News feature 10 and

Major Althea Bawden

more intimate family feel to the weekend as the children of the session were featured. From the youngest to the oldest all were prayed for and celebrated.

Major Sue Pegram’s message to trust God to help us move mountains was wonderfully illustrated as one of the youngest cadet children, Toby, was invited to push over a mountain – in this instance the mountain being Commissioner Anthony! Despite his best attempts the mountain would not move until Toby’s father came to help. A reminder that with our Heavenly Father beside us we can do things we thought impossible.

Further testimonies were shared from Cadets Paul Sass and Ana Layton; Paul sharing his journey from deputy head teacher to distance learning cadet, and once again bringing to bear the key Scripture for the weekend from Micah. Ana shared the challenges of being an officer’s child and the joy of hearing God call her to follow him and be energised by his Holy Spirit to share Jesus and his grace with others.

The message was brought by Assistant Principal Major Althea Bawden, who reminded us that great things happen when God steps in. She referenced Jesus’ earthly ministry, a ministry of justice which saw him welcome children, break societal norms around the status of women and challenge racial prejudices.

While we gathered to celebrate the new session of cadets, we were sent out with the call to live out their sessional name in all our lives; to be – wherever we found ourselves and by God’s strength – defenders of justice.

Cadet Beth Perkins

Educating the new front

For Anti-Slavery Day (18 October), Jo Taylor tells George Tanton about how student advocates will help The Salvation Army’s fight against modern slavery

‘WHEN it comes to issues of social justice, young people have a clear sense of right and wrong’, explains Youth Specialist (Discipleship) Jo Taylor. Leading a new student advocate scheme to raise awareness among young people of modern slavery and human trafficking, she is passionate about involving them.

‘As the territorial youth specialist for discipleship, I have been pushing the subject of human trafficking for a long time,’ she says, ‘and have been involved with many Army initiatives to make young people more aware of the issue.’

Student advocates will be volunteers who discuss modern slavery and human trafficking in schools, colleges, youth groups and Christian unions at universities. They will respond to speaking requests and use their knowledge and resources provided by the Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit (ATMS) to implement a grassroots movement. This in turn will raise the profile of the Army’s work supporting people who have been exploited.

‘At the moment we are recruiting advocates from everywhere, not just university students, but specifically people aged between 18 and 25 who are willing to be trained up, respond to speaking requests and generate their own opportunities for discussing the issues around modern slavery and human trafficking,’ Jo says.

‘Some people apply because they are involved with the Army and have been inspired by a spokesperson from ATMS. Others from outside the Army have been researching online for ways to help prevent human trafficking and have come across this opportunity.’

Young people hear and see a lot that is going on in the world

INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN ADVOCATE?

The deadline for enrolment into the first cohort of student advocates is 4 November, and training begins on 16 November. To apply visit bit.ly/3CwEAEc or scan the QR code. For more details email atmsvolunteering@salvationarmy.org.uk.

The advocates’ training will cover how to communicate with audiences effectively and relate real-life experiences ethically. They will use resources such as the True Story packs, which recount real experiences of human trafficking and modern slavery to different age groups.

‘We are passionate about standing with survivors,’ adds Jo, ‘so we want to tell these stories that represent their courage and the reality of their situation. We do not want to re-victimise them through our storytelling.’

Advocates will receive training in teaching others how to spot the signs of exploitation within their communities and identify individuals involved in trafficking.