Nancy Esiovwa is a Lived Experience Expert Consultant. She has been working in the sector for over ten years, collaborating with anti-slavery organisations and speaking in various capacities while advocating for survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery to access better and more suitable support in the UK.
Nancy is a co-founder at Morgan Charitable Foundation, which is committed to uplifting vulnerable populations through compassion, advocacy, and action. Their work focuses on addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing individuals and families.
Nancy first came into contact with Hope for Justice when she was referred to our advocacy team and began working alongside one of our Independent Modern Slavery Advocates® (IMSAs®). Most recently, she accepted an offer to work as Lived Experience Expert Consultant after members of our policy and programmes teams heard Nancy speaking at a conference hosted by Human Trafficking Foundation, in her capacity as Movement Building Manager on behalf of Survivor Alliance.
Nancy conducted a review of Hope for Justice’s IMSA briefing, ‘Independent Modern Slavery Advocacy: Working Together for Lasting Change’, which draws on our insights and learnings from over 15 years of providing independent advocacy.
In this blog, Nancy shares her expertise and lived experience around accessing support services within the UK. She draws on her own direct experience of Hope for Justice’s IMSA service as a survivor. She also provides her insights on the IMSA Model which Hope for Justice is developing alongside key partners, and speaks about the impact this model could have. Nancy is speaking at the official launch of the national IMSA Model pilot.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself – how did you become involved in the IMSA Model Project? Are there other projects/commitments you’re working on or involved in at the moment in the anti-trafficking space?
My name is Nancy Esiovwa. I am currently studying to be a social worker, and I love singing.
In 2018/19, I had a judicial review with the Home Office, and I didn’t have a caseworker to support me. I reached out to [another professional], whom I had collaborated with in a different capacity, to see if she could connect me with a caseworker who could help me understand the process. I was struggling to fully grasp what the lawyers were saying.
I was then connected to Hope for Justice and introduced to an IMSA named Olivia. She was very good at her job. I’ve been in the system since 2014, and you can imagine the journey I’ve been through: changing from one lawyer to another, moving from one house to another, and being assigned different caseworkers. With Olivia, I could finally breathe and sleep a little more peacefully, knowing that someone genuinely had my best interests at heart.
Building a professional relationship and trust with Olivia was easy because I saw how she challenged and pushed back on certain suggestions made by professionals involved in my case, including the solicitor who was supporting me at the time.
Olivia helped me understand the process and every piece of paperwork I received—some documents were over ten pages long. She would take the time to explain them thoroughly and outline the advantages and disadvantages, which helped me make informed decisions that were in my best interest.
Two to three months ago, Hope for Justice reached out to me to say they were working on the IMSA Model Development Project. They asked if I could review the model and share my suggestions and thoughts. At the time, I was working with Survivor Alliance on a project focused on survivor advocacy. Many survivors want to play an active role and share their input after gaining freedom from their traffickers. They want their voices to be heard on issues such as housing and the need for improved safe houses, immigration status, and so on.
The project explored how survivors should be included from the very beginning, when programmes and ideas are first developed, and how funders should involve survivors in the grant application process. It also advocated for funding survivor-led projects, even at the grassroots level, without requiring them to be registered companies.
I had been speaking at an event during Anti-Slavery Week, presenting the research, which members of Hope for Justice attended.
Q: In what ways can it be challenging for survivors of modern slavery to access support? Why is there a need for independent advocates?
There are so many barriers. There are some obvious ones that people talk about. For those where English isn’t their first language, it is a struggle. I cannot even imagine not being able to speak English in this country. I know service providers would say they have interpreters, but often they do not speak someone’s mother tongue. For example, in Nigeria, we have so many mother tongue languages. But here we have ‘general English’ and ‘broken English’. A survivor will probably get an interpreter who speaks one language, and they assume they can speak their mother tongue, but it is different. This can be in a really serious interview, and this jeopardises their progress or understanding. It is a huge barrier if someone cannot communicate properly.
A few times I have heard comments like ‘you will be fine, you can speak English’. While I understand that those who cannot speak a word of English should be the priority, all survivors need [this support] because, psychologically, you don’t know the state of the survivor.
Another barrier is not having a case worker. Letters and documents received either from the Home Office or their solicitors might require them to take action, but f they don’t understand what action they need to take, it might result in a big problem for their cases. Even for survivors who can speak English, they need the support of someone who can help them to break down the grammar and vocabulary [in those letters] into simple English.
I hope that, as this pilot project is rolling out, more support will be available for more survivors who fall into these gaps. And maybe it will significantly increase the number of survivors who are granted immigration status, and when this happens, it will be a cause for celebration.
