FOI release

Delivery of trials of specialist advocates for child victims of trafficking

Published 5 January 2015

  1. The Home Office invited leading voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations operating in the field of child protection to participate in a competed call for proposals. Those that confirmed their interest were required to complete an application form, a copy of which is attached; responses were evaluated and as the highest ranked organisation Barnardo’s was offered funding by means of a Grant Agreement rather than a ‘contract’.

  2. The maximum value of grant funding offered to Barnardo’s to deliver the trials will be £420,916.

  3. The University of Bedfordshire has been appointed as the independent evaluators of the child trafficking advocates trial. The Co Principal Investigators are Professor Ravi Kohli and Dr Patricia Hynes. Professor Kohli is Professor of Child Welfare, University of Bedfordshire. His qualifications include: PhD from University of East Anglia; MA in Social Work; BA (Hons) in Social Psychology; Certificate in Social Work; and Diploma in Advanced Social Work Dr Patricia Hynes is Principal Lecturer, Acting Head of Department of Applied Social Studies, University of Bedfordshire. Her qualifications include: PhD by Doctoral Thesis; Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods; Postgraduate Foundation Course in Forced Marriage; and BA (Hons), Third World Studies.

  4. The firm price for the evaluation under the contract is £138,543, exclusive of VAT.

  5. An advisory group has been established for the trial and evaluation. Membership of the advisory group includes the Home Office; Department for Education; Ofsted; Association of Directors of Children’s Services; The Children’s Society; Coram Voice; National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC); National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS); Refugee Council; United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Office of the Children’s Commissioner; National Policing Lead for Modern Slavery; National Crime Agency (NCA); Children & Family Court Advisors and Support Services (CAFCASS) and Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA).