Our President’s Charity – The Medaille Trust

The Medaille Trust, which is a Registered Charity set up in 2006, was founded in Southampton and is now based in Darlington.

The Trust works for the eradication of human trafficking, and offers support to the victims of trafficking.

Their mission statement says:

‘Believing in the intrinsic dignity and worth of every individual we provide safe housing and specialist services for rehabilitation and we raise awareness of these modern forms of slavery’

When the Trust was founded there were only 27 bed spaces available for victims. The Trust has now opened two safe houses and since 2006 has helped more than 150 women. It is continuing to develop and is instituting additional programmes to help women to return to normal life once they have left the safe house but who still require support.

It is estimated that there may be approximately 4,000 trafficked women in the UK. In the year 2009/2010 the authorities identified 595 women requiring help, of which almost half came from Africa.

The Trust relies on donations to run the safe houses and provide the necessary outreach work and is urgently seeking additional funding to continue its work.