2025

The 2025 event will be on Saturday 18th October 2025, 10.00am – 3.30pm, full details here

2024

Anti-Slavery Day takes place every year on 18 October. To mark this event and to raise awareness of the rise in modern-day slavery, Southwark Against Modern Slavery (SAMS) held a day conference at Reigate Methodist Church on Saturday 19 October.

 The event was opened by the Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, who spoke powerfully about the role of the Church in social justice. Bishop Rosemarie was followed by Detective Chief Inspector Kerry Loveless, Surrey Police Lead on Modern Slavery, who gave an insight into some of the cases the police have been working on locally where slavery has been involved. Following her talk, no one could be left in any doubt that slavery is taking place throughout Surrey, ‘right here, right now’. Other speakers during the day included: the Rt Revd Richard Moth, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, speaking on the Christian response to modern slavery; the Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, Chair of the Clewer Initiative, who urged the Church to ensure modern slavery is high on its agenda at a time when it is slipping down the political agenda; Ven Moira Astin, Archdeacon of Reigate; and members of SAMS on their work in raising awareness of modern slavery. A number of local charities and organisations also had stalls in the marketplace throughout the day.

In total, around 70 people attended the event, with attendees saying their eyes had been opened to what is going on around them, and reporting greater confidence in knowing how and what to report when things ‘just don’t feel right’.  

A recording of the talks can be viewed at https://youtube.com/live/VtvuWkNxaZg?feature=share