Right now, in the UK, there are an estimated 130,000 people stuck in exploitation. Controlled through force, coercion, and deception, they’re treated as commodities for financial gain.
Despite being hidden from view, this inhumane crime is happening right here in our local towns and communities, in every city across the country in everyday industries and services that we all rely on, from the people caring for the elderly to those building our homes, picking our crops, and delivering our food.
Who are first responders?
First responders play a vital role in recognising and supporting people affected by trafficking and modern slavery. They are formally authorised by the Home Office to help individuals safely exit exploitation. As a designated first responder organisation, Unseen works at the frontline of efforts to stop this highly harmful, under-recognised crime.
Our specialist caseworkers attend locations where exploitation is suspected, assess the immediate risks, and ensure individuals are moved to safety.
We submit referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK’s framework for identifying survivors and connecting them with the support they need.
We arrange urgent medical care, advocate for safe housing, and guide survivors through complex support systems.
Above all, we stay by their side throughout their journey into getting the support they deserve, offering consistent, trusted guidance when they need it most.
One of Unseen’s first responders has said: “I find it really rewarding when a potential victim is able to access the support they need. It has been very rewarding watching survivors recover and move on from their exploitation.”
Why your help is needed now more than ever
Recent immigration laws have made it harder for all victims, including British nationals, to find support out of the extremely dangerous situations of exploitation. This is harmful for everyone because where victims go unrecognised and where survivors go unsupported, traffickers can continue to exploit people and commit crimes in our community with impunity. The socio-economic impact of modern slavery on the UK is approximately £60bn pounds a year.
Unseen’s research found that people affected by exploitation are now more reluctant to seek help because they don’t trust that authorities will believe them. They also fear being criminalised for the very crime that was committed against them.
This is why we need your support.
For the next three weeks, we will be running an urgent appeal to raise £5,000 for our first responding caseworkers to help them identify and urgently support these survivors.
What your donation will do
Your donations will help our first responders:
Identify potential victims: we collaborate closely with statutory agencies and attend sites of possible exploitation. We assess the risk of individuals, build trust, and provide ‘go-bags’ with toiletries, water, SIM cards, non-perishable snacks, and key numbers to help survivors feel safe and dignified.
Support survivor applications: we guide survivors through the referral process for government support via the NRM. We seek medical support, advocate for emergency housing, and provide safe houses for longer-term recovery after a positive decision has been made.
Provide training: we train other charities, empowering them to identify signs of exploitation, identify victims, and refer them to the NRM.
Collect data: we record data on demographics, location, and type of exploitation, and monitor outcomes of government referrals to understand trends across different situations. This data provides essential insight into patterns of exploitation, helping law enforcement prevent abuse, and hold perpetrators accountable.
When disbelief leaves survivors unseen, first responders step in. As fewer potential victims feel safe to come forward, we need more resources to reach out to them.
Thank you for helping first responders restore trust and support survivors as they rebuild their lives.