Another barrier is destitution; there are no words I can use to describe the torrent of pain this brings to survivors. A survivor who is destitute doesn’t have an address. Therefore, applying for section 4 [a form of state support for some people whose asylum claims have been refused] and being able to fulfil the criteria of section 4 takes a lot from the survivors, and they may not have the mental capabilities to go through this process themselves and would need an IMSA to support them.
I was once asked, ‘Give me your address’, and I told him I was destitute, so he asked, ‘Where do you sleep then? And how do you still attend college?’ At the time, I was studying Health and Social Care at college. I was not surprised because most of them, it’s like their heart has been replaced with a robotic heart. If I had an IMSA with me at that time, that person may not have responded to me that way.
Many survivors have solicitors who think the survivor doesn’t have the right to ask questions or to check how their own case is going. They would not respond to survivors’ messages or calls, but they will respond to their case workers. This is the reality for most survivors, which is why there is a need for an IMSA to advocate for them.
What do you think of the role of an independent advocate? Do you think this would be a good addition to the UK’s current support system for survivors of modern slavery?
Having an IMSA in addition to other current support we have in the UK is a great addition. Most current providers do not have the capacity – some case workers try to provide support for 10 to 30 survivors and cannot give adequate support to each person.
The role of an IMSA is also different in the duties they perform. For example, I was supported by five different support providers, but having the IMSA at Hope for Justice was a very different role, while I was supported by them (though this was a long time ago). IMSAs help survivors in various forms. When I had to complete a medico-legal report (MLR) assessment, [my Hope for Justice IMSA] Olivia was with me, and she was able to sense the emotions in the room and ask for a break. Olivia was there when I went for my housing interview. I hate explaining the level of my mental health. She explained to them why I need a house on my own, not a shared house. But having her there made the difference, and I got what I wanted. But if I had gone alone, I may not have been able to explain or use the correct words to explain my mental health situation, and they would not have given me what I wanted.
Current and former members of Hope for Justice’s IMSA team at our Manchester head office
Rolling out the IMSA Model will make a huge difference if we have the right people employed, who explain the advantages and disadvantages of a situation to the survivor and allow them to make the choice that is best for them. The recruitment process for the IMSAs has to be done right, to make sure the people employed have the heart for it. The recruiters need to ensure they look not only at their years of experience but look at the individual, outside of their CV.
An IMSA should be an advocate who can challenge when necessary. A long time ago, I was asked to sign an emergency travel document by the Home Office. The solicitor I was with at the time told me that I would be effectively breaking the law if I didn’t sign the document. At the time, I didn’t have a case worker or an IMSA, and I had to do what I believed was best and in my interest.
It is great that all survivors will have someone in their corner to fight and advocate for them, and help the survivor to understand the process, like Olivia did for me.
Q: Why might a survivor be able to better engage with a police investigation or court process if they have access to an IMSA?
Having an IMSA can be a vital source of support for survivors, whether they are new to the UK system or have been stuck in limbo for 10 years. An IMSA can give a survivor the courage to go through a police investigation, which may eventually lead to court proceedings. This process can be exhausting, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. But with an IMSA, survivors can receive help reviewing court papers and gain the emotional support they need during court dates.
That said, some survivors, with or without an IMSA, simply want to move forward and rebuild their lives, choosing not to carry the weight of the past into their future.
I didn’t have the mental capacity to go through the court process. I made that decision early on because I didn’t believe that others would act in my best interest.
IMSA support is especially important for survivors who have never been to school and may not be able to read or write, or for those whose first language isn’t English, or who don’t speak English at all. For survivors who choose to pursue justice through an investigation, having an IMSA can make a tremendous difference.
However, it’s equally important to explain the process in plain English, what the investigation and court proceedings will look like, how long it may take, and how often they might need to attend court. This transparency helps survivors make informed decisions and feel more in control of their journey.
Q: How might an IMSA be able to support a survivor through transitions such as moving house or leaving prison?
Moving house has been one of the most stressful experiences I’ve had in life, and having someone to support me through the process was truly a lifesaver. There are many ways an IMSA can support a survivor during a move, for example when a survivor is transitioning from asylum accommodation or a ‘safe house’ to a council flat. As we know, council housing usually does not come furnished.
An IMSA can assist the survivor in applying for emergency support funds through the Human Trafficking Foundation. This application must be completed by a support provider, as survivors cannot apply directly.
IMSAs also help survivors to secure appropriate housing, ensuring that the accommodation is suitable for survivors or individuals leaving prison. They can also assist with applying for benefits, enabling survivors to meet their basic needs while they look for employment.
Additionally, IMSAs can work alongside survivors to assist with everyday tasks, such as booking appointments at the GP. For instance, a survivor may have to choose between buying food or topping up their phone and may not have credit to make a call to the GP at 8am.
