates International Anti Slavery Day 2021.