Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of Year Report

Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

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Caritas Caritas Bakhita Bakhita House House 2017 2018 YearEnd Endof report year report

Caritas Bakhita House is a safe house for women who have been trafficked, sexually exploited or forced to live in slavery. It is owned by the Diocese of Westminster and managed by Caritas Westminster. It opened in 2015 and, since then,  101 women have stayed at the house, and received support to get back on their feet.

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Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

A year in review

Karen Anstiss, Bakhita House Service Manager

Dear Friend, I want to start by saying thank you. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who helps make Caritas Bakhita House what it is – a safe, welcoming place where women who have been trafficked can stay, recover and rebuild their life.

You’ll know perhaps we are now in our fourth year. As many as 101 women, from 35 different countries, have now been guests with us. That means 101 women putting a life of cruel exploitation behind them and being supported to make a new start.

Six babies have been born to our guests since we began and this year saw our first baptism.

A baptism brings a family together to celebrate a new life and so it was with our family here at Caritas Bakhita House. The proud mum invited all the women staying with us at the time. This little baby’s special day brought everyone together – people of different faiths and none.

Another first was waving off one of our guests as they left for work. Having been trafficked here, many women who stay with us can’t take on any paid work. One of the things we help them with is sorting out their legal status, which can be a long and complicated process. But one woman – whose status allowed it – was able to get six weeks’ valuable work experience at the Co-op.

She did brilliantly and her employers were really pleased with her. She later decided to go back to her country of birth and I feel sure her time working really helped rebuild her confidence.

In the last year, women stayed with us for as little as 24 hours or as long as a year. Only one woman gained a permanent place in the house, and that is Saint Josephine Bakhita. A friend of the house kindly brought us a small statue of the Patron Saint of human trafficking survivors, which now sits in a peaceful room at the back of the house.

This year, like every year so far, the courage and resilience of our guests has been inspiring. I’ve also been encouraged by every act of generosity that has kept the lights on and our doors open.

Our work with trafficked women is only possible because of you. Thank you – and please continue your support in the year to come.

Karen Anstiss

Karen Anstiss Caritas Bakhita House Service Manager

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Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

Bakhita House Guests: Facts & Figures

101 women aged 17-68 have stayed at Caritas Bakhita House.

6 babies have been born to women staying with us.

64 registered volunteers, sharing their time and skills with guests.

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Guests have come from 35 countries: Afghanistan Albania Bangladesh Brazil Bulgaria Cameroon China Czech Republic Ethiopia Gambia Ghana Georgia Grenada Honduras Hungary India Indonesia Jamaica Kenya Liberia Mali Moldova Morocco New Zealand Nigeria Poland Philippines Romania Sierra Leone Slovakia Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam United Kingdom Zimbabwe

1 14 1 2 1 1 4 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 9 4 1 20 3 1 3 2 6 1 1

Exploitation faced:

Sexual Exploitation

66

Domestic Servitude

30

Serious sexual assault

8

Sham Marriages

6

Benefit Fraud/Crime

2

Forced Labour

2

18 guests have reported the crimes committed against them to police.

4 people imprisoned for Trafficking and Controlling Prostitution for a total of 31.5 years

Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

Ana was rescued from a brothel…

The first we heard of Ana (not her real name) was when the police called.

They’d discovered her working in a brothel and had taken her to hospital with concerns about her health.

Ramadan at Caritas Bakhita House

As one woman who stayed with us in 2018 discovered, all faiths are respected at Caritas Bakhita House. She arrived just before Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, prayer and charity for Muslims around the world.

Ana explained she had recently become pregnant.

She wanted to go home to Brazil and have her baby, but the owner of the brothel was threatening her. He said he would report her to the police for working and overstaying her student visa. Ana couldn’t leave and she couldn’t ask for help, because she was terrified she’d be arrested.

“I arrived at Caritas Bakhita House ten days before Ramadan. When I started fasting I wasn’t expecting the staff to be so understanding and so aware of different cultures and religions. They made sure I had food before sunrise and at sunset. They kept food on the side for me to have at the time of breaking fast.

In fact, the police and immigration treated Ana as a victim of trafficking from her very first interview. They called us to ensure she would have a safe place to stay while their investigation took place.

“During the period of Ramadan the staff were very attentive making sure I was okay both emotionally and spiritually. I felt emotionally connected with them and spiritually close to them.

When Ana arrived, she was very distressed, especially when tests confirmed she had lost her baby. She was grieving for the child she would have had. And after what she’d been through, she was fearful she wouldn’t be able to have children in the future. We put in place a package of support, which included going to many of her hospital appointments with her.

Eventually, Ana learned she was still able to conceive. She saw this as a great gift – a cause for hope. During her time at Caritas Bakhita House, Ana’s health improved and so did her wellbeing. She chose to go home to her family in Brazil and build a life for herself, far from the people who exploited her.

“During the last four years I have lived in many Safe Houses and sometimes there was not much understanding about different cultures and religions, however my experience of Ramadan this year was truly amazing because I did receive such understanding and support.

“Thank you everybody. It is a great privilege to be here.”

Faith is an important part of the lives of many of the people working or volunteering at Caritas Bakhita House. It gives them strength and purpose, but it is never imposed on others.

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Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

Christmas at Caritas Bakhita House Another of our guests was moved to write about her experience of spending Christmas at Caritas Bakhita House.

A week before the big day, we all had a meeting and agreed on what each one of us was going to do.

