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2025-12-31-accounts

Iseen. unseen ANNUAL REPORT 2025

contents

A message from our outgoing founder and CEO..........4 Unseen’s aims and objectives for 2025 ........................6 Educating society .........................................................8 Modern slavery support services ................................10 2025 in pictures ..........................................................20 Business services .......................................................22 Policy, legislation and operational change ..................26 Partnerships and collaboration ...................................32 Our corporate partners and funders ...........................34 Fundraising campaigns and activities.........................36 Organisational sustainability and optimisation............38 Environmental, social and governance responsibilities ............................................................44 Trustee directors’ report ..............................................45 Independent auditors’ report to the trustees and members ..........................................48 Statement of financial activities ..................................53 Balance sheet ............................................................ 54 Statement of cash flows ............................................ 55 Notes to the financial statements ...............................56 Our plan for 2026........................................................71

Registered company number: 06754171 (England and Wales)

Registered charity number: 1127620 (England and Wales) Unseen (UK)

2 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

FOREWORD

ending exploitation takes all of us

Rosey Hurst Chair of Trustees

The past year has seen sustained progress in our efforts to end modern slavery, even as exploiters continue to operate in a low risk, high reward environment.

We continued to stand alongside survivors through our services, responded to a record number of modern slavery cases reported to the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and used frontline evidence to influence decisions shaping the UK’s response to modern slavery. At the same time, rising demand and tightening access to support have underlined just how entrenched exploitation remains – and how much work is still to be done.

Our services have never been more important. Survivors rebuilt their lives through our safe houses and outreach work. The Helpline saw an increase in cases across all exploitation types, underlining both growing awareness and the scale of harm still happening across the UK. Our policy, research and business services work ensured survivor voices were heard, evidence informed debate, and accountability remained firmly on the agenda. These achievements reflect the skill, commitment and values of our staff, volunteers, partners and supporters.

This year is also a moment of transition. After nearly two decades, Andrew Wallis has stepped down as our founding CEO. Andrew’s leadership shaped Unseen from a single safe house into a leading NGO at the forefront of the fight against modern slavery. On behalf of the board, I want to thank him for his extraordinary vision, integrity and determination. His legacy will endure in the systems he challenged, the laws he helped shape, and the lives changed through Unseen’s work.

I am equally excited about the future. We are delighted to welcome Renae Mann as our new CEO. Renae brings deep experience, clarity of purpose and a strong commitment to survivorcentred change. With her leadership, and with the dedication of our people, Unseen enters its next chapter with confidence and resolve.

Modern slavery thrives in silence and complacency. This report shows what is possible when we refuse both – and why we must continue.

Rosey Hurst Chair of Trustees

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 3

what we’ve built together – and the next chapter in our fight

Andrew Wallis OBE CEO, Unseen

Unseen truly began in 2007 with a provocation. A senior police officer, who would go on to become one of our founding trustees and serve 15 years on the board, challenged me to do more than write a letter asking difficult questions of the authorities. The human trafficking I had encountered, first in Ukraine and then on the streets of Bristol and via the airport, demanded something more than correspondence. A single safe house followed. No staff to speak of, no track record, and no guarantee that the problem was understood well enough by enough people to matter politically or commercially. What we had, from the beginning, was a conviction, stubborn enough to survive the early years, that modern slavery was not a niche humanitarian concern. It was a structural feature of how markets operated, hidden in supply chains, in hospitality kitchens, in domestic arrangements behind closed doors. The question was whether enough institutions could be made to see it.

This report is my last as the founding CEO and I want to be honest about what that feels like. Not melancholy. Something closer to sober satisfaction with a clear eye on what remains unfinished.

Unseen grew from that safe house into something unimaginable in those early years, and impossible to build alone. The trustees who held the governance with rigour and generosity, including those who were there from the very first days. The staff and volunteers who did the work that does not make the headlines, and the work that does. The survivors who trusted us with their stories and shaped everything we became. The partners, funders, media, and corporate allies who chose to engage rather than look away. None of this was a solo effort. It never could have been.

The numbers in these pages deserve to be held seriously. Safe house residents and outreach clients rebuilding their lives after years of exploitation. Nearly 1,000 calls and contacts a month to the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline. Research reaching national media and shaping parliamentary debate. Businesses transforming the way they operate to end forced labour. These are not abstractions. They are the accumulated evidence of what a committed institution, and the people inside it, can do.

4 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

The accountability figure is this one: 130,000 people remain stuck in modern slavery in the UK. Everything else is context.

