Raising a glass (and funds) for Unseen’s fight against modern slavery

Our event, hosted at Bristol-based brewery Wiper and True, brought together supporters, staff, and the community for an unforgettable night of music, food, and fundraising, all in support of our mission to end modern slavery.

What happens when a local brewery, a passionate charity, and a room full of dedicated supporters come together? You get an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and inspiration. 

Earlier this month, Unseen teamed up with Bristol-based brewery Wiper and True for a night to remember. Hosted at their vibrant Old Market Taproom, the event marked an opportunity to toast our achievements, bring supporters and staff together, and prepare for the challenges ahead. 

From the warm atmosphere to the thoughtful line up of activities, here’s a taste of what made the night so special. 

Andrew Wallis makes an inspiring talk at Wiper and True for Unseen's anti-slavery community event
Andrew Wallis delivers an inspiring talk about Unseen's 2024 achievements and challenges.
A partnership brewed to perfection

Wiper and True selected Unseen as their local charity partner for November, pouring their passion for community support into our shared mission to combat modern slavery. 

Throughout the month, they’ve been generously supporting us with various fundraising activities, from a “Karma Keg” where a portion of the profits from a tap went straight to Unseen to a lively pub quiz that tested both knowledge and funny bones. 

A night to remember

The evening was alive with memorable moments. Guests were treated with the soulful sounds of Joe and the Temperance Two, an incredible folk band featuring one of Unseen’s very own frontline staff (yes, we’ve got talent, too!). And thanks to our partners at Houria, a catering company supporting female survivors of modern slavery, everyone enjoyed a feast as meaningful as it was mouthwatering. 

A touch of friendly competition added to the fun, with a special raffle offering prizes like a free skydive (who’s brave enough?), a Wiper and True brewery tour, and even a night’s stay at a Leonardo Hotel.  

With £300 raised through raffle sales and ticket purchases, we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed! This will directly support our work, enabling survivors of modern slavery to access life-changing services. 

A folk band playing at Unseen's anti-slavery community event at Bristol-based Brewery Wiper and True
Folk band Joe and the Temperance performs at Wiper and True.
Raising a glass to community

But the night was more than just fundraising—it was about building connections. For many of our supporters, it was a chance to meet the team behind Unseen and hear firsthand how their contributions are making an impact. 

Andrew Wallis, Unseen’s CEO, delivered a heartfelt talk about this year’s challenges and victories, leaving everyone—from longtime supporters to Wiper and True staff—feeling inspired to learn more about our mission.

For our staff, it was a particularly memorable night. Working behind the scenes doesn’t always allow us to interact with the people who believe in our mission, so this was a rare and wonderful opportunity to share stories, answer questions, and express our gratitude face-to-face. The evening reminded us of the power of community and why we do what we do. 

A toast to the future

The event was a perfect example of what we can achieve when businesses and communities join forces for a common cause. From the generosity of Wiper and True to the passion of our supporters, the evening exceeded our expectations.  

With partnerships like these, the future looks bright. If your business is inspired to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s hosting an event, donating, or raising awareness, every effort counts in the fight against modern slavery. Get in touch with us today at [email protected] to learn more. 

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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.