Press release (Professional design)

Contact: Jill Kerr

BLUE DIAMOND LTD

Jill.Kerr@bluediamond.gg

Page 3

Press Release 27th June 2017

Fryer’s Roses Launch Brand New Charity Rose, ‘Hope for Justice’

Fryer’s Roses, owned by Blue Diamond, launches a new rose at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show on behalf of the charity "Hope for Justice"

We’re delighted to announce that Fryer's Roses (which is part of the Blue Diamond Group of Garden centres,) and the third largest garden centre retail group in the UK, will be unveiling a new rose at Hampton Court Flower Show in aid of the anti-slavery charity HOPE FOR JUSTICE.

This new rose, called "Hope for Justice", is a compact Floribunda with deep red petals and glossy, dark green leaves. This rose will grow to approximately 60cm in height making it ideal for planting in containers.

 

This rose is available to buy direct from "Hope for Justice" (call 0300 008 8000 or email events@hopeforjustice.org ). The rose can also be  ordered at Stand FR 568 at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, bought online by visiting www.fryers-roses.co.uk or by telephoning Fryer’s Roses on 01565 755455.

 

Bare root roses can be purchased at a cost of £12 per rose (excluding delivery). Potted roses are £17.99 per rose (excluding delivery). Delivery charges apply. Please see Fryer's Roses website for details.

 

Bare root roses will be dispatched from November 2017 onwards. Potted roses will be dispatched from April 2018.

The rose will also be available to buy from any Blue Diamond Garden Centre from April 2018 onwards priced at £17.99 (potted rose) and while stocks last.

 

Sales will benefit the charity’s work to free victims from exploitation

Anti-slavery charity Hope for Justice is launching its own rose to stand as a symbol of freedom and hope, and to raise money to benefit its vital and life-changing work to rescue and restore victims of modern slavery around the world.

Most people still think of ‘slavery’ as something from the past – an evil institution that’s been safely abolished and consigned to history. But there are actually more people trapped in slavery today than at any point in human history. Indeed, modern slavery is thought to be the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world. There are no exact numbers, because this is a hidden crime, but the best estimates suggest there are 21 million people living in modern slavery around the world, and about 13,000 people in the UK.

This includes people trafficked into sexual exploitation, as well as forced labour and domestic servitude.

Hope for Justice exists to bring an end to modern slavery by rescuing victims, restoring lives and reforming society. The charity has helped hundreds of victims of trafficking who have been tricked or forced into these situations and kept there through violence, fraud or coercion, and often end up living and working in abominable conditions. Some are beaten and abused; others have threats made against their families in their home countries. Many are forced into fraudulent ‘debt bondage’, with their wages kept by a trafficker to pay non-existent bills for their travel, accommodation or food. Others have their passports kept from them, or are told they will be deported if they go to the authorities. Not all victims are foreign, though – in fact, the third most common nationality of potential victims of modern slavery referred into the UK government’s ‘national referral mechanism’ last year was British.

Hope for Justice’s work around the world is split into three core strands:

RESCUE: Specialist investigators work closely with police and other agencies to identify victims of modern slavery, build bridges of trust with them and remove them from exploitation.

RESTORE: The charity’s multi-disciplinary advocacy team provided victim-centred support, including help to access housing, benefits, employment, mental health support and legal assistance. They support victims through criminal and civil justice process to ensure they receive restitution.  

REFORM: They train frontline professionals – including police, NHS, homeless shelter staff, NGOs, community groups and many others – to spot the signs of modern slavery and act on them, and seek policy change through governments and the media. The charity works with companies to eliminate modern slavery from supply chains.

"Without Hope for Justice I don't know what would have happened to me or where I would be. If you didn't help me, maybe I wouldn't be alive. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who supports Hope for Justice. In fact, 'Thank you' is not enough to express my gratitude for what you have done and for all your help."

-           Anna*, forced to work in a factory for six months without pay, living in horrendous conditions. Today, she is happily married and working, and her traffickers are in prison. (name changed to protect the survivor’s identity)

“Hope for Justice is among those organisations taking the lead in addressing the issue of modern day slavery in today’s Great Britain. Their organisation is the only NGO working from the point of rescue right through to advocacy.”

-           Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, Devon & Cornwall Police, National Police Lead for Modern Slavery

Notes to editors

· Hope for Justice is a global charity founded in the UK in 2008 by Ben Cooley. It is working to end modern slavery and human trafficking with an effective and proven multi-disciplinary model that is replicable, scalable, and widely admired.

· The charity has rescued more than 330 victims of modern slavery in the UK in the past three years.

· Hope for Justice’s headquarters is in Manchester, with regional Hubs in West Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Northumberland and Scotland, as well as global offices in the USA, Norway and Cambodia.

· Fryer’s Roses and the Blue Diamond group are proud to be able to support the work this Charity does by promoting the new “Hope for Justice” rose and by donating a percentage of sales from the rose to the Charity. This money in turn will benefit the charity’s vital and life-changing work to rescue and restore victims of modern slavery around the world.

Press enquiries please contact:-

Adam Hewitt – Hope for Justice on Tel.No. 0300 008 8000 or adam.hewitt@hopeforjustice.org

Jill Kerr – Fryer’s Roses- Tel. No. 01565 755455 or email jill.kerr@bluediamond.gg

For Release Immediately

About Blue Diamond:

Blue Diamond is a genuine Guernsey success story, owned and managed in the island, tracing its roots back to 1904 when it was founded as a grower and exporter of produce made locally in Guernsey. Blue Diamond has grown to become the third largest garden centre retail group in the UK and now employs 1,800+ people at its Head Office and 20 garden centres across the UK & Channel Islands. For more information on Blue Diamond visit www.bluediamond.gg.

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