Unseen (organization)

Unseen is a UK-based anti-slavery charity, founded in 2008 to work towards a world without slavery.

Unseen UK logo

Aims

Unseen aims to support survivors and vulnerable people through specialist services, helping them to recover safely and develop resilient independent lives; to inform healthcare workers, the police, frontline agencies, and businesses with training, advice and resources to better identify and support potential victims; and to influence government and society to inspire change in legislation, policy and consumer choices.[1]

Unseen's projects

Unseen runs safehouses for women and men in the South West of England, for survivors of modern slavery aged 18 years and over. Unseen takes referrals from across the UK. The projects allow survivors to access a range of services including: medical care and treatment, counselling; legal advice and assistance; holistic therapy sessions; education; financial assistance; immigration advice; and, assistance to return home or to reside in the UK. Unseen opened its children's safe house in late 2017. RIO – Unseen’s Resettlement, Integration and Outreach project, offers a range of services for survivors of modern slavery, whether transitioning from Unseen's safe house accommodation and require support to resettle and integrate into their local communities, or whether they need outreach support rather than emergency accommodation whilst awaiting a decision from the authorities surrounding their trafficking experience. The service offers on-going support, practical and emotional assistance to victims of slavery and trafficking. The RIO project[2] works alongside survivors to identify their needs and assist them to access:

  • Immigration and asylum assistance
  • Legal assistance
  • Emotional and mental health services
  • Physical health services
  • Understanding benefits
  • Housing and practical support
  • Building safe relationships
  • Budgeting and money management
  • Education services - learning English
  • Training and volunteering services
  • Building community
  • Faith and spirituality
  • Leisure activities and hobbies

Anti-Slavery Partnership

Unseen was instrumental in establishing the Anti-Slavery Partnership (ASP) with Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council. The Partnership is chaired by Unseen alongside Avon and Somerset Police. The vision of the ASP is the eradication of human trafficking and slavery locally and further afield. The ASP strives to raise awareness of all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking and to encourage people to work collectively and steadfastly across all sectors to eradicate the crime and support the victims of modern slavery. The purpose of the ASP is to support and enable the discovery of and response to incidents of modern slavery through a victim-centred, multi-disciplinary and collaborative community effort. The scope of the ASP is based upon three broad areas of activity with the ultimate aims of supporting victims, disrupting criminal activity and prosecuting perpetrators:

  • Proactive work that aims to assist frontline staff to recognise victims of modern slavery
  • Proactive activity that increases intelligence gathering so more victims can be identified and helped, while perpetrators are brought to justice
  • Training and educating frontline staff, local communities and professionals about modern slavery, with the knowledge of the key indicators and where to get help

Unseen also set up an ASP in Bedfordshire, ensuring collaboration and coordination across the country.

Modern Slavery Helpline

The Modern Slavery Helpline and Resource Centre was formally launched in October 2016 after Unseen was selected to operate it. In its first full calendar year of operations, the Helpline received over 3,700 calls and over 700 online reports, opening over 1,200 cases of modern slavery and indicating 4,886 potential victims. The Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is confidential and independent. Helpline Advisors are able to signpost callers to relevant services or refer cases to responders who have access to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Through the Helpline, potential victims are able to speak to fully trained Advisors who can help them access relevant services, including government-funded support through the NRM. Statutory agencies can call to gain support in dealing with potential victims, and to receive guidance in accessing all the information and tools available through the Helpline's associated Resource Centre. Businesses are able to call for information, advice and to report concerns they may have about potential instances of modern slavery in their business. Members of the public and frontline professionals can also report suspicions or concerns. In addition, the Helpline publishes data and statistics, alongside reports concerning modern slavery in different sectors and locations, and shares the data with relevant statutory agencies, the government, press and members of the public, to support the efforts in tackling modern slavery and helping to prevent further instances occurring. In July 2018, Unseen launched the Unseen App, allowing smartphone users to download the free app, enabling them to understand the types of modern slavery, spot the signs and report it to the Helpline.[3]

Training

As part of the aim to inform, Unseen runs modern slavery and human trafficking training aimed at professionals whose work may bring them into contact with potential victims of slavery. Unseen trains professionals in Local Authorities, Police, Fire and Rescue, Housing Associations, Environmental Health Officers, Social Workers, NGOs, businesses and many other sectors.

