NHS Arden & GEM CSU’s Engagement, Communications and Marketing team has been shortlisted for a prestigious regional PR award for a campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery in the West Midlands.
The PRide Awards, run by the Chartered Institute for Public Relations (CIPR), are the leading regional PR awards, recognising outstanding work delivered for clients and employers across the UK. Arden & GEM has been recognised, in partnership with West Midlands Police, in the Midlands ‘Public sector campaign’ category.
There are an estimated 13,000 people living in the UK as slaves. Birmingham alone has seen a 100% increase in recorded instances of modern slavery in the past year, yet despite the increase in reporting, many of the offences that occur in communities still go unreported with the public not recognising the various signs of trafficking.
To raise awareness of the prevalence of modern slavery in the West Midlands, and the devastating effects it can have on health, Arden & GEM brought together key agencies and organisations – including the NHS, West Midlands Police, Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Anti Slavery Network – as part of a hard-hitting campaign.
By designing a campaign that grabbed the public’s attention, launched by a live performance in Birmingham City Centre, extensive media coverage was achieved reaching more than 3 million people and resulting in a 30% rise in contacts to the Modern Slavery Helpline. Read more about the campaign in our case study.
The CIPR Midlands PRide Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on Friday 27 September 2019. Read the full shortlist here.