Wales & West Housing donates £10,000 to support survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery
An organisation which employs and trains survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking to become coffee roasters, has been given £10,000 to grow.
The Board of housing provider, Wales & West Housing has chosen Manumit Coffee to receive an annual donation of £10,000 donation for the next three years.
Each year the Board chooses to support charities and organisations which work to help disadvantaged groups of people across Wales. Other charities which have been supported in recent years include Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses and one of Wales’ leading homelessness charities, Llamau.
Cardiff-based Manumit Coffee offers dignity and hope to survivors of modern slavery. It employs men and women who have suffered exploitation at the hands of traffickers and modern slave traders. By paying them a Living Wage and training them to become coffee roasters and baristas, the survivors are given support to build their confidence and help to move onto other work opportunities.
At Manumit (meaning to release from slavery or set free) green coffee beans, ethically-sourced from growers in Africa and Latin America, are roasted in small batches, packaged under Global Blend brand and sold to coffee shops, offices, churches and a growing list of online coffee subscribers.
Local church pastor Dai Hankey, who set up Manumit three years ago with fellow director, Nick Davis, explains: “The shocking statistic is that every 30 seconds someone becomes a slave.”
“The shocking statistic is that every 30 seconds someone becomes a slave.”
Dai Hankey, Manumit Coffee
“We set up Manumit to give survivors of human trafficking hope and the chance to rebuild their lives. By working at Manumit, survivors are paid a Living Wage, while they are trained in a skill that they can take on and find other work.
“Some of the survivors are scared, apprehensive and suffer from panic attacks when we first meet them. It’s so rewarding to see them grow in confidence and trust and start looking forward to a brighter future through meaningful work and the ongoing support and kindness we offer.”
Survivors working at Manumit include Nadia, a young woman from Africa, who was trafficked into the sex industry. Since starting work at Manumit a year ago, she has achieved her foundation level barista qualification and works part-time in a local coffee shop. She has also found the confidence to return to college.
Dai added: “The donation from Wales & West Housing is amazing. It will allow us to grow as a social enterprise and ultimately give hope to more survivors through paid and meaningful work.”
Everyone who buys their speciality coffee is actively helping people to break the chains of slavery and offer hope to those whose lives have been scarred.”
Alex Ashton, Chair of WWH
Alex Ashton, Chair of WWH said: “Manumit is playing an important part in helping to combat modern slavery on many levels.
“By training and employing survivors of modern slavery as coffee roasters, sourcing speciality coffee beans from ethical, slavery-free suppliers and investing their all profits in local anti-slavery projects, they are helping those men and women who have suffered horrendous exploitation at the hands of traffickers and modern slave traders, to rebuild their lives.
“WWH is pleased to support them in their growth.”
To find out how you can support Manumit or buy their coffee visit www.manumitcoffee.co.uk
