The concept for this book comes from the many conversations I have had with practitioners and policymakers about the reflection, recovery and (re)integration of survivors in the UK context, and consultations with survivors about their lived experience of recovery support and opportunities for (re)integration. Having conversations with survivors has been a critical element in the development of this book from an idea to a final text. Two of these survivors are known to me through their personal agency in choosing to engage with me in conversations about education, survivor agency and survivor voice. Both survivors have been inspirational in terms of their willingness to share their stories of the recovery and integration available in the UK, offering an insight into the similarities and differences in their experiences as domestic and international survivors accessing support.

After ten years of working with victims and survivors of exploitation and abuse, I was keen to establish a research centre that would address key challenges facing society, including human trafficking and modern slavery. I set up the Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse (formerly the Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham in 2015 to respond to growing awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK and internationally; to recognise the impact on victims and survivors with complex and intersecting needs; and to ensure timely and focused evidence-based responses. Centre staff, honorary fellows and affiliates have worked together to build a body of research evidence that is practice focused and applied, and which is represented in many chapters in this book. Going forward, survivors (experts by experience) will be key partners in the work of the Centre.