In a powerful collaboration to mark International Men’s Day on November 19, Leeds native and British Married at First Sight star Matt Jameson has joined 18 other well-known male figures to shed light on the alarming rise in men’s vulnerability to modern slavery to throw. We join forces with well-known names such as Stephen Fry, Dr. Ranj Singh and Mr. Motivator. Causeway’s campaign called ‘Hidden Men of Modern Slavery’aims to uncover the disturbing truth about men’s vulnerability to this growing threat. In a first-of-its-kind film released this week, the celebrities talk about the shocking statistics and challenges male victims face.
An estimated 50 million people worldwide are affected by modern slavery, with over 100,000 victims in the UK alone. A worrying trend appears to be as the number of male victims of current slavery in the UK continues to rise year on year. Currently, three quarters of identified victims of modern slavery in the UK are men, subjected to various forms of exploitation, including work, criminal activity and organ harvesting.
Raising Awareness: Celebrities Unite
Causeway’s Hidden Men of Modern Slavery campaign aims to raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by male victims of modern slavery. The campaign’s powerful film features a star-studded cast of 19 male celebrities including Matt Jameson, Stephen Fry, Dr. Ranj Singh, Mr Motivator, celebrity chef Ken Hom, EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker and Happy Valley’s Vincent Franklin.
Other notable figures joining the cause include darts champion Bobby George, Rocketman star Steven Mackintosh, The Last Kingdom actor Jacob Dudman, Gogglebox’s Tom Malone Jr and The Great British Bake Off’s Selasi Gbormittah. The line-up includes Countryfile’s Adam Henson, DJ Pat Sharp, Coronation Street’s Charlie Condou, Channel 5 presenter Rob Bell, Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson, Star Wars actor Andy Secombe and YouTuber Chris Cowlin.
Causeway Chief Operating Officer Amy Bond thanked these influential men for their support and highlighted their role in raising awareness of the shocking statistics surrounding male victims of modern slavery.
Matt Jameson, known for his appearance on Married at First Sight UK, highlighted the importance of coming together to support and elevate the voices of some of the most vulnerable people in society. He praised Causeway for their work and emphasized the importance of working with Stephen Fry, Dr. Ranj and other influential men to raise awareness of the increased risk of modern slavery for men.
Modern slavery does not discriminate
Stephen Fry, actor and broadcaster, highlighted the indiscriminate nature of modern slavery, saying:
“The statistics on modern slavery in the UK are truly shocking and modern slavery does not discriminate. Anyone can be at risk of human trafficking and exploitation, regardless of age, gender or nationality. I’m proud to be involved in Causeway’s Hidden Men of Modern Slavery campaign to end this.”
Happy Valley actor Vincent Franklin acknowledged Causeway’s crucial role in supporting those who have experienced horrific situations. He said:
“Causeway is such an important charity, supporting those who have been through some of the most horrific situations. But like all charities, they need our support. “It is an honor to partner with them on the Hidden Men of Modern Slavery campaign to raise awareness of how human trafficking and exploitation can impact anyone, anywhere.”
Time to unite
Several other celebrities involved in the campaign, such as Ken Hom, celebrity chef Steven Mackintosh, Rocketman actor Bobby George, former darts champion Johnny Nelson, boxer and Sky Sports pundit, and Selasi Gbormittah, star of The Great British Bake Off, had their say views and stated:
“The campaign highlights the crucial role in breaking down stereotypes and raising awareness of the growing number of male victims of modern slavery and highlights the shocking prevalence of the problem.” It urges support for the Causeway Initiative and emphasizes that modern slavery affects everyone and can meet anywhere. It also highlights the urgent need to raise awareness and take action to address the alarming rise in this form of exploitation.”
A beacon of compassion and resilience, Causeway has been a national charity for almost two decades. Causeway’s modern slavery services support survivors referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and address various forms of exploitation, from forced labor to debt bondage. In the criminal justice system, their successful trauma-informed approach reduces recidivism, benefiting individuals and communities. With a person-centred approach, Causeway has been a driving force for almost 20 years, providing a range of services from safe accommodation to advice and training, supporting people’s progress and resilience on their recovery journey.
As Causeway’s Hidden Men of Modern Slavery campaign gains momentum, the collaboration of these influential men serves as a beacon to raise awareness of the increasing danger men face in modern slavery. With International Men’s Day on November 19th, the campaign aims to spark conversations, challenge stereotypes and encourage support for a world free of human trafficking, exploitation and modern slavery. The collective appeal from the star-studded cast is clear: “It’s time to unite, raise awareness and create positive change.”
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