Unseen (organization)

Unseen's approach to fighting modern slavery is to tackle it from all sides – both the causes and the symptoms. Unseen provides specialist care for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation, including emergency safehouse accommodation and outreach support in order to rebuild safe and productive lives in the community.{{Cite web |title=Supporting Survivors |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/working-with-survivors/ |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=Unseen |language=en-GB}}

Unseen's business services are designed to help companies address labour abuse and exploitation in their supply chains and their operations, as well as manage future risks.{{Cite web |date=28 September 2021 |title=Working with businesses |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/working-with-businesses/ |access-date=3 March 2022 |website=Unseen |language=en-GB}} In 2020 Unseen stepped up the marketing of their business services – which now includes consultancy and exclusive modern slavery reports via their Business Portal.

Unseen’s Business Portal gives businesses access to information they receive about cases of abuse and labour exploitation related to their business or sector.{{Cite web |title=Unseen UK {{!}} Working with businesses |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/working-with-businesses/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Unseen |language=en-GB}}

Among those that have joined the list of businesses working with Unseen are Sainsbury's,{{Cite web |title=Unseen UK {{!}} Working with businesses |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/working-with-businesses/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Unseen |language=en-GB}} Aldi, PMP Recruitment and the Wellcome Trust.{{Cite web |date=29 September 2021 |title=Impact Report 2020 |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Impact-report-FINAL-2020.pdf |access-date= |website=Unseen}}

Unseen provides training to businesses and other organisations, such as statutory agencies, working to prevent modern slavery or supporting survivors.{{Cite web |title=Unseen UK {{!}} Modern Slavery Training |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/modern-slavery-training/ |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=Unseen |language=en-GB}}

In addition to making people more aware of modern slavery and how to spot the signs, their training encourages participants to discuss areas of risk in their business operations, explore mitigation and remediation strategies, and examine ways to improve and strengthen their overall approach.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of Unseen's scheduled face-to-face training for 2020 was postponed or cancelled. As a result, Unseen expanded their e-learning programmes and now has e-learning courses ranging from general training on modern slavery, training for first responders, and training for procurement specialists. The charity also has sector-specific e-learning packages aimed at industries such construction, finance, food and agriculture.{{Cite web |title=Impact Report |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Impact-report-FINAL-2020.pdf |access-date=7 April 2022}}

The Anti-Slavery Partnerships’ (ASP) mission is to support and enable the discovery of, and response to, incidents of human trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation. The Partnerships do this through a victim-centred, multi-agency and collaborative effort at both a local and regional level.{{Cite web |title=Purpose |url=https://www.aspartnership.org.uk/purpose |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=Anti-Slavery Partnership}}

Unseen founded the South West Regional,{{Cite web |title=South West Regional Board - Anti Slavery Partnership |url=https://www.aspartnership.org.uk/south-west-regional-board |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.aspartnership.org.uk}} Bedfordshire and Eastern Region ASPs, and continues to coordinate and chair them.{{Cite web |title=Partners |url=https://www.unseenuk.org/about-us/partners/ |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=Unseen |language=en-GB}}

Unseen's advocacy work aims to influence legislation, policy and consumer practices - from producing studies on new issues that they have identified, to presenting at conferences, seminars and other events; from working with the UK government, and raising awareness of modern slavery issues in the media.

The UK-wide Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline is a confidential and independent helpline providing information, advice and guidance on any modern slavery issue to potential victims, businesses, statutory agencies and the public. It is an important part of both their support work and their influence work.{{Cite web |title=Modern Slavery Helpline |url=https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/ |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=www.modernslaveryhelpline.org}}

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Helpline takes calls from across the UK and in some circumstances internationally. It does not receive Government funding.

The Helpline can liaise with callers in more than 200 languages. Callers who are potential victims are offered help to connect with law enforcement agencies to get out of a situation of exploitation and stay safe.

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/30/anti-slavery-app-will-help-users-spot-potential-victims-of-labour-exploitation | title=Anti-slavery app will help users spot potential victims of labour exploitation | website=TheGuardian.com | date=30 July 2018 }}

2013

Centre for Social Justice Award{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO51GcYnuw | title=Unseen UK wins a Centre for Social Justice Award 2013 - YouTube | website=YouTube | date=27 February 2015 }}

2015

Charity Times Charity of the Year Award{{cite web|url=https://www.charitytimes.com/digital_editions_eblasts/JuneJuly2016/Digitaledition.pdf |title=Hiding in plain sight|page=16|date=June–July 2016|website=charitytimes.com|access-date=25 September 2023}}

2018

GSK IMPACT Award{{cite web | url=https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/gsk-impact-awards/2018-gsk-impact-award-winners | title=2018 GSK IMPACT Award winners }}

2019

Campaign for Good Awards - Winner, Best Equality and Inclusion Campaign{{cite web | url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/campaigns-good-awards-collaboration-category-winners-revealed/1590186 | title=Campaigns for Good Awards: Collaboration category winners revealed }}

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Category:Charities based in Bristol

Category:Organizations that combat human trafficking