Human trafficking is a horrific crime, considered to be the greatest human rights issue of our time and has been identified in every Local Authority in Scotland. Evidence indicates that those most at risk of human trafficking are socially isolated, living in poverty, homeless, financially insecure, living with addiction and poor mental health, from ethnic minority groups and/or have little or no English language. Victims are hidden in plain sight but are often accessing services such as food banks, homeless hostels and drop-in centres.
Through Project Light, we will provide training and post-training support to NGOs, charities and statutory services who work ‘on the frontline’. The training will build their knowledge and confidence in spotting the signs of human trafficking and will enable frontline workers to identify potential victims and know how to report concerns. Project Light will not only identify those who are being or have been trafficked, it will also ensure their safe recovery and provide them with crisis advocacy allowing them to access the specialised support services they need to begin rebuilding their lives. In the next 12 months, we aim to identify 20 victims of human trafficking in Scotland through Project Light.
