Against Forced Marriages Support Service

Aim: Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights and affects some of the most vulnerable people in the UK, including young people, LGBT people and people with disabilities. Since 2011, JAN Trust has been running direct support services (including a helpline and work with perpetrators) and a highly commended training programme. We have so far provided training to thousands of front-line professionals (including teachers, police officers and doctors), students and community organisations to help them understand and combat forced marriage. Help us move this essential work into new boroughs and out of London. EVERYBODY DESERVES PROTECTION.

Who are we?

JAN Trust is a multi-award winning charity in North London supporting disadvantaged Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) women and youth from marginalised communities. We are leading specialists on the complex and often overlooked issue of forced marriage.

Forced marriage is a hidden problem in the UK, happening behind closed doors and shrouded in secrecy. JAN Trust’s Against Forced Marriage campaign works to raise awareness and educate on this complicated and often misunderstood issue. Since 2011, we have been running direct support services and a highly commended training programme. We have so far provided training to hundreds of front-line professionals, and run awareness raising and training workshops to help communities understand and combat forced marriage. Through grass roots activism and community engagement we empower people to contribute to long term change.

Our aim is to end the practice of forced marriage in the UK. Unfortunately we do not yet have the funding to work in all the regions where people are at risk of being forced into a marriage.

What is the situation?

Forced marriage tends to happen to some of the most vulnerable people in the UK: the young, LGBT people, people with disabilities and those from marginalised and non-mainstream communities. Often the victims struggle to report their situation to the authorities. Likewise, authorities and traditional support services find it difficult to engage with the issue or understand the reasons behind it, whether it is acceptable to intervene and what they can do to combat it. Because of this, victims who are often suffering from isolation, threats and intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and abuse find it extremely difficult to get help.

We work to ensure nobody has to endure this. It is only through committed, tireless outreach work that these children and vulnerable adults know how to access our support services.

What do we need?

JAN Trust’s work has educated and supported thousands of people so far, but we need your support to move our campaign into every single borough in London and regions in the UK where there is a high risk of forced marriages occurring. We will provide direct support services including a helpline, online resources and work with perpetrators. In each new region, our highly acclaimed training programme will reach frontline professionals, including teachers, police officers and doctors. Will raise awareness of the issue among students, community organisations and religious organisations.

Please support us by donating and/or sharing this page. HELP US REACH POTENTIAL VICTIMS WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THE UK. Everybody deserves the chance to choose who they marry, and live a life free from abuse and degradation.