Dr Anne Kelly, representing Soroptimist International Wales South, was pleased to be able to assist the Dyfed Powys Police Regional Anti- Slavery Group on their stand at this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Since 2015, Dr Anne Kelly has attended all Dyfed Powys Anti-Slavery Forum meetings, held at Police Headquarters Carmarthen.

She and fellow SI Tenby Soroptimist Mary Fleming were therefore invited to work alongside Mr. Michael Smith, Dyfed Powys’s Regional Community Cohesion Co-ordinator, in order to increase awareness of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking within local communities.

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking has become a scourge of our time and, next to drug dealing, is the most financially rewarding crime of the modern world.

The Royal Welsh Show was a perfect choice for Dyfed Powys Police to spread information about Modern Slavery and ensure that the people of Dyfed Powys turn ‘disbelief and apathy into action’.

Throughout the day Dr. Kelly and Mary Fleming were able to circulate amongst the other stands, distributing Welsh Government stickers and posters urging awareness and action to detect and report this heinous crime.

These efforts stimulated many useful discussions and promises to pass on the messages to all engaged with the wide range of various groups encountered, including colleges, united churches, Mother’s unions, political organisations and hoteliers.

Soroptimist International has urged Clubs throughout the UK to take action on increasing awareness of Modern Slavery.

SI Tenby has responded to this request and, since 2008, when a case of Human Trafficking, involving eight young African women, was discovered in a small village on the south Pembrokeshire coast, have actively campaigned and lobbied on issues of Modern Slavery.

They have been assisted in their efforts by local MPs, AMs, and organisations including councils, Industry, retail, schools, and churches.

The club’s efforts have raised a considerable amount of help for organisations concerned with providing support for victims.

For more information about SI Tenby’s programme action projects please visit the website at http://sigbi/tenby.org