Hull Council - Wilberforce 2007 - Slavery - Unfinished Business
Hull City Council’s WILBERFORCE 2007 campaign marked the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade and aimed to promote cultural and economic freedom, human rights and fair trade, raise awareness of contemporary slavery and human rights issues.
The council was able to engage with every member of Hull’s increasingly diverse community, raise relevant issues around equality, create community cohesion, inform policy, create learning outcomes and promote good practice.
A number of key outcomes created tangible benefits for the city and its people and made a real difference on a local, national and international level.
Over 155 citywide individual events and projects have been completed and over 300 community groups have been consulted and/or engaged in the delivery of the programme. Participation in the events stands at over 144,500 people to date, excluding school-based activities.
External perceptions of Hull have improved positively and civic pride has increased dramatically. Hull’s association with Wilberforce and Freedom is now clear at a city and regional level.
The council’s Fight for Freedom Petition reached all four corners of the earth. To date, the petition has been signed by over 75,000 people, providing significant evidence for the lobbying and leverage against modern day slavery worldwide.