Our Programme

Croydon Community Against Trafficking (CCAT)

Is a grassroots charity that was formed 15 years ago. We are a voluntary coalition of people from all walks of life who work to campaign against human trafficking, oppression, and the enslavement of people that exists in our own community. We work with local, regional and national agencies and seek to respect human rights at all times.

The key aims of CCAT are:

  • To raise awareness of the horrors of human trafficking
  • To stimulate effective action through cooperation in order to stop trafficking and equip communities to report modern slavery crimes
  • To work with other agencies to liberate, protect and support trafficked people who have been, or are at risk of being exploited
  • To assist in the disruption of the activities of human traffickers who profit from their illegal trade
  • To help reduce the use of commercial services in Croydon and other local communities if there is an indication of trafficked people being exploited.


We do this through 5 programmes:

  1. Intelligence Gathering 

We have a team of intelligence gatherers that collect data and record observations at key ‘trafficking’ sites in London such as beauty salons, nail bars, car washes, building sites and restaurants/takeaways. We also focus on brothels (illegal in the UK), this information is gleaned from posters, massage adverts and online. We feedback data to the local police, Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority, Modern Slavery Helpline and the Council departments. 

  1. Schools & Education Programme 

CCAT provides 1 hour workshops to schools, colleges and graduates on the issue of trafficking, modern slavery and online grooming. We have reached over 1000 students in the last year (2017/18) and continue to reach more with our specialist training package. We also encourage large schools to undertake year-long campaigns within the school on the issue of modern slavery. E.g. 50 (post-18 Croydon College) students will be developing a College wide modern slavery campaign to disseminate to the student body.

  1. Community Engagement 

We provide specialist FREE training sessions on modern slavery to community groups, local charities, forums, universities and businesses. We also provide specialist training on child trafficking to professionals. We provide talks at Churches, other places of worship and local network groups. We have successfully done so for 15 years and have helped raises awareness to thousands of people in London to date.

  1. Campaigning 

We have a designated campaign group, who undertake film screenings, will be planning a March and developing an editorial in a local newspaper to talk about modern slavery. The group is relatively new and will be seeking to  develop a Borough-wide campaign on the theme of forced labour. They will also disseminate information to the public to this effect e.g. via postcard writing to local government.

  1. Advocacy & Networking 

CCAT is a member of key policy working groups in the UK and provide advice to other groups as to how they can raise awareness in their communities. We contributed toward getting the landmark Modern Slavery Act (2015) enacted and our work has been recognised by the Anti-Slavery Commissioners Office. Additionally, we helped set up the Prevention of Modern Slavery in Croydon (POMSIC) Working Group which we continue to contribute toward. We do not work directly with victims but have excellent networks locally that allow us to help victims in our locality with issues ranging from basic donations, healthcare, counselling to directing them to local organisations who can advocate for them. We have been involved getting local victims stories into national newspapers for example.

Volunteer

We encourage volunteers to join our Campaigns, Education, Community Engagement or Intelligence Gathering teams. As a community orientated project. We welcome suggestions from supporters as to how they can support us. We continue to be heartened by local support, we do not receive any funding from government, lottery, trusts or foundations and rely on the goodwill our supporters so every volunteer counts in helping our fight against modern day slavery. CCAT continues to reach more people year on year, with your support we can get to even greater numbers, we believe more conversations we have about modern slavery, the more we learn how it works and where and the more people come together to say we want to be part of this movement, then we are taking steps towards making a change.

Become a Member

It’s free and you’d be joining a coalition of people who have already signed up: https://theccat.com/membership/

Fundraise for us

We’ve had supporters run, swim, climb and sing for us to raise money. Please send some suggestions and we’ll do our best to support you!

We’d welcome support in whatever form you can give.

 


© 2023 Croydon Community Against Human Trafficking



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