Christmas Day was here. I woke and knelt beside my bed and remembered my family back home. The thought of celebrating Christmas without them made my heart sink even further. I could not hold back my tears and, for close to an hour, I was sinking deeper and deeper into sadness.

Images of my two boys kept flashing through my mind.

I prayed hard and I was able to compose myself.

Everyone was awake by nine and you could hear people wishing each other a Merry Christmas. We were to have Christmas lunch together in the afternoon so the food had to be ready by half past two. We all gathered around the dining table to enjoy the delicious food. As we sat down, one of us volunteered to pray, and tears were rolling down my cheeks as I remembered how my lastborn son loved to pray for food.

After some time, I was able to compose myself and went back to the table. The food was really good. We chatted around the table and it was fun. After our Christmas lunch, everyone participated in clearing and cleaning. We sat down, chatting and playing games, and afterwards the support workers presented gifts to each one of us. You could tell by the smiles and excitement on each one of our faces, this was a great moment.

As the day came to an end, it was time to reflect. There is no greater thing than love. It doesn’t have to come from family, but just knowing that somebody out there thought or remembered you makes a difference in one’s heart.

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Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

“Here I can forget” Women staying at Caritas Bakhita House can choose to take part in healing activities like yoga and art therapy.

Years ago, when Sister Doreen Bradley was at art college, she studied a course in Art & Trauma. “I’ll never use that,” she thought to herself, but she has. She’s been running an art therapy class for guests since the house first opened.

It’s 12 noon and pieces of newspapers are being laid out on the table.

Today, the group are trying their hand at Encaustic Art, which involves applying heated wax to a special glossy paper. You can see an example on the front cover of this report.

A book is passed around for inspiration and, suddenly, colours are being chosen. Patterns and textures are being created on every sheet. On one, a bold blue lotus flower emerges. On another, a landscape of rippling sand. As the women work, they chat, laugh and encourage each other.

All around the room are examples of the group’s work – from a set of cards showing finely drawn flowers, to pottery modelled from leaves.

Sister Doreen spends time with each person – giving praise and sharing techniques. “Therapeutic art can help in the process of recovery. Many women tell me art helps them forget their pain for a while,” she explains. “It shouldn’t be directive, but a little teaching at the right time can help our guests produce a piece of work to be proud of.”

It can provide a huge boost of confidence when women discover talents they never knew they had.

“I had never done any art before I came here,” says one young woman who has developed a passion for painting and a skill to match.

Sister Doreen makes the activities as varied as possible.

“I choose activities you can get into quickly and I make sure everyone knows it’s impossible to get it ‘wrong’.”

Having taught art in schools, she’s adapted her approach to suit the group. “I wouldn’t, for example, ask them to search their memories for subjects, as memory is a place of trauma. I bring books and objects to spark ideas.”

The process of painting, making or crafting can build confidence. “One woman told me, ‘you don’t shout at me or tell me what to do. I am the one who chooses here’”, says Sister Doreen. “That made an impression on me.”

Four hours after the session began, the newspapers are folded back up. The wax colours are tidied away. A pile of beautiful pictures has been made. Some of the women proudly take their work back to their rooms to display.

Sister Doreen’s thoughts turn to the next session, “Each week, the group is different. It is important I’m sensitive to the needs of each person, while observing the interaction of the group.”

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Caritas Bakhita House 2018 End of year report

A new challenge…

After two years as a volunteer, Mel recently joined our small, dedicated team as a support worker.

During the last year, we’ve been lucky enough to have as many as 39 active volunteers, who take on varied roles – from teaching the women staying at the house English, to running yoga classes to help improve their mental and physical health.

Until recently, Mel was one of our wonderful volunteers, and accompanied guests on outings across London.

“You’re taking them into a new environment that may affect them in different ways. You need to ensure they stay together, remain safe, as well as have fun, socialise and build confidence.”

Despite having seen the work of a support worker first hand, there were some surprises for Mel when she started her new job. She is now working with a larger group of guests, and needs to respond to whatever comes up in the course of the day. “I had no idea of the degree to which the support workers juggle the various roles they have within the house.”

As Mel discovered, she now has three main areas of responsibility. “Housekeeping, administration and direct engagement with the guests – all three must be maintained at all times which results in a delicate juggling act.”

As you’d expect, the needs of the women living in the house come first. “We keep in close contact with their emotional well-being and mental health. We also help with practicalities like understanding when to take their medication, organising lessons, and helping them work out the best route to police or solicitor appointments.”

Administration is really important, because every woman staying in the house has a support plan, detailing the care they need. Support workers like Mel keep a record of what’s happening in the course of the day, so staff can hand over seamlessly at the end of their shift.

Finally, there are housekeeping jobs. Like any home, Caritas Bakhita House needs looking after. “Support workers cook dinner twice a week,” explains Mel. “But we also help guests when they’re cooking.” Other housekeeping jobs include welcoming visitors, as well as helping to keep the house clean.

Supporting women who have been trafficked and exploited isn’t for everyone. It takes a unique set of skills. “I feel like a spectator at the theatre who has been allowed backstage to see how much work goes into the smooth running of the play,” says Mel. “It has been a privilege to see both sides of the coin and I hope to rise to the challenge of my new role.”

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS!

GADS1282/03.2019

If you would like to find out more about Caritas Bakhita House, or to make a donation, please contact Helen Bright via email on: helenbright@rcdow.org.uk or you can visit www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/bakhita-house.php Tel: 020 7798 9353 Donate Online: www.rcdow.org.uk/donate and select Bakhita Initiative

Page 8 Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity Number 233699