MEMBERS of a Bournemouth church charity are urging residents to stand together with victims of modern slavery through a visual campaign.Bournemouth.

The Salvation Army launched the tattoo campaign to spread public awareness on the issue ahead of anti-slavery day.

As part of a international movement, the group is calling on people to stand in solidarity with the millions of victims of modern slavery across the globe this October by wearing a temporary tattoo and joining the online #WeAreNotForSale campaign.

In the lead-up to anti-slavery day on Thursday October 18, special edition temporary tattoos will be available from The Salvation Army’s shops in Boscombe, Southbourne, Westbourne and Poole in return for a £1 donation.

Proceeds of each donation will go to the charity’s victim care fund to support its work with survivors of modern slavery.

The Salvation Army has held the UK Government contract to provide specialist support services to adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales for more than seven years and has helped more than 7,000 people in that time.

Kathy Betteridge, director of anti-trafficking and modern slavery for The Salvation Army, said the campaign will raise essential funds for these victims and help raise awareness of the horrors of modern slavery.

“We really want to encourage people in Bournemouth to share this message, either by wearing the tattoo or by sharing it online with their friends and families," Ms Betteridge said. "The more people who know about modern slavery, the more people will start to spot the signs of it and help those who have no voice.

“We all have a part to play and together we can be a voice for the voiceless. Victims are bought and sold, abused and exploited for sex, drug production, cheap labour and much more. We cannot allow this to continue. This is not okay. We are not for sale.”

Supporters are being encouraged to help The Salvation Army spread the message online by sharing photos of them wearing their temporary tattoos on social media, using the hashtag #WeAreNotForSale.

A limited edition Facebook ‘frame’ will be available from facebook.com/salvationarmyuk and The Salvation Army will be making a downloaded of the design online at salvationarmy.org.uk.

The Salvation Army’s charity shops in the Bournemouth area are located at:

n 587 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth, BH1 4AN

n 78 High St, Poole, BH15 1DB

n 45 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth, BH6 3QT

n 124 Poole Rd, Bournemouth, BH4 9EF