Understanding the Support Needs of the Dependents of Modern Slavery Survivors:  An Embedded Case Study

 

 

Rights Lab project lead:Nicola Wright. In collaboration with City Hearts.  
Funder:Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP 
Duration:September 2021-August 2023 
Programme: Health and Wellbeing

 

This Collaborative Studentship, supervised by Nicola Wright and Andrea Nicholson, is held by PhD student Holly Jones in collaboration with the NGO City Hearts. It addresses important evidence gaps and informs policy and organisational change in the area of modern slavery survivor support. There is an emerging evidence base in relation to the wide range of health and social needs that survivors of modern slavery have as a result of their experiences. It is acknowledged that some survivors may have dependents (e.g. children).  However, support for dependents is not funded through the UK’s official channels.  This means that some organisations have considered not providing support to families. The support needs of dependents and families and how best to meet  these are under-reported in the literature. The studentship is establishing the physical, mental and social support needs of dependents of modern slavery survivors, the factors that facilitate or hinder dependents in accessing support, and the strengths, coping strategies and resiliencies that dependents use to maintain their health and wellbeing.