A vital Barnardo’s service that supports child victims of modern slavery and trafficking is being rolled out across all local authorities in England and Wales.
The expanded Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service will make sure more children who have experienced, or are at risk of, trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation can access the specialist support they need to stay safe, recover and rebuild their lives.
The new £25m contract from the Home Office will see the service rolled out to areas not currently covered, building on more than a decade of learning and development since the service was first piloted in 2014 and formally launched in 2017. It currently covers two-thirds of local authorities in England and Wales, and this latest injection of funding will bring the service to all remaining local authorities, which are all in England.
Delivered by Barnardo’s on behalf of the Home Office, the ICTG Service provides independent, specialist support to help ensure children's voices are heard and their best interests remain at the centre of decisions affecting their lives.
The Independent Child Trafficking Guardians work directly with children who have experienced trafficking and exploitation, helping them understand their rights, access education, healthcare and legal support, navigate criminal justice and immigration systems, and build positive and safe futures. The service also provides expert advice and guidance to the professionals responsible for a child's care, helping them identify risks, understand the impact of exploitation and put effective safeguarding measures in place.
The expansion comes as demand for specialist support continues to grow. In the year ending March 2025, 2,730 potential child victims of modern slavery were referred to the ICTG Service - a 10% increase on the previous year. Half of all children referred were UK nationals, highlighting that trafficking and exploitation are not only international issues but also affect children in communities across England and Wales.
Children supported by the service have experienced a range of exploitation, including criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and domestic servitude. Many have suffered significant trauma and remain vulnerable to further harm, repeat victimisation, re-trafficking or going missing.
Since 2017, the ICTG Service has received more than 11,700 referrals for potential child victims of modern slavery and trafficking.
The impact of the service can be seen in the experiences of children who have received support.
One 17-year-old boy from Vietnam who experienced labour exploitation said: "Your advice, care, and goodwill have helped me grow so much. I truly appreciate everything - every action, every word of encouragement, and every bit of care you have given me. I am genuinely thankful, and I will always remember the wonderful things you have done for me."
A 14-year-old boy from Guinea who was exploited through domestic servitude said: “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your constant support and presence. Your kindness and goodwill have made a huge difference in my life. I am so grateful to have people like you by my side.”
A 16-year-old girl from Wales who experienced child criminal exploitation said: “The support I received from my worker was amazing… one of the best professionals I have ever worked with in my life”.
Sarah Crawley, Director of Children's Services Cymru and UK Programmes at Barnardo's, said:
"We warmly welcome the Home Office’s continued investment in the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service, recognising the impact the service has had in helping some of the most at-risk children and young people. This new funding will enable us to expand the service to every local authority across England and continue to cover all of Wales, ensuring more children can benefit from the specialist advice, advocacy and support they need.
"Every year, we work with thousands of children who have experienced, or are at risk of, trafficking, modern slavery, criminal and sexual exploitation. These experiences can leave children deeply traumatised and vulnerable to further harm, making it vital that they receive specialist help at the earliest opportunity.
"Barnardo’s has proudly delivered the ICTG Service working closely with the Home Office, local authorities, police and partner agencies to help children rebuild trust and move forward with their lives. We look forward to continuing this work together to provide high-quality, child-centred support that helps children stay safe, recover and thrive.
Natalie Fleet, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said:
“For many children who have experienced modern slavery, exploitation and trafficking, broken trust is a reality. Repairing that trust requires enormous empathy, patience, discretion, and skill—qualities Barnardo’s and their dedicated staff and volunteers have in spades.
“Barnardo’s has successfully delivered the ICTG service for almost 10 years, seeing it through efficient growth whilst helping thousands of children get their lives and their futures back. This funding represents stability and continuity for child survivors and the local authorities supporting them.”
Alongside direct support for children, the ICTG Service plays a critical role in strengthening safeguarding responses across England and Wales. The service operates a 24/7 advice line for professionals and works with local authorities, police forces, health services and other agencies to improve identification of trafficked children, strengthen multi-agency responses and ensure children receive coordinated support.
To find out more about Barnardo’s and how you could help support children, young people and families, visit barnardos.org.uk.
Notes to Editors:
The Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) Service is a Home Office-funded service established under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The new contract commences on Tuesday 14 July 2026.