In the heart of Sheffield, The Snowdrop Project quietly works to change lives. Founded in 2012, the charity exists to support survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, offering advocacy, counselling, and community activities that help people rebuild their lives.
Rachel Medina, the CEO, has been involved with Snowdrop since the beginning. She says, “I’ve been the CEO for almost exactly three years, I think it was three years yesterday actually. But I’ve been involved with the organisation since we started in 2012. Our founding CEO and a couple of other people set up the charity together. We grafted through the early years with no money, just running on goodwill and volunteers.”
Rachel explains that Snowdrop began because survivors were often left with minimal government support. “Back in 2012, survivors of modern slavery were getting about 45 days of government support. Our founding CEO was working in one of the safe houses for survivors, and I was at another charity supporting refugees and migrants with tenancy support and independent living. We all thought, ‘This is terrible. We should do something about this.’” The organisation’s volunteer-based model ensures survivors always have someone to turn to for help, whether through advocacy, counselling, or community activities.
Over the years, Snowdrop has expanded its reach. In 2024, they worked with 312 adults and 114 children, a huge increase from the early days when only around 14 people a year could be supported. Survivor-led support is central to their approach. Rachel explains, “Every person is an individual, and modern slavery is such an umbrella term, experiences of sexual, labour, and criminal exploitation all look very different. People come from all kinds of backgrounds.”
Sarah Taylor, a caseworker at Snowdrop, highlights how varied her work is. “There’s actually not really a typical day. It changes every single day because every client we work with requires different types of support. It could be housing, their financial situation, or their immigration status and processes.” She emphasises the importance of advocacy, noting, “A lot of the barriers our clients face come from the systems themselves. With housing, for example, trying to present to the council if they need to leave Home Office accommodation can be a huge struggle. It’s difficult for them to process how the housing system works, so we try to explain it step by step in a calm, patient environment.”
For clients, the difference Snowdrop makes goes beyond paperwork. Sarah says, “It’s really about giving them someone who actually cares and will give them time to be heard. Listening to what they need to say and want to say makes such a difference. The clients truly value each of us. It feels like a little family here.”
Becky Walstow-James, the community development manager, oversees Snowdrop’s wide range of activities designed to tackle isolation and build confidence. “We’ve got a sewing group, we’ve got an art group, and we’ve got a group run by our children’s worker. I’m kind of the umbrella for all of that. We also do a lot of one-off activities. Essentially, if you can make it, we’ll probably try it. We’ve had flower making, perfume making, and we’ve been to see horses. We’ve done self-defence workshops.”
Her role also includes renovation projects, transforming council houses into welcoming homes for clients. Becky explains, “When a client gets a house from the council, it can be in bad condition, walls damaged, things left from the last tenants. So we go in, clean, paint, and make it feel like a home. The difference it makes is incredible. Just for them to have somewhere they can go home and feel safe is huge.”
Childcare is another vital part of Snowdrop’s work. Becky says, “If they go to sewing for an hour, we’ll watch the child. Even if she just stares out of the window, it’s a little break. NHS counselling doesn’t provide childcare, so we do that during counselling sessions too, just anything to reduce the barriers clients face.”
Volunteers are essential to making all of this possible. Becky adds, “Our art group is run entirely by volunteers. Jane, who heads it up, has been here for six or seven years. It’s a massive commitment. Even during lockdown we kept it going, dropping off sewing bits for people. For renovations, we’ve started using corporate volunteers, like law firms or banks, who come for a day or two. It’s a great team-building activity for them, and something tangible they can do to help. We wouldn’t be able to do half of what we do without all that support.”
Charley Jackson, the community fundraising coordinator, focuses on student engagement, including campaigns like the charity abseil for Anti-Slavery Day. She says, “The Anti-Slavery Day, which is tomorrow on the 18th of October, has probably been my biggest campaign. I’ve been in charge of organising it, recruiting people, and planning the whole day. It’s been quite challenging because everyone involved needs to raise £50. It’s not loads, but it’s enough that, especially for students, it can be a lot. Some students have said it’s just too much to raise, so I’m really pleased that we’ve had such good engagement so far.”
Her role involves connecting with universities, schools, faith groups, and students themselves. Charley explains, “I sent messages to every society at both Sheffield Hallam and the University of Sheffield. I told them what our events were and explained a bit about us, because one of the biggest challenges is that not everyone knows who we are or what we do. Getting in touch early helps plant that seed, and then going to the Freshers’ Fair to meet people in person builds on that.”
Students can get involved in many ways beyond fundraising. Charley says, “Individuals can set up their own fundraisers and choose their own targets. We’ve had students do everything from bake sales to personal challenges. They can also join in our events, like the Sheffield 10K or the half marathon next year. There’s no minimum fundraising amount, whatever people can raise makes a difference.” Societies can also make shoeboxes for children or buy items from the charity’s donation wishlist, covering things like tea, coffee, and biscuits for community groups.
Rachel highlights why student involvement is so important. She says, “Students are so socially aware and can use that awareness to influence lifelong practices and systems change. Supporting local charities like Snowdrop is another powerful way to make a difference.”
The Snowdrop Project is about more than just charity work. It is about creating spaces where survivors feel safe, supported, and heard. From practical help with housing and childcare to community activities that foster friendships, the charity addresses the many layers of what it means to recover from modern slavery. Through volunteer work, student engagement, and a dedicated team, The Snowdrop Project continues to make a genuine and long lasting difference in Sheffield.
