Freedom Games award ceremony

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) have accumulated over 1,800km in the Freedom Games challenge, which came to an end with an awards ceremony in London last night (19 June 2025). 

According to STOP THE TRAFFIK and Justice & Care’s figures, it is estimated that there are 50 million victims who have been recruited, trafficked and exploited across the world. Modern slavery and human trafficking is a $498 billion criminal industry that thrives on vulnerability. Climate change, conflict, and global crises are only fuelling the rise of this crime. 

The campaign challenged you to walk / run / cycle / swim the distance between London and Dhaka, Bangladesh (approximately 7991km or 10.5 million steps). 

Justice and Care currently run a Champion Survivor Programme in Bangladesh and have helped more than 50,000 women who have been trafficked and exploited there.  

The programme involves bringing the women back from India, educating them and many have gone on to work and support other women in the same programme. 

Over the last four weeks, colleagues at the GLAA contributed a fantastic 1868.34km, or 1,160.93miles. 

At the awards ceremony which took place at London Waterloo’s Oasis Farm, the GLAA alongside several partner organisations such as Starling Bank, Plenitude Consultant and KMPG were recognised for their efforts to raise money and creatively reach 7991km, which was surpassed on 18 June.  

GLAA Licencing Officer Priya Kaur, who committed to hitting 25,000 steps each day during the challenge, won a Freedom Champion certificate of recognition award, which was accepted by senior national partnerships and external communications officer Altine Bootha-King and commercial manager Chris Dunleavy, who attended on behalf of the GLAA.  

Altine Bootha-King said: “Participating in this challenge was more than clocking the miles, it was organisations collectively coming together and walking alongside those who are subjected to exploitation and modern slavery, letting them know that we see them and support them. 

“As an organisation it was great to get involved and help build the miles and raise awareness of the exploitation that people across the world face.”