The Centre for Social Justice published its landmark report, which I chaired, in 2013. Two years of intensive work in Westminster followed as the Modern Slavery Bill became an Act. Watching that happen, and playing a key part in it, was the clearest signal that the argument had travelled. I did not expect to be standing, a decade later, at what may prove to be a second such moment. The campaign for mandatory human rights due diligence and forced labour bans, carried by many voices over many years, looks closer to reality than it has ever been. If it arrives, it will not end exploitation. It will change the economic logic that currently makes exploitation rational. That is the point at which law becomes more than wallpaper.

Between those two legislative moments sits the story this report tells: the survivor accompanied toward independence; the business that called the Helpline and acted; the policy argument carried with evidence until it became impossible to ignore. Dignity treated not as an aspiration but as a design requirement. Accountability applied, not selectively, but consistently.

The work continues. My engagement with it continues, differently.

What I hope this report communicates, beyond the data, is that the problem is not intractable. It is addressable. Not through goodwill alone, but through the legal architecture and sustained institutional pressure that changes incentives rather than sentiments.

That has always been the point.

Andrew Wallis OBE Founding CEO, Unseen

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 5

Unseen’s aims and objectives in 2025

Unseen exists to work towards a world without modern slavery, delivering public benefit through supporting survivors of exploitation, equipping organisations and communities with the skills and knowledge to tackle modern slavery, and influencing systemic change. During 2025, we operated in a challenging and evolving external environment, with increasing demand for our services alongside uncertainty in policy, survivors having trouble accessing help and funding challenges. In response, we maintained a clear focus on delivering support to survivors, strengthening our services and partnerships, and driving wider change in the response to modern slavery. This reflects both sustained demand for our work and the need to deliver long-term impact by sustaining our core services while extending our reach and influence to ensure those who need our support can access it.

A key priority for 2025 was to return Unseen to a surplus position, which was successfully achieved, strengthening our financial resilience and supporting continued delivery. This report sets out how we deployed our resources against these priorities, the outcomes achieved and how this positions us to sustain and develop our impact in the years ahead.

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“Modern slavery is rising in the UK, devastating the lives of the people who are abused and exploited. There is an urgent need to strengthen prevention and protection.”

Renae Mann appointed as Unseen CEO

Unseen has appointed Renae Mann as its new Chief Executive, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the organisation.

Renae, who starts at Unseen in June 2026, has more than 25 years’ experience working in social justice and supporting people with lived experience of exploitation, injustice, and exclusion.

She most recently served as Executive Director of Services at the Refugee Council, where she led an ambitious strategy to improve access to safety and support for refugees rebuilding their lives in the UK.

Renae said: “I am delighted to join the excellent team at Unseen, building on the tremendous impact that Andrew has had over nearly 20 years with survivors.

“I am inspired by the transformative impact Unseen has had in improving protections for modern slavery survivors including the creation of the Modern Slavery Act and its more recent work promoting responsible business practices. Yet there is still much to do to end modern slavery.

“Modern slavery is rising in the UK, devastating the lives of the people who are abused and exploited. There is an urgent need to strengthen prevention and protection with survivors, peers and decisionmakers. Unseen is uniquely positioned to support survivors and equip practitioners and businesses with the expertise to identify and prevent modern slavery, and influence government to ensure our communities are free from abuse and exploitation.”

Andrew continues with Unseen as founder until the end of August 2026, supporting Renae and ensuring continuity and momentum during the transition.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 7

EDUCATING SOCIETY

exposing the realities of modern slavery our key campaigns in 2025

No place for forced labour: in partnership with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, law firm Omnia Strategy LLP, and Forward Global, Unseen drafted model legislation, calling on the government to introduce this new legislation to prevent human rights abuses in value chains and stop goods made with forced labour from entering the UK market.

Believing survivors: efforts to combat modern slavery have been undermined by recent immigration laws, which have deterred victims from coming forward, as detailed in Unseen’s ‘Restoring belief, reducing criminality’ report.

The economic cost of modern slavery: the socio-economic impact of modern slavery on the UK is up to £60bn a year, the equivalent of 2% of our GDP. A report from Unseen, ‘The economic cost of modern slavery: policing’, emphasised that modern slavery is a grave economic crime and called for a strategic reassessment of the policing response to prioritise financial investigations, multi-agency collaboration, and preventative investment.

Exploitation in hospitality: our report ‘Service not servitude’ exposed the prevalence of modern slavery in food and drink establishments and holiday accommodation.

10 years of the Modern Slavery Act: we celebrated how CEO Andrew Wallis played a key role in shaping the Modern Slavery Act 2015 as chair of The Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report ‘It happens here’.

the economic cost of modern slavery: policing

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EDUCATING SOCIETY

reaching millions with the truth about exploitation

Unseen educated new audiences on modern slavery in 2025 and helped shape debate through more than 100 mentions across national, local and trade media titles. These included The Guardian, The Observer, BBC, The Independent, LBC News, The Telegraph, The Sun, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Construction News, and The Grocer.

