Duchess of Cambridge Meets Salvation Army Anti Trafficking Team in Poland

published on 20 Jul 2017

This week, as part of their royal tour of Poland and Germany, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met a Salvation Army representative working in the field of anti human trafficking at a garden party in Royal Lazienki Park, Warsaw to mark the Queen’s birthday.

Joanna Trela, The Salvation Army’s Project Manager for Anti Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Poland, was part of a small group of people working to combat modern slavery in the country who met the Duchess of Cambridge for a private conversation on the issue.

Joanna runs a project, which raises awareness of modern slavery in Poland, as well as offering employment support to former victims of modern slavery. It also runs a job checking service, which aims to prevent people accepting offers of employment from criminals posing as employment agencies, who seek to trick and trade unsuspecting individuals into countries such as the UK. The scheme in Poland is funded by The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland's International Projects Office in an effort to fight trafficking by criminals wanting to entice slaves to the UK.

The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland works in partnership with La Strada, so that Polish victims of modern slavery who choose to return to Poland after receiving specialist support from The Salvation Army in the UK, receive ongoing support when they return home. This spirit of partnership reflects the sentiments of the Duke of Cambridge who, in a speech earlier at the event, spoke of how much there is to celebrate about the warmth of the relationship between Poland and the UK. 

Similarly, when the Duchess asked the group about collaboration within the anti human trafficking sector, Joanna explained how The Salvation Army in the UK, Poland, and across the world, work together and with other agencies to combat this heinous crime.

Joanna said: “The Duchess of Cambridge was clearly well informed and very interested in the problem of human trafficking.  It was a warm and relaxed meeting and we were delighted to receive her acknowledgement of the importance of The Salvation Army’s work across Poland and the UK to stamp out this cruel exploitation of people."

Anyone wanting to contact The Salvation Army’s Job Verification Service in Poland please email weryfikacja.pracy@armia-zbawienia.pl  or call +48 574 482 744.

Or if you are in England or Wales and think you may be a victim of modern slavery and in need of help, or have come into contact with someone who may be a victim of modern slavery there, please call The Salvation Army’s 24/7 confidential referral helpline on 0300 3038151 to access the specialist support we deliver to all adult victims of modern slavery.