Modern Slavery Act 2015

Unseen's CEO, Andrew Wallis OBE led and chaired The Centre for Social Justice report: ‘It Happens Here – Equipping the United Kingdom to fight Modern Slavery’. Acknowledged by the UK's Home Secretary as the catalyst for the Modern Slavery Act, its recommendations have heavily influenced the new Government strategy to tackle modern slavery. Unseen was instrumental in helping formulate the Act, which included giving evidence to the pre-legislative committee, and Unseen's CEO gave evidence in Parliament to the Pre-Bill committee, and was also on the committee chaired by Frank Field MP. The Act received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015 with the initial package of Modern Slavery Act provisions coming into effect on 31 July 2015. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 gives law enforcement the tools to tackle modern slavery, ensure that perpetrators can receive suitably severe sentences for these appalling crimes, enhance support and protection for victims, and ensure large businesses report annually on what they doing to stop modern slavery occurring in their supply chains.

Impact Report

Unseen produces an annual Impact Report detailing the progress made within the charity, including figures related to Unseen's safehouses, its outreach service, the Modern Slavery Helpline, Anti-Slavery Partnerships, training programmes, and a financial summary. The Impact Report additionally includes information on how it has influenced government and society to inspire change in legislation, policy and consumer choices. Unseen's strategy aims to 2020 are included in the 2017 Impact Report, published in August 2018.

Business Transparency Reports

The Central Registry for Business Transparency statements the are an operation now can be search at . The central Registry provides consumers, investors and the public with one central point access transparency statements and understand the steps businesses are taking to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains organizations. Businesses are encouraged to file their statements on the Central Registry to increase their transparency to help support to UK's efforts in tackling modern slavery. All businesses involved will pay a 20 pound fee plus VAT for authentication: which will provide assurance and security that the statement is genuine and from the business concerned. once authenticated a business can access the portals tools and information to help them build and submit a transparency statement. In order to submit a statement, businesses have to pay a mandatory filing fee (minimum of 200 pound plus VAT). the filing fee is split equally between maintaining and developing the Registry and the modern slavery helpline. Additional charitable donations also can be towards the helpline and the vital work that Unseen does to support and keep survivors safe. The Registry not only allow businesses to file their statement, but will also support them develop their statements through a "statement builder". This logs actions as they are undertaken as they are undertaken throughout the year to help build future statements. Subscribing also allows businesses to link to those organizations in their supply chain. this demonstrates increasing transparency through the supply chain as well as through their own organizations.

Awards

2018 GSK IMPACT Award[4]

2017 DSC Social Change Awards – The Influencer Award for Kate Garbers, Unseen's managing director

2015 Charity Times Awards – Charity of the Year, with an income of less than £1 million Charity Times Awards – Shortlisted for Rising CEO Star for Andrew Wallis Lloyds Bank Foundation Charity Achievement Awards – Highly Commended CEO Andrew Wallis awarded the OBE for services to the Eradication of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery GSK IMPACT Award – Runner Up

2013 DSC Social Change Awards – The Influencer Award for Andrew Wallis, Unseen's CEO Centre for Social Justice Award

2012 The McWhirter Foundation – The Good Citizenship Award – Kate Garbers, Unseen's managing director

References
  1. https://www.unseenuk.org/what-we-do/women-s-safe-house
  2. https://www.unseenuk.org/what-we-do/rio
  3. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/30/anti-slavery-app-will-help-users-spot-potential-victims-of-labour-exploitation
  4. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/gsk-impact-awards/2018-gsk-impact-award-winners


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