Lifelines is proud to support the  work of the AMIES CHOIR – a choral singing project  using music to heal, connect and empower women victims of trafficking and slavery.

The choir is the brainchild of John Martin of PAN Intercultural Arts (https://www.pan-arts.net). We have just committed to meet the funding shortfall for this inspiring project for the next three years ( £90,000).

The members of Amies Freedom Choir are all survivors of modern slavery, trafficked into the UK from the Caribbean, Africa, eastern Europe or south-east Asia. They are just some of the thousands of women brought to the UK to be forced into domestic labour or prostitution – a problem that continues to grow, according to a Salvation Army report that states there has been a 21% increase in the number of trafficking victims seeking support in 2019.

Aside from physical injuries and the practical concerns of navigating the complex British immigration system, those who escape modern slavery often suffer from mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

Alongside fellow co-founder Annabel Rook, Dickson started the project in 2010 as a weekly drama workshop to help rebuild the confidence of female survivors of human trafficking referred to them by frontline charities. They soon found that singing had a “previously unseen” effect on the women, and decided to set up a dedicated group.

You can read more about the project and it’s impact here https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/dec/17/were-bonded-like-sisters-the-choir-giving-trafficked-women-a-voice-amies-freedom-choir 

We can’t wait to see the performances live !