Row for Freedom

In 2012, Debbie Beadle, ECPAT UK's Director of Programmes, captained a team of women rowers across the Atlantic Ocean to raise awareness of human trafficking and raise funds for ECPAT UK. The Row For Freedom team earned two world records in the process: ‘The fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by an all-female team’ and ‘The first five-woman team to row any ocean’.

The women were welcomed into Port St Charles Marina by friends, family and race organisers following their 3,000-mile journey, which begun on 7 December 2011 in the Canary Islands. Watch the video of their arrival here.

Debbie Beadle, Julia Immonen, Kate Richardson, Katie Pattinson-Hart and Helen Leigh are now proud holders of two world records: ‘The fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by an all-female team’ and ‘The first five-woman team to row any ocean’.

The women have overcome many challenges throughout their trip, including 30-ft waves, the failure of their steering system and automatic water-making system, sea sickness, salt sores, cramp and sleep deprivation, in order to, successfully take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, known as ‘the world’s toughest rowing race’. More people have climbed Everest or gone to space than have ever rowed an ocean.

Through sheer determination and human spirit, the Row for Freedom team, who had no previous ocean-rowing experience, crossed an ocean that has defeated some of the world’s hardiest and most experienced adventurers – six out of 17 boats have already dropped out from the race, suffering snapped oars, capsizing and debilitating sea sickness.

Row for Freedom’s aim is to raise money for two charities that work to fight human trafficking: the children’s charity ECPAT UK and the A21 Campaign.

Skipper Debbie Beadle, who runs a youth group for ECPAT UK, helping young people who have been exploited in the UK, said: “We’re exhausted and relieved to have made it. We’ve seen nothing but the sea, dolphins and each other for 45 days so it’s overwhelming to now see our family and friends.

“Our bodies are falling apart – we’re waking up with our hands cramped into the rowing position and our backs aching. We can’t wait to have some proper food and an ice-cold cocktail! Not to mention a proper bed!

“We are blown away to have achieved two world records. These are an added bonus to our initial and most important goal, which is to raise awareness of the horrific crime of women, men and children being sold, exploited and trafficked around the world.”

The women of Row for Freedom spent 45 days on the ocean in a boat measuring 7m x 2m, sharing incredible sunsets, visits by dolphins and a Christmas Day under the stars. Theirs was an arduous and dangerous journey - along a route that was once used to transport slaves from the UK to the US - but one they hope will inspire others to fight against the modern slavery of child trafficking.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: “This is a fantastic achievement and highlights the level of commitment this organisation and others put in to fighting this terrible crime.

“Human trafficking is an awful crime where people are treated as commodities. I am determined that Britain becomes more hostile to traffickers, and at the same time more compassionate to victims.

“I’d like to extend my warm congratulations to Debbie Beadle and her brave team of four in rowing across the Atlantic and commend their efforts to raise the awareness of human trafficking and, in doing so, breaking two world records.”

Christine Beddoe, Director of ECPAT UK, said: “What these women have done is totally inspiring. They have recognised the urgent need to stop the trafficking of children and adults, and have acted to raise awareness and money to do just that.

“What Row for Freedom has achieved is an opportunity for the UK and the rest of the world to take notice and take action to stop the exploitation of children and young people in Britain and abroad. I applaud and thank them for their tremendous efforts in helping ECPAT UK continue its vital work to protect children everywhere.”

Row for Freedom named their ocean rowing boat ‘The Guardian’ in honour of ECPAT UK’s campaign call for a system of guardianship to be introduced in the UK for child victims of trafficking - because that is what every child victim of trafficking in the UK needs.

Latest

The government must ramp up protection of children abroad from abuse and exploitation by UK nationals, says Inquiry

Following a landmark Inquiry into the sexual abuse of children abroad by UK nationals, which revealed systemic and procedural failures to prevent UK nationals from sexually exploiting children abroad, ECPAT UK is pleased that the Inquiry’s report includes our key recommendations. ECPAT UK now calls on the government to urgently implement these measures to ensure children abroad are protected from exploitation and abuse.
Marking 25 years of ECPAT UK

This December, we celebrated 25 years of ECPAT UK. Over the last quarter of a century, we’ve secured major wins for some of the world’s most vulnerable children and ensured trafficked children’s rights remain on the public agenda.
An Introduction to Child Trafficking, Exploitation and Modern Slavery

Our full-day face-to-face training will support participants to develop a clear understanding of how to recognise child trafficking, exploitation and modern slavery, as well as provide up-to-date skills to respond to these abuses and better support trafficked children.
Child Criminal Exploitation and Trafficking

In this full-day training course, participants will gain an understanding of the causes and dynamics of forced criminality amongst children in the UK. This course will build participants' capacity to identify the various forms of forced criminality and provide best practice guidance and tools to support participants to respond appropriately and safeguard children in their work. A more specific and specialist version of this course can be provided for those working in the Youth Justice System.

The Secret Gardeners: New film on child trafficking from Vietnam

The Secret Gardeners aims to inform professionals about the plight of children who are forced by organised crime gangs to grow drugs in houses across the UK but who often face criminalisation and prison.
The National Referral Mechanism

The National Referral Mechanism is a process set up by the Government to identify and support victims of trafficking in the UK. It was born out of the Government's obligation to identify victims under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Human Trafficking, which came into force on 1 February 2008.
Demand specialist support for trafficked children

In 2018 we worked with Care2 to call on the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid MP, to overhaul the current system of identification and support for victims of trafficking – the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
Urgent action needed: Independent guardianship for all trafficked, unaccompanied and separated children

Last October, an incredible 120,535 supporters called for specialist support for all trafficked children. However, the fight is not finished. Make sure your voice is heard by contacting the Home Secretary asking him to provide guardianship for all trafficked, separated and unaccompanied children
Volunteer

ECPAT UK relies on committed volunteers to support the work that we do. Without their help, we would not be able to campaign as effectively against child exploitation.
Child trafficking statistics
Before the Harm is Done: Examining the UK's response to the prevention of trafficking

The UK Government is failing to protect thousands of children from exploitation by lacking a plan to prevent child trafficking, according to a new report by the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG), a coalition of twelve UK-based charities, including ECPAT UK. The report Before the Harm is Done, stresses that the UK has no specific strategy in relation to preventing trafficking in children, putting thousands of children at risk.
Heading back to harm: A study on trafficked and unaccompanied children going missing from care in the UK

Trafficked and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are going missing from UK care at an “alarmingly high” rate, according to a new study by leading charities ECPAT UK and Missing People.
Our team

ECPAT UK's team has more than 30 years' experience working on issues of child trafficking, child protection, child sexual exploitation, unaccompanied children, modern slavery and more.
ECPAT UK training

ECPAT UK offers a comprehensive training programme, in line with National Occupational Standards, delivering courses for more than 20 years to help improve responses to child trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation.