Episode 085: Fighting Sex-Trafficking with Ruth Robb

The Business Awards Show

Fighting sex trafficking with Ruth Robb is the latest episode of the Business Awards Show.

Ruth founded a fantastic charity, Azalea, fifteen years ago, helping women who have been sex-trafficked. Her work led to a Gold Award at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards.

Having worked in social care, Ruth became increasingly aware of the horrors of sex trafficking in her local area around Luton. Being easily accessible from Luton airport and Dunstable logistics hubs, Ruth realised her town was increasingly becoming an accessible location to use for bringing oppressed women into the UK.

She has put massive energy and commitment into setting up and growing the Azalea charity, working closely with the police, border force, home office and other vital institutions to provide crucial support.

She and her team work tirelessly to help support these women, often extracting them from their situation and helping them create new lives.

Ruth does not believe charity is all about money. She is passionate about the role of kindness and giving time and support. It is something she talks of regularly as the founder of the charity. And it has created a wider community that offers resources and time to provide the additional support needed to make those trafficked safer and with opportunities to get out.

This is an inspirational episode highlighting the plight of survivors of sex trafficking, the work the charity undertakes, and her plans for the coming year to continue Azalea's progress.

{1:35} What Azalea does.

{2:35} Why Ruth set up Azalea.

{3:24} How Ruth became aware of sex-trafficking.

{4:10} Why Ruth gave the charity the name 'Azalea'.

{4:50} How Azalea identifies women at risk.

{6:15} Celebrating Azalea's fifteenth annivesary.

{7:02} How many women Azalea helps every year.

{7:48} Ensuring survivors of sex trafficking are not criminalised.

{8:42} Luton's ease of access for Europeans.

{9:10} Local women trafficked to Europe.

{9:35} How social media ensnares women.

{9:54} A typical week at Azalea.

{12:23} Azalea's triumphs over fifteen years.

{14:03} Providing love to women who have never had it.

{15:00} The challenges of running Azalea.

{18:14} How Ruth insulates herself from the harrowing thinigs she sees.

{19:03} Being crowned the 2023 BBWA Charity Champion.

{20:51} Publicising the Azalea purpose.

{21:31} Azalea's plans for 2024.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

Connect with Ruth: https://www.azalea.org.uk/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-robb-96708646/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azalealuton/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azalealuton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/azalealuton