New report on tackling digital exclusion for survivors of modern slavery during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

20 May 2021

Enabling access to online services through mobile technology is an essential need for survivors of modern slavery, a new report jointly published by Unseen and NIHR ARC West has highlighted. Mobile technology should be considered a feasible and necessary element of survivor support packages, both during and outside of a pandemic. Further research should explore whether government support is viable and optimising the support package for survivors and staff who support them.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, BT donated smartphones, SIM cards and data bundles to up to 100 survivors of modern slavery who received support from Unseen. Survivors of modern slavery (defined by the Modern Slavery Act 2015) may have experienced forced work through mental or physical threat or abuse, been dehumanised and treated as a commodity, or physically constrained, including being trafficked for sexual exploitation or forced labour.

This project examined the impact access to mobile technology has had on this group, in terms of their mental health, well-being and social connections, their ability to access services and their levels of independence and isolation.

The main findings from the research were that access to technology to get online is extremely beneficial to survivors’ wellbeing. During the pandemic such access was essential in providing a mechanism by which survivors could support themselves at a time when face-to-face access to support was severely limited. Access to smartphones and data packages are crucial for support and integration, regardless of a pandemic situation.

Smartphones and data packages assisted survivors to:

  • Maintain connections to their support networks – staying in touch with support, health and legal services, accessing parenting support, contacting family and friends through social media.
  • Access educational courses and resources, and support translation, communication and navigation tools to find their way in unfamiliar situations.

Access to technology should not be seen as a standalone solution but should be offered as part of a holistic, needs-based support package for survivors, with support staff playing a key role in its delivery.

Findings were based on interviews with 27 survivors of modern slavery, survivor well-being questionnaires and survey responses from 12 Unseen staff who support survivors. Report recommendations include:

  1. Access to technology should be considered an essential and standard part of survivor support packages
    This report provides an initial evidence base that smartphones and online access directly and positively impact survivors. The impacts felt may have been amplified during a national pandemic but, regardless, access to data and technology is required as an element of the support survivors are offered. It is feasible to support the safe use of mobile technology as part of survivor rehabilitation. Suitable technology packages should be made available to all identified survivors of modern slavery within the UK Government’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
  2. Removing data limits enables full value to be realised
    Increased data capacity and unlimited allowances would improve the impact of any technology package, giving survivors access to all they need to support their education, wellbeing, communication and childcare support. An unlimited data allowance relieves survivors of having to make difficult choices about what they do and don’t access and avoids exacerbating their stress and anxiety. Unlimited data allowances should be an important consideration in optimising a support package.
  3. Further research and collaboration is needed to explore viability for government support
    Further collaborative projects with survivors, which build on this study methodology, would enhance the evidence base on which best practices could be identified and designed into government support. As with many elements of supporting survivors of modern slavery, survivors, service provider organisations and government need to collaborate openly in developing effective and optimal technology support packages.

Access the full report

Download ‘Impact of mobile technology for survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking: A mixed method study’ (PDF) from the Unseen website.

Watch the video

Find out more about this project in this video:

Funding

This work is supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, University of Bristol, the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund and the Rosetrees Trust.