Independent Child Trafficking Guardians will expand to every local authority in England and Wales under a £25 million Home Office programme announced on 13 July 2026.
The four-year expansion will bring the service to the remaining 179 local authorities in England, creating nationwide coverage across all 339 local authority areas in England and Wales. Guardians currently operate in 160 areas.
Independent guardians support children who may have experienced trafficking, exploitation or modern slavery. They advocate for children, explain official processes and work with councils, police and safeguarding teams while decisions are made about their protection and support.
Child Trafficking Guardians Expand to Every Local Authority
The expansion completes a phased rollout that began with a pilot in 2014. Barnardo’s will deliver the next four-year phase following a competitive bidding process.
Coverage will increase from 160 local authorities to all 339 areas across England and Wales, ending the geographical differences in access to the specialist guardianship service.
- Existing coverage: Guardians currently operate in 160 local authorities across England and Wales.
- New coverage: The programme will expand to the remaining 179 English local authorities.
- Delivery period: The funded service will operate over the next four years.
How Independent Guardians Support Children
Guardians provide independent support to children while decisions are made about safeguarding, immigration, compensation and criminal justice matters. They can accompany children to appointments, advocate for their health needs and help them enter education.
They also connect children with legal or immigration specialists and explain processes that may otherwise be difficult to understand. By listening to each child and representing their interests, guardians aim to build trust and reduce exposure to further exploitation.
- Health: Guardians advocate for treatment and accompany children to relevant appointments.
- Education: They help children enrol in school and access appropriate learning support.
- Legal assistance: Children can be connected with legal, immigration and compensation specialists.
- Safeguarding: Guardians coordinate with councils, police and partner agencies around the child’s safety.
Guardians Supported 2,730 Children in One Year
During the year ending March 2025, guardians supported 2,730 potential child victims of modern slavery. This represented a 10% increase compared with the previous year.
More than half of the children receiving support were UK nationals. Most had experienced criminal exploitation, including activity connected with county lines drug networks.
Four-Year Service Delivered by Barnardo’s
Barnardo’s has delivered the guardianship service since 2017 and was selected to provide the expanded programme following a competitive process. Its work will continue in partnership with the Home Office, local authorities, police and other agencies.
The charity said specialist intervention should be available at the earliest opportunity because trafficking, modern slavery and criminal or sexual exploitation can leave children vulnerable to further harm. The expanded contract will allow the service to reach children in every English local authority while continuing across Wales.
More Than 7,000 Children Referred in 2025
A record 23,411 people were referred to the National Referral Mechanism during 2025. The mechanism records potential victims of modern slavery, connects them with support and begins the formal decision process for their cases.
Children accounted for 30% of all referrals, representing more than 7,000 potential victims. More than half of the children referred were UK nationals.
Child Trafficking Support Figures
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Children supported | 2,730 | Year ending March 2025 |
| Annual change | Up 10% | Compared with the previous year |
| Current coverage | 160 authorities | England and Wales |
| Expansion | 179 authorities | Remaining English areas |
National Referral Mechanism data recorded 23,411 potential modern slavery victims in 2025. Children accounted for 30% of referrals, representing more than 7,000 potential victims, and more than half of the children referred were UK nationals.
Children Describe Guardian Support
Children supported by the service described their guardians as trusted professionals who listened to their experiences and provided continuing advice, care and encouragement.
A 16-year-old girl from Wales said;
“The support I received from my worker was amazing… one of the best professionals I have ever worked with in my life.”
A 13-year-old girl from Nigeria said;
“I like the way I got to share my experience and feel comfortable knowing that there is always someone that I can talk to.”
A 17-year-old boy from Vietnam said;
“Your advice, care, and goodwill have helped me grow so much. I truly appreciate everything — every action, every word of encouragement, and every bit of care you have given me.”
Barnardo’s and Government Response
Sarah Crawley, Director of Children’s Services Cymru and UK Programmes at Barnardo’s said;
“This new funding will enable us to expand the service to every local authority across England and continue to cover all of Wales, ensuring more children can benefit from the specialist advice, advocacy and support they need.”
Natalie Fleet, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls said;
“Child trafficking causes lasting trauma, with survivors often too scared to trust adults around them. Exploited children need help to recover, and protection so they are never victimised again.”
“Our £25 million investment means more child survivors will get vital specialist support and guidance – so they can start to heal, trust, and hope again.”
The expanded Independent Child Trafficking Guardians service will provide nationwide coverage across England and Wales through a four-year Barnardo’s contract. The programme will connect potential child victims with independent advocacy, education, healthcare, legal assistance and safeguarding support. Its rollout follows rising demand for guardians and record modern slavery referrals, including more than 7,000 children referred during 2025.
Sources: Home Office; Natalie Fleet MP; Barnardo’s.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
