Asda joins in anti-slavery campaign

In partnership with West Yorkshire Police and Anti-Slavery charities, Asda is aiming to shed light on modern slavery across West Yorkshire and the impact it has within our communities.

To mark the campaign and to help raise awareness, turned its HQ in Leeds red on Wednesday 18th October to mark National Anti-Slavery Day and colleagues were be able to attend a ‘lived experience’ event to gain greater understanding of the issue and what can be done to end these practices.

An exhibition event is set to tour the county and tell the real stories of victims, showing the impact that modern slavery can have in our communities as well as how people can help bring it to an end.

Partners from the West Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Partnership have worked with charities Palm Cove Society, Hope For Justice, Justice and Care and Ashiana to create the exhibition which features stories, videos and case studies from people who have been a victim of modern slavery in our area.

Jenny Griffiths, Organiser, West Yorkshire Police’s human trafficking team, said: “The Modern Slavery Victims’ Voices Exhibition aims to give people a better understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking and what it looks like in the community, we want to show how victims are impacted and highlight the work agencies across West Yorkshire are doing to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking.”

Anna Smith, Modern Slavery SME, Asda, said: “Issues associated with the many different forms of modern slavery can affect anyone of us in various ways, from having mental health and well-being impacts to financial implications. Our colleagues, customers and suppliers are no exception to this and to mark National Anti-Slavery Day we are focusing on the forms of modern slavery that can impact our colleagues and customers directly. It is vital that we continue to raise awareness of modern slavery and the devastating impacts exploitation can have on people’s lives”.

Having launched earlier this week in Leeds, the exhibition will visit Halifax, Todmorden, Brighouse, Hebden Bridge, Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield. 

(Image courtesy of Colleen from Pixabay)