Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we’re thrilled to share that we raised, inclusive of Gift Aid, a total of £91,426.50 in support of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline.
Thank you to the people who came together to support this appeal. Whether you donated, shared our posts, talked about the campaign within your networks, or helped us spread the word, your support has made an impact.
These funds will help ensure the Helpline remains a lifeline for people experiencing modern slavery, human trafficking, and exploitation, offering safety, guidance, and hope when it’s needed most.
Hear some words from the Head of Fundraising, Hannah Barry in the video below.
‘Tis the season
No matter what you celebrate, the holidays are a time for hope, support, love, and care. Many of us look forward to the season’s gifts, nostalgic music and films, and the warmth of time spent together. But for many others, that sense of peace and freedom remains out of reach.
Every day, people stuck in modern slavery and human trafficking reach out to Unseen’s Helpline, seeking guidance and support to a safe place. With (in many cases) nowhere else to turn, the Helpline becomes their lifeline.
The information gathered through each call shines a light on hidden exploitation, driving coordinated efforts to tackle this crime across the UK. This is why the Helpline is such a unique and vital part of Unseen’s mission to end modern slavery.
The problem
Modern slavery is the world’s fastest-growing crime, yet it often remains hidden in plain sight. Unseen’s role is to expose and combat it.
In 2024 alone, the Helpline received over 11,000 calls, web forms, and app submissions from across the UK, reporting incidents of exploitation and abuse. These range from forced labour on construction sites or care workers pressured to repay fake recruitment fees, to women deceived into jobs that are fronts for sexual exploitation.
Countless individuals suffer control, confinement, and fear every day. Children, too, are groomed, exploited, and denied freedom.
Sami's story
Sami came to the UK on a skilled worker visa to work in a restaurant, but his job was nothing like what was promised in his contract. He was constantly monitored by CCTV, verbally abused, and paid less than £150 a week. Half of this money earned went back to his employer as rent for a sofa in the restaurant. Additional deductions were falsely labelled as tax.
When Sami tried to leave, his employer demanded thousands in exit fees and threatened to have him killed if he returned home.
With no money or safe place to go, Sami feared deportation and for his life.
A solicitor connected him with Unseen’s Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline. After several calls, Sami went to the police and was recognised as a destitute survivor of modern slavery. He was referred to the National Referral Mechanism and given safe accommodation.
*Some details changed to protect identity.
How you can help solve this
The demand for the Helpline continues to grow, and with it, the need for resources, training and technology to ensure individuals are sufficiently supported.
Unseen’s ultimate goal is a world free from slavery, one where the Helpline is no longer needed. But until that day comes, your support keeps hope alive.
Our Helpline is a trusted, confidential, free service available to anyone concerned about modern slavery and exploitation. Our expert advisors navigate complex situations, understand trauma, build trust with victims, and provide a path to safety. Open every day, 365 days a year, the Helpline can communicate in over 250 languages and acts as a force for social justice, bridging the gap between survivors and law enforcement to make communities safer for all.
With your donation to the Big Give, every pound has the power to change a life.
What Unseen can achieve with your donation
Support potential victims: every year, we manage around 11,000 contacts to the Helpline (calls, online form and app submissions), indicating approximately 5,000 potential victims and we work with them to leave exploitation and access support.
Provide interpretation services: language barriers, financial instabilities, abuse, threats, and isolation are the reasons people remain in exploitation. In 2024, the Helpline communicated with people from 94 nationalities. Language should never be a barrier to freedom from slavery.
Expert guidance: our Helpline Advisors need to be experts and receive over 150 hours of training to equip them manage risk, handle distressing calls, and provide kind, understanding and personalised support and safety planning.
Share the data: the Helpline is one of a kind in the UK and its unique data is vital for the entire sector. With Big Give funding, we will map and track exploitation trends, share insights to drive a collective response, protect vulnerable people, and combat trafficking and exploitation.
Helpline infrastructure and technology: the Helpline relies on technology to ensure calls run smoothly and to support the accurate recording and sharing of vital information. We will continue exploring technological advances to deliver the most effective and efficient service possible.
The long term impact of your donation
Exploitation continues to evolve, demanding innovation, collaboration, and a lasting commitment to justice. By 2027, Unseen aims to support over 86,000 contacts. This will mean that thousands of people will feel empowered to leave exploitation and rebuild their lives.
Your support helps build safer communities for everyone – allowing earlier intervention and collaborative work to hold perpetrators accountable. The Helpline is both a lifeline and a resource to help us end slavery.
Give the gift of hope this Christmas
Donate to Unseen’s Big Give Christmas Appeal during the first week in December to double donations to the Helpline.
Don’t forget! If you Gift Aid your donation, you’ll boost it by 25% at no extra cost.
Double your donations from the 2 - 9 December at no extra cost