Modern slavery is happening everywhere, not just big cities but also small towns and even in villages. This means that many of us may be coming into contact with someone trapped in slavery in our day to day lives without knowing it.

Over the last 12 years, The Salvation Army’s with our partners have helped nearly 22,000 (21,824) survivors to receive financial, medical and legal advice, emotional support and help with housing; education and employment so they can move on with their lives.

The buying and selling of people is a highly lucrative international criminal trade and the number of survivors referred for our help has risen every year.

The Salvation Army estimates that for every survivor of modern slavery in the UK who has had the chance to escape and receive support, there are at least seven more people who remain trapped in slave-like conditions.  

I am running the London Marathon to support this great work and help survivors have the opportunities they wanted and expected.