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The Sophie Hayes Foundation offers a pathway to true freedom for women survivors of human trafficking through unique employability programmes.
I only discovered this charity recently, but they've won my heart and my time as a volunteer through their cause and their passionate, demonstrable commitment to helping victims and survivors gain real independence.
You may know I love to bake, but time and a toddler rarely give me the opportunity to do this any more. So, the baking is for me (and my family and my friends); the fundraising is for these vital, brilliant, brave, deserving of so much better sruvivors.
Why 18 cakes? Anti-slavery day is 18th October. It's great that there's recognition of the problem of Modern Slavery, that there's a day to push this concern into public consciousness. However, victims and survivors of this crime deserve recognition every day, and they need help now.
The pandemic has meant a shift to entirely remote programmes and a new hurdle to overcome: Tech Poverty.
I'm aiming to raise a minimum of £180 to support one survivor through the programme. If you're able to, there are a few steps of a supporter's journey that you can help fund:
£60 will cover the cost of a tablet
£35 will cover the cost of course materials
£20 will pay for a month of Internet access
If you can afford to give more (and I will share with you that I can't, so I have no expectations of others):
£180 will support one survivor through the remote programme
£250 will ensure our survivors can attend the in-person programme
£540 will support three survivors through the remote programme
Please, donate whatever you can – a little can help us go a long way.
And thank you, in advance, for supporting these survivors of human trafficking, many of whom remain vulnerable. No one can attain real freedom without a sustainable income of their own. The Sophie Hayes Foundation provides concrete practical and personal skills, support and guidance to enable survivors and victims to gain this independence.
For more about the Sophie Hayes Foundation MAKE MOVE MISS in MAY! read on...
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For this month, we're asking you amazing people to let your creativity run wild and do whatever you can to raise funds to keep women survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery supported through our programmes:
Make it, move it or miss it this May!
Join us with your own creative challenged us to get creative that incorporates the number 18, to either MAKE something (we're thinking cakes, paintings, bracelets, surprise us with your own!), MOVE (are you a skater or a walker or a runner?), MISS (is your biggest challenge giving something up?).
£180 will support one survivor through our remote programme
£250 will ensure our survivors can attend our in-person programme
£540 will support three survivors through our remote programme
Why 18? You may be aware that Anti-Slavery Day is 18th October, but at SHF we know that freedom starts today and continues everyday.
Our team have come up with some suggestions, or come up with your own wacky ideas - be sure to tag us on socials at #MakeMoveMiss
+ Make: a pledge to send 18 postcards to friends, upcycle 18 items of clothing, bake 18 cakes, fancy dress for the school run!
+ Move: walk 18 miles in May, hula hoop for 18 minutes everyday, skate 18km
+ Miss: give up chocolate, coffee, meat or TV for 18 days...
We exist to ensure that all women survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery achieve complete and sustainable freedom through an independence that can only come with the ability to live and work without fear. But we can't do this alone...
So we thank you all infinitely, The Sophie Hayes Foundation team :)