Slavery victims given brighter futures with job offers at Co-op
VICTIMS of modern slavery in Greater Manchester are being given the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity thanks to a supermarket chain.
Jobs and work placements are being created for victims at the Co-op as the company works to support those escaping modern slavery.
Some of the biggest names in retail are also expected to sign up to the Bright Futures scheme later this month.
Charities specialising in rescuing survivors will hold a summit in Manchester tomorrow (Thursday) to explore how they can work with large companies to create more jobs for survivors.
A total of 18 charities and several businesses from across the country have been invited to sign up to the scheme, which has been pioneered by the Co-op and charities City Hearts and the Snowdrop Project.
Under the scheme, survivors are offered a fourweek paid work placement leading to a non-competitive interview. If this is successful then the candidate will be offered a job.
Already more than 30 vulnerable survivors are being given a chance to rebuild their lives after securing placements through Bright Future.
Only the store manager is told about the survivor’s background so as to protect them further.
Co-op suppliers Tulip, Greencore and 2 Sisters Food Group have already signed up to the Bright Future programme and other household names are expected to join.
Paul Gerrard, the Coop’s group policy and campaigns director, said: “By creating employment opportunities we can ensure victims stay out of the evil clutches of their captors.
“Working with City Hearts and the Snowdrop Project we have created a matching scheme that
‘We can ensure victims stay out of the clutches of their captors’
puts charities, in any part of the UK, in touch with employers that are willing to support victims of modern slavery find the dignity that paid, freely chosen employment provides.
“It means any victim of slavery – wherever they are in the country – has a chance to secure paid employment that can transform their recovery.
“The summit we are hosting will enable likeminded charities to come together to swap ideas and share best practice so that we can help as many survivors as possible.
“We appreciate our approach, which has been successful in our food business, is not the only way to make this work for those rescued and I am sure with determination, joint working and innovative thinking, we can find further solutions that work across other sectors with the Co-op’s Bright Future partnership.”