intu Metrocentre has answered a plea from Newcastle Soroptimists to provide New Start Bags for girls and women in the North East who have been trafficked.
Soroptimist International is a vibrant and global volunteer organisation, affiliated to The United Nations. These organisations work to improve the lives of women and girls throughout the world, through programmes leading to social and economic empowerment.
Here in the North East, the Newcastle Soroptimists Club is working with Northumbria Police to support girls and women in the region who are victims of trafficking. intu Metrocentre’s chaplain Lyn Jamieson was approached by Jill Smith, the president of Newcastle Soroptimists to help provide New Start Bags for the girls and women who have been rescued from trafficking.
Jill said:
“Sadly, trafficking exists throughout the world and also here in the North East. Sex trafficking is the most common form of trafficking (79%) followed by forced labour (18%). Sex trafficking is about recruitment, transportation, harbouring, transfer and the sale of women and girls for sexual exploitation. When the women have been brought to a place of safety, they often arrive with no possessions and just the clothes they stand up in.”
intu Metrocentre Chaplain Lyn Jamieson added:
“We’ve had generous donations from intu Metrocentre staff of new clothes and toiletries for New Start Bags, from a list* provided by The Soroptimists and Northumbria Police. If any members of the public are willing to help we will happily continue to take donations delivered to our centre management office, which is on the upper mall next to House of Fraser. These new items will be so appreciated by the girls and women here in the North East and will give an individual their sense of dignity and self worth.”
*NEW START BAGS
New clothes – sizes 8 – 10
New toiletries
v T shirts
v Warm top/fleece/jumper
v Leggings/tracksuit bottoms
v Nightwear
v Underwear/socks
v Toiletries and cosmetics/toothbrush
v Sponge bag/comb/hairbrush
v Packets of sweets and biscuits
v Pens/notebook
v Medium/large soft weekend bag (no wheels or frames)