Marking Anti-Slavery Day: our walk against modern slavery

Every year on 18 October, the world comes together to recognise Anti-Slavery Day, raising awareness of the ongoing fight against modern slavery.

At the AoEC, we are committed to making workplaces the very best they can be through the power of coaching. Unfortunately, at the opposite end of the spectrum, there are workplaces that represent the very worst: environments where modern slavery still exists.

Some shocking statistics about modern slavery today include:

• In 2021, there were 12,727 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK – the highest number of referrals since records began in 2009.
• 43% of these victims were children, representing 5,468 potential child victims.
• 31% of those referred were British nationals.
  (Source: Home Office, 2021)

Anti-Slavery International also reports that in 2021, criminal exploitation was the most common form of slavery in the UK, followed by forced labour. Criminal exploitation is often linked to the drug trade, where children are forced into 'county lines' drug trafficking, and Vietnamese nationals are trafficked into forced labour in cannabis production.

As part of our ongoing commitment to support the fight against modern slavery, we marked our 25th anniversary by walking 25 kilometres. In planning our route, we uncovered the deep and pervasive history of slavery right on our doorstep and aimed to educate ourselves on its lasting impact.

We began our walk in London Docklands, at the site where a statue of Robert Milligan once stood. Milligan, a prominent slave owner, played a key role in constructing the docks. At the time of his death in 1809, he owned 526 enslaved Africans, forced to work on his family’s plantation in Jamaica. The statue stood in front of the London Museum Docklands—a converted warehouse once used to store sugar harvested by enslaved people—until it was removed in 2020, in response to global movements challenging the glorification of those involved in slavery.

Our walk was a powerful and emotional experience. At times it was sombre, reflective, and shocking as we learned more about the hidden history of slavery around us. But it was also an opportunity to connect with our colleagues, share meaningful conversations, and spend time together with purpose.

We completed our walk at Buckingham Palace, where the mood shifted as we celebrated our achievement. With smiles on our faces, a sense of accomplishment, and, thankfully, no injuries, we enjoyed refreshments together and reflected on our shared experience.

If you would like to support the ongoing fight against modern slavery, we encourage you to donate to our JustGiving page, raising funds for Anti-Slavery International.

Thank you for your support.