Medaille Trust Celebrates 20 Years of Fighting Trafficking and Exploitation
Archbishop John Sherrington with staff and trustees of the Medaille Trust. Image courtesy of Medaille Trust.
Medaille Trust has celebrated 20 years of providing restoration and support for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery with a celebratory Mass and reception at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
The charity, founded by Sr Ann Teresa SSJA with the support of Catholic Religious, began by providing hospitality and a safe house for vulnerable women working in street prostitution in Southampton in 2006. It has since grown into a national charity supporting more than 700 people a year through intensive wraparound support, including ten safe houses, five community projects, a criminal justice programme supporting victims to pursue their exploiters, and a prevention project in Albania.
The celebrations in Liverpool included a Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Sherrington, Archbishop of Liverpool, and an exhibition of artwork produced by survivors.
Archbishop Sherrington thanked staff and volunteers for their commitment to fighting for justice. He spoke of the importance of accompaniment and support on “the journey from victim to survivor, the rediscovery of light in a dark life, freedom in despair, and love where there was only oppression.”
Medaille Trust CEO Dani Wardman said: “Over the last 20 years, Medaille has helped thousands of survivors find safety, rebuild their lives and move towards lasting freedom. As we begin our next chapter, our ambition is to ensure every survivor has the opportunity to build a future of safety and dignity.”
CoREW congratulates Medaille Trust on this significant anniversary and gives thanks for 20 years of dedicated work supporting survivors of trafficking and modern slavery.
Images courtesy of Medaille Trust.
