As 2024 draws to a close, we at Unseen are reflecting on an extraordinary year of progress, determination, and collective action in our mission to end modern slavery. From empowering survivors to rallying communities, take a look as we celebrate this year’s key achievements in our fight against exploitation.
Empowering modern slavery survivors through frontline support
Healing from the trauma of modern slavery goes beyond addressing immediate needs—it’s about supporting the whole person through a trauma-informed, person-centred approach. That’s the foundation of our survivor support services.
This year, we supported 278 survivors with tailored outreach services, helping them access vital healthcare, legal advice, and stable housing—and empowering them to move forward independently.
Additionally, 25 individuals found safety and refuge in our men’s and women’s safehouses. Thanks to generous grants from companies like Screwfix, we’ve made these spaces more homely and comfortable, helping residents feel safe and cared for.
Wellbeing is central to the healing journey. As part of this, one major milestone was the one-year anniversary of our Wellbeing Cafe, a safe space offering emotional support and advice.
We also organised wellbeing activities, such as a beach trip for the women’s safehouse and a cycle ride along the Bristol to Bath path. These moments reminded us of the healing power of kindness, relaxation, and togetherness.
None of this would have been possible without our incredible supporters. Campaigns like #ThroughTheirEyes and the 2024 Big Give Christmas Challenge raised vital funds for trauma-informed care. So, a huge thank you to all who donated to these appeals.
Raising funds together: student and corporate champions
This year, our community of supporters truly hit the ground running—literally. At the London Landmarks Half Marathon in March, 20 passionate individuals from our corporate fundraising partners, Hitachi, Accenture UK, and Bidvest Noonan (which chose Unseen as its charity partner of the year), raised an astounding £13,500 for our work. Over at our Bristol Half Marathon, first-time participants added another £2,000 to the pot.
And it wasn’t just feet that were flying: Conlon Construction took fundraising to new heights with a charity skydive, raising £2,500. Meanwhile, Scitech hosted a Construction Cup tournament at Crystal Palace, London, uniting 20 teams and raising over £4,000 for Unseen.
Our student supporters also proved they’re in vogue when it comes to fundraising. The University of Bristol’s Fashion Forward society raised a stylish £2,000 in a single event, while other students nationwide smashed their challenge events, contributing over £10,000 to our cause.
Bringing communities together: events and faith groups
Beyond fundraising, our community events strengthened bonds with our supporters. On International Women’s Day, we hosted a powerful panel discussion, featuring three incredible anti-slavery champions: Professor and Human Rights Barrister Paraosha Chandran, Professor Bela Arora, and Unseen’s very own Chair of Trustees, Rosey Hurst.
Later in the year, supporters got a behind-the-scenes look at our Frontline and Helpline services, deepening their understanding of how their contributions make a real difference. We also celebrated a memorable night of music, food, and fundraising in collaboration with Wiper & True, a Bristol-based brewery who selected Unseen as their November charity partner.
Faith groups also showed their support. Bath Abbey led the way, partnering with us for a meaningful event marking International Day for the Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This was followed by a very moving Christmas carol service in November.
Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline – a lifeline expanded
The UK-wide Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, run by us, continues to be an essential resource, providing a confidential route for potential victims, frontline workers, businesses, charities, and the public to report concerns and seek advice.
In the first three quarters alone, the Helpline managed over 8,600 calls, website contacts, and app submissions. Our expert advisors handle a wide range of complex cases, from labour and sexual exploitation to criminal exploitation and other forms of modern slavery. They not only respond but also work to build trust with victims, offering guidance and connecting them to recovery services or law enforcement to help them escape exploitation.
This year, we welcomed a collaboration with Border Force on Operation Karetu, which educated young people on how to avoid exploitation while working abroad. In addition, new referral routes have been established with organisations such as the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network, A21, and Migrant Help, ensuring that survivors can access the critical help they need.
Now, with the support of a £1 million grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, the Helpline is set to expand its reach over the next five years, particularly targeting hard-to-reach communities where modern slavery often goes unnoticed.
Partnering with businesses for a more ethical future
In the fight against forced labour and labour abuse, we’re thrilled to see more and more businesses joining us to create ethical and transparent supply chains.
Our Unseen Business Hub, now in its third year, welcomed 12 more dynamic, forward-thinking businesses, including major names like McLaren, Booking.com, and Santander.
Through tailored training, risk assessments and advisory services, we empower our members to lead ethically and mitigate risks.
A real highlight: four of the 12 Tier 1 organisations in the 2024 CCLA Modern Slavery Benchmark Report—including Tesco, Next, Sainsbury’s, and M&S—are Unseen Business Hub members. Even better, all but one of our members saw improvements in their scores, with Legal & General jumping two tiers!
