Enhance your corporate image: fundraise with Unseen

By establishing a corporate fundraising partnership with Unseen, an anti-slavery charity, you can elevate your brand’s reputation, demonstrate your ethical values, and showcase your commitment to social justice.

Modern slavery isn’t just a relic of the past. It’s a real and pervasive issue, with men, women, and children being exploited in ways that are often hidden in plain sight.

Whether it’s forced labour, sexual exploitation, criminal activities, or domestic servitude, modern slavery is happening in our communities, in the UK, and around the world. The 2023 Global Slavery Index reports that over 122,000 people in the UK alone are currently trapped in modern slavery.

Why your business should engage in the fight against modern slavery

As a business leader, you have the unique opportunity to leverage your resources and influence to fight this pressing issue. By partnering with Unseen, you can help make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by modern slavery. Not only will you contribute to a vital cause, working with us will help you showcase your business’s social values, enhance your reputation and strengthen client relationships.

several people in a corporate meeting discussing fundraising partnership with Unseen

Supporting anti-slavery initiatives also fosters a positive workplace culture. Professionals are increasingly looking for employers who are socially responsible and committed to making a difference in their communities. Participating in Unseen’s fundraising events or offering pro bono support can serve as powerful team-building activities, boosting morale and employee retention.

Real impact: the power of fundraising and pro bono support

A corporate fundraising partnership with Unseen provides meaningful ways to help your organisation stand out, undertake exciting and rewarding charitable activities, and tackle modern slavery.

Consider the example of Bidvest Noonan, whose team participated in the London Landmarks Half Marathon. With six runners, they raised £3,500 for Unseen in 2024 – more than doubling their previous year’s efforts.

Kathryn Cusick, Operational Support Manager at Bidvest Noonan, said: “We are proud to partner with Unseen. With fundraising from individuals in the business, we know we have the potential to create change and contribute to building a better world, respecting human rights, and addressing modern slavery. Unseen works incredibly hard and we are proud to be a part of their journey.”

Through fundraising activity and pro bono services, you can help Unseen keep its Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline running, providing crucial support to survivors and advice to people and businesses.

How to get involved

There are numerous ways your business can support Unseen’s mission. You could join one of our fundraising events, such as half marathons, obstacle courses, mountain hikes, or skydives. Alternatively, you might want to set up a payroll giving scheme or host a fundraising event. If you’re looking for something more tailored, Unseen offers creative support to help you design your own fundraising activities.

supporters from a corporate partnership do the Three Peaks Challenge for anti-slavery charity Unseen
Unseen supporters tackle the Three Peaks Challenge

The fight against modern slavery is a collective effort, and Unseen cannot do it alone. By establishing a corporate fundraising partnership with Unseen, your business can be a part of the crucial mission to tackle modern slavery. Together, we can create a world free from exploitation and abuse.

Take action today

Ready to make a difference? Email Unseen at [email protected] to explore fundraising opportunities, or register your interest in one of our challenges.

You can also sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about our work and how your business can help end modern slavery, and find resources including our corporate fundraising leaflet here

Let’s stand together and make slavery a thing of the past.

 

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Justine Currell

As I came to understand more about the issue, including through a visit to an Unseen safehouse, I knew I needed to do more to stop this abuse and exploitation.

For the last five years of my Civil Service career, I was the Modern Slavery Senior Policy Advisor in the Home Office and led on development of the Modern Slavery Act, including the transparency in supply chains provision and business guidance.

I joined Unseen to lead the development of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and Unseen’s work with businesses. I am regularly called upon to present at national and international conferences and use my experience of working with Ministers to influence other governments internationally to take action to address modern slavery and, in particular, business supply chain issues.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit, music, reading and travelling.

Andrew Wallis

What ultimately compelled me to act was a report on how people from Eastern Europe were being trafficked through Bristol airport to the USA. Kate Garbers, who went on to be an Unseen Director, and I wrote to all the city councillors, MPs and the Police Chief Constable challenging them on the issue. The challenge came back to us: this city needs safe housing for trafficked women. And so Unseen began.

But we never wanted Unseen to be just about safe housing. We wanted to end slavery once and for all, and that remains our driving focus.

I chaired the working group for the Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report “It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to Fight Modern Slavery”. This is now acknowledged as the catalyst behind the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015. It was a great honour to be awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours that year. On the other hand, I’ve also been described as “the loveliest disrupter you could ever hope to meet”.

This job has taken me from building flat-pack furniture for safehouses, to working with businesses to address slavery in supply chains, to delivering training, raising awareness and advising governments around the world.

When not at work, I enjoy travelling, spending time with my dog Harley, cooking, supporting Liverpool and Yorkshire CC, music (I’m a former DJ) and endurance events such as the Three Peaks Challenge and Tribe Freedom Runs – which I vow never to do again. Until the next time.