Cathedral event to discuss impacts of modern day slavery

Families from Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands are invited to a special event at Lichfield Cathedral on Saturday 18 September from 10.00-12.00 to consider together the impact of modern slavery and how to keep our children safe.

Criminal exploitation, human trafficking and modern slavery are on the increase across the region, with children being groomed into drug gangs, forced begging and shoplifting. Often the grooming happens online.

The 'Let's Talk' event will take place from 10am and is being organised by the Mothers ' Union, Transforming Communities Together and Lichfield Cathedral.

Bringing together parents, grandparents and their children and grandchildren (from the age of 10 upwards), the group will discuss the growing issue of modern day slavery and encourage families to consider how to stay safe in an increasingly complicated world and have honest conversations about these topics.

The event will include quizzes, art and talks and support will be offered by the Children 's Society, the West Midlands Police and the Blue Bear Coffee Company, which uses its profits from selling coffee to support the fight to end modern slavery.

Debbie Huxton, a Modern Slavery campaigner who has been funded by the Mothers ' Union to work with churches across the Midlands to detect modern slavery and support victims, said, “As Christians we 're given a clear mandate to love and care for those who are affected by injustice and exploitation. There is much we can do to prevent exploitation happening. We can also learn how to spot the signs of it in our local communities.

"Through this 'Let 's Talk ' event, we want to empower people of all ages to gain a better understanding of these difficult subjects and to learn how to safely act. ”

To book your place, click here