Beyond membership, we also provided bespoke services to a further 57 organisations, helping them develop stronger, more comprehensive anti-slavery strategies.
Our Helpline Business Portal continues to be another game changer. Functioning as an early-warning system, it provides members with real-time alerts on forced labour and labour abuse cases in their sector, enabling swift action and transparency across supply chains. This year, we were excited to welcome Lidl, McDonald’s, and ASOS to the Portal.
Our Finance and Construction Hubs are also thriving, providing industry leaders in these high-risk sectors with a collaborative space to create real solutions. Membership is soaring — with 31 businesses in the Construction Hub and 22 in the Finance Hub, up from last year’s 15 and 10, respectively.
Building knowledge through training and engagement
Education and inspiring action remain key to our mission. As of November 2024, we’ve trained over 1,800 individuals across 63 businesses and statutory agencies, reaching an additional 33,000 employees through our e-learning modules. These bespoke modern slavery training programmes empower businesses and their staff to identify and address modern slavery risks more effectively.
And, of course, we couldn’t be prouder of the second annual Unseen Business Awards. The awards celebrate companies leading the way in anti-slavery practices. Sponsored by ISG, Lloyds, NatWest, and Nestlé UK, the event brought together over 60 industry leaders. From innovative supply chain audits to life-changing survivor support initatives, the 2024 award shortlisters and winners are proving that businesses can indeed be a powerful force for good.
Driving survivor-led systemic change against exploitation
At Unseen, we know that systemic change is just as vital as providing direct support to survivors. That’s why our Policy and Research team has been working to ensure that survivors’ voices are at the heart of the national conversation on modern slavery.
We were proud to welcome six new members to our Survivor Consultants Group, expanding it to 13 individuals with lived experience of modern slavery whose courage and insight guide our work — and that of researchers, businesses, and policymakers.
Their invaluable input has already led to positive changes: from helping shape the cultural resources developed by the UK Modern Slavery Organised Immigration Crime Unit, to enhancing our frontline services and judging our 2024 Unseen Business Awards.
Breaking new ground in research
This year, our team, alongside the Survivor Consultants Group, contributed to groundbreaking research projects:
- Partnering with Liverpool John Moores University, we explored how social media facilitates child trafficking, providing key insights that can inform better protections for vulnerable young people.
- In collaboration with the Universities of Surrey, Bath, and the West of England, we published a critical report on how modern slavery and climate change intersect within public procurement—showing that environmental justice and human rights are deeply interconnected.
Advocating for policies that protect survivors
In 2024, we continued to advocate for survivor-centred policies:
- We worked closely with partners to expose exploitative conditions in the health and social care sectors—an industry that needs urgent reform.
- We were pleased to see Jess Phillips MP appointed as Safeguarding Minister, a role with oversight of modern slavery issues. We’ve worked closely with her office and other sector leaders to challenge the impact of harmful policies like the Nationality and Borders Act and Safety of Rwanda legislation—policies that put survivors’ safety and rights at risk.
- In collaboration with other survivor support charities, we presented a joint statement on the capacity crisis within National Referral Mechanism – the government’s system for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery.
- Teaming up with 12 survivor support organisations, we also called on the government to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of victims through a two-part #PuttingVictimsFirst manifesto outlining five clear, survivor-centred reforms.
- A coalition of experts and anti-slavery organisations, including Unseen, has called for significant changes to the policy on granting temporary permission to stay, known as VTS leave, to better support modern slavery survivors.
Campaigns making a real impact
This year, we launched several impactful campaigns to raise awareness, drive change, and empower action against modern slavery. Highlights include:
- #LikesToLines campaign: Empowered parents and professionals to combat County Lines exploitation, particularly on social media.
- In partnership with 11 leading UK construction companies, we created a powerful video on labour exploitation in the sector, “Beyond the Shadows”.This video, now integrated into training programmes, will reach over 50,000 workers annually. It’s also been nominated for a Smiley Charity Film Award – so vote now if you haven’t done so! Deadline 29 January 2025
- Played a key role in a roundtable with 17 partner organisations under the Coalition to Stop Slavery, bringing together leaders to discuss the issue of low conviction rates and short sentences for traffickers.
- Led a campaign encouraging conscious consumerism for Black Friday.
- Launched a BT Tower partnership to promote the Helpline number for Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October.
- Supported the launch of the third annual Chocolate Scorecard, in collaboration with Be Slavery Free, which promotes ethical choices in the chocolate industry.
Looking ahead: What’s next for Unseen in 2025?
As we look ahead to 2025, we are proud of our achievements in tackling modern slavery—achievements made possible by the unwavering support of our incredible community.
Our commitment to driving systemic change continues as we raise awareness, provide essential support to survivors, and collaborate with businesses and policymakers to create a world free from modern slavery.
If you don’t already, stay updated on our work in 2025 by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