Q: What challenges do you think could arise with the IMSA Model, thinking particularly about the training process and governance structure? How do we ensure that survivors are seen, heard and valued?
The size of an IMSA’s caseload directly affects how much time and care they can dedicate to each survivor.*
It is important to create pathways for survivors to become IMSAs. Many survivors who have travelled to, or been trafficked to, the UK have studied and hold degrees from their home countries. However, these qualifications are often not recognised in the UK. This means they have to start from scratch, which can add another five to ten years to their journey before being able to get to the stage where they can study a degree course.
I began my degree in 2023, studying Social Work, something I had wanted to do since 2014.
Q: What alternative pathways can be explored to make it easier for survivors to become IMSAs?
There is a powerful connection that occurs when one survivor supports another. In my experience, skin colour can play an important role. Many survivors see me and immediately feel they can relate to me. It’s crucial to create opportunities for survivors to support each other. They should be included in the decision-making processes. It would be beneficial to find ways to enable survivors to access this work and be a meaningful part of the model.
Q: What difference would it make for survivors to have an IMSA supporting them in their recovery journey, instead of having to navigate systems and services on their own?
Having an IMSA will make a huge difference and make the life of limbo, which the system subjects survivors to, less painful. IMSAs have more contacts and access to more information than the survivors they will be advocating for, and in some cases, the survivors have no friends or close relatives who could direct or assist them on where to go for resources.
Therefore, having an IMSA can be a lifesaver. There was a time I received so many letters from the Home Office. From the panic and anxiety upon receiving the letter, all I did was to take a phone and send it to my IMSA at Hope for Justice. I waited for her to get back to me explaining what the letter was about, while praying that it would be good news. Receiving a brown envelope brings fears and panic attacks, and that is the depth of the damage the Home Office has contributed to the lives of survivors. Imagine not having an IMSA when going through such a process.
I am excited to see the launch of the IMSA pilot because so many survivors will benefit from having someone who is always in the corner to advocate for them and explain the complex process in simple English.
Q: What will you be speaking about during the IMSA model launch event on 8th July?
I will be speaking about the impact of having an IMSA and why every survivor should be allocated one. I will be sharing my personal experience about the difference it made for me when I was still in limbo, and why having an IMSA was so important at that time.
Even for those already supporting survivors, there is always something new to learn. This event will offer valuable insights into ethical and trauma-informed approaches to supporting survivors, you may walk away with tools and understanding that can make a real difference.
A final message to survivors:
For survivors who are still going through the asylum system. I stand in solidarity with you, I see you and hear you even without you saying a word. I know the limbo feels like it is never going to end, I know it was the same for me but one day it came to an end. To my fellow survivors: we are in this together, let us not lose hope that everything will be fine.
*Bethan Hunt, IMSA Model Development Manager, responded to some of the issues raised by Nancy, including caseloads, survivors being employed within the Model and complaints processes. She said:
IMSAs will have a caseload of between 12 and 15 survivors. IMSAs work with a survivor for a long-term period and do not work in a set way, but rather the survivor is empowered to set which areas of their recovery they think would benefit from advocacy. For example, if a survivor does not wish to engage in a criminal justice process, then this will not be expected of them; it is completely up to the survivor to decide how to work with their IMSA.
The IMSA Model project is being developed in a way that creates opportunities for people with lived and learned experience. Survivors will be able to join the project board, work on the strategy and rollout of the model, sit on the advisory group which helps with governance as well as train to be employed as IMSAs. This is to ensure best practice as the model grows. To become an IMSA in the pilot, individuals are required to partake in a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) qualification. The course costs are covered by the project so that independent advocates do not need to pay tuition fees. In instances where individuals do not have an undergraduate degree, a prerequisite for a PG Cert, the model has been shaped to create pathways for survivors to be trained and employed as IMSAs. St Mary’s University, where the PG Cert will be undertaken, have a wealth of experience working with survivors.
One of the principles we think is important is the standardisation of the IMSA Model. One of the motivations for this is for survivors to be able to challenge service provision if needed. We are setting a national standard of best practice. We want survivors to have full confidence in the advocacy they receive and to be able to raise concerns via a formal complaints process if this falls short.
IMSAs are a constant person for survivors, and they work remotely. IMSAs can attend appointments, meetings and court with survivors, and they have budget for travel and expenses. It will depend on what other support is available around the survivor but meetings can be (and often are) in-person. We try to match IMSA to client dependent on location. If a survivor was to move geographical location, a decision would be made with the survivor on a case-by-case basis if they would prefer to continue working with the same IMSA or transfer to another IMSA in a closer location. IMSAs do travel long distances to work with and meet with survivors.
