Preston Abolition Group is hosting a celebration of music with local singers and musicians to raise funds for the anti-slavery charity Hope for Justice.
The ‘Singing for Freedom’ event will occur at Landmark, St Mary’s St N, Preston on Saturday 18 June, with the doors opening at 6:30pm and the event running from 7pm to 10pm.
Derek Prout, the leader of the Preston Abolition Group, will host the event, featuring Amy Hardy, Voĉo choir, 4040A and Nicole Gardner.
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A member of the Preston Abolition Group, Jennifer Tidy from Bamber Bridge, said: “We are organising this event because we want to live in a world free from slavery.
“I am not prepared to stand by and do nothing while this barbaric exploitation and abuse carry on, so I wanted to commit my efforts to fundraise for freedom with Hope for Justice.
“I really enjoy listening to live music, so I thought this would be a perfect way to get people together to raise money for an important cause and enjoy some quality entertainment!
“I am also a member of the choir performing at the event, so I am looking forward to it.”
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Staff at the North-West Hope for Justice Hub will also provide updates about the work they have been doing in the local area.
Alcoholic and soft drinks will be available to purchase, and Redwood Coffee Shop will be open throughout the event.
A raffle will occur during the interval, and attendees can buy tickets on the night.
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Around 25 million people are trapped in modern slavery globally, their bodies used for profit and in forced labour, domestic servitude or sexual exploitation.
Hope for Justice said they choose not to be overwhelmed by the statistics and the suffering but instead ‘seek to do something about it’.
Hope for Justice’s head office is in Manchester, and they recently opened a North-West Hub in Preston, close to where the event will take place.
The work of Hope for Justice is supported by voluntary Abolition Groups, including the Preston Abolition Group, which supports the charity’s life-changing projects through fundraising, campaigning and awareness-raising in their communities.
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Hope for Justice’s work is split into four key strands:
PREVENT: Outreach teams, self-help groups and community education initiatives empower people to protect themselves and their families from predatory traffickers and their recruiters.
RESCUE: Investigators work closely with police and other agencies to identify victims of modern slavery, build trust and intervene to remove them from exploitation.
RESTORE: In the UK, a multi-disciplinary advocacy team provide victim-centred support, including help to access housing, benefits, employment, mental health support and legal assistance.
They support victims through the criminal and civil justice processes to ensure they receive restitution.
REFORM: Hope for Justice trains frontline professionals – including police, NHS, homeless shelter staff, NGOs, community groups and many others – to spot the signs of modern slavery and to respond effectively.
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It campaigns to raise public awareness and works to improve national policy.
Through its business membership scheme, Slave-Free Alliance, the charity helps protect supply chains from modern slavery.
The group said most people still think of slavery as something from the past – an evil institution that has been safely abolished and consigned to history.
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But there are more people trapped in slavery today than in human history.
Modern slavery is thought to be the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world.
There are no exact numbers because it is a hidden crime.
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But the best estimates suggest there are 25 million people in forced labour, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude around the world (International Labor Organization) and about 10,000 to 13,000 people in the UK (Home Office).
The group said the National Crime Agency suggested this estimate was too low, and there are ‘tens of thousands’ of UK victims, with Hope for Justice agreeing with this analysis.
Tickets for the event cost £12 (includes cake and unlimited tea/coffee)
To buy tickets, visit – www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/singing-for-freedom-tickets-318501686117
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