Safe to Grow

In 2024, Hannah Stott from Safe to Grow and Dr. Anna Skeels of Cardiff University carried out research into the outcomes for children and young people affected by modern slavery. The study focused on those supported by the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service across England and Wales and explored the experiences of a diverse group of children who had potentially been trafficked — including UK citizens, UK-born children without citizenship status, and foreign national children, both accompanied and unaccompanied.

The findings from this research directly informed the development of a new training resource: In Their Shoes – UK: Alicia’s Story. This resource centres on the lived experience of a UK citizen child affected by trafficking and builds upon the original In Their Shoes resource, developed eight years ago by Barnardo’s National Counter Trafficking Centre, which told the story of a child from Vietnam.

a dozen eggs had worked alongside the National Counter Trafficking Centre to develop the first resource, so it was wonderful to be contacted to be involved in the second version. The training resource – An evidence-based experiential case study – has been designed for professionals working alongside children and young people affected by modern slavery.

The case study focused on a teenager named Alicia and explored themes of family breakdown, drug use, and criminality. We chose not to depict these darker elements directly, but instead to suggest them subtly through implication. Incorporating photographs within the illustrative style helped ground the narrative and added a sense of realism to the overall tone.

Alongside the case study, we designed a comprehensive suite of training materials to support delivery and learning (developed by Safe to Grow). This included a detailed handbook, a trainer’s guide, a presentation slide deck, and a series of practical handouts. Together, these resources were designed to reinforce key learning points and provide trainers with flexible tools they could adapt to different audiences. Hannah and her team have since been using these materials successfully in training sessions, helping participants to recognise and engage with the complex themes and experiences of UK citizens affected by trafficking.