 In a Channel 4 documentary, Andrew Wallis warned that exploiters prey on the weaknesses of young people on holiday resorts abroad.

 Speaking to ITV News, Andrew said modern slavery is prevalent across many sectors including construction, agriculture, care and hospitality.

 Lauren Saunders, Unseen’s Deputy Director of Frontline Services, raised awareness of the crime of forced surrogacy via a live interview on Sky News.

 Justine Carter, Unseen’s Deputy CEO, told BBC News how demand for the Helpline continues to grow.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 9

MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

safe house support helping survivors rebuild their lives in 2025

The impact of our safe houses extends far beyond accommodation. They offer safety, dignity and the practical tools survivors need to rebuild their lives.

Unseen’s women’s safe house provided 30 women with secure accommodation in 2025, up from 18 in 2024 (a 67% rise). The aim of our team continues to centre on supporting survivors’ journeys to recovery and independence.

The survivors we supported in 2025, from countries including Albania, Brazil, Uganda, Canada, Pakistan, Bulgaria and Nigeria, experienced various forms of modern slavery, including labour exploitation, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude.

In 2025, our men’s safe house supported 17 survivors, up from 11 the previous year (a 55% increase), coming from countries including Morocco, Ghana, Kenya, Syria and Sudan.

Across both our safe houses, our residents varied in age from 25 to 60, indicating how people of any age can become stuck in exploitation.

strengthening survivor recovery and independence

Our key aim in 2025 was to equip survivors with the resilience and skills to rebuild their lives and live in safety and freedom. The case studies we share indicate our success in supporting survivors in their journey to recovery.

In 2025, our team achieved their main aim by supporting residents with:

to mental health professionals and arranging GP, dental and sexual health appointments.

enhancing wellbeing

Across our safe houses in 2025, survivors took part in a range of group activities to support recovery and wellbeing, including creative writing workshops, shared meals, trips to the beach and a National Trust site, and a visit to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. Our activities have enabled safe house residents to start to rebuild their selfconfidence and make healthy friendships.

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MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

the views of safe house residents

“I feel happy, the staff are good and nice, and they help us when we need anything. I enjoy the house very much.”

“The safe house is comfortable and it has a safe and homely feel to it, which is good for me.”

“I remember last year it snowed heavily at the safe house and I don’t much like the snow, but the manager encouraged some of us out into the garden to do some snowman building. I remember not wanting to get involved at the time. But halfway through a light switched on inside me and I thought to myself how much fun the manager was having. I thought ‘this is life, this is what life is about, having fun!”

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 11

MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

from domestic servitude to freedom and independence

After 18 years stuck in domestic servitude, Minue* is finally rebuilding her life. With specialist support, she is gaining confidence, independence and hope for the future.

Minue grew up in Gambia, where she built a happy life with her husband. She ran her own business selling food products, while her husband worked as a teacher. After he died however, life became far more challenging.

to manage it with paracetamol and ibuprofen, given the family didn’t want her to go to a medical professional. Minue spent around 18 years living in a type of exploitation known as domestic servitude, where her movements were closely monitored and controlled.

Exploited behind closed doors

Minue was encouraged to come to the UK in 2007 for what she thought was a short stay to visit members of her family living here. The first month of Minue’s trip felt like a typical family visit. But gradually she was expected to do more and more work in the house, look after the four children and complete all the domestic tasks, including cooking and cleaning for the family.

Minue was not allowed to leave the property, and the family threatened her if she tried to do so. She suffered an injury to her knee at one point, but she was only able

First steps towards safety and freedom

One day, Minue was talking to a friend who knew about her situation. The friend gave Minue £20 to get the bus to Bristol in search of help. She was put in touch with Unseen who referred her to the National Referral Mechanism. Minue is now a resident in Unseen’s women’s safe house where she has a dedicated caseworker who is supporting her journey to recovery and independence.

*Some details changed to protect identity. Image posed by model.

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MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

“Unseen staff are nice and I am very grateful to them. I was supported to be able to do my food shopping. I had very bad eyesight when I arrived and Unseen helped me get eye appointments and be able to get surgery to help solve this, meaning I can see better now and be more independent. I now attend a weekly women’s support group and I go to Unseen’s Wellbeing Café... where I have been able to make friends. Unseen has helped me also apply for asylum here in the UK and supported me with the proce .”

Minue, a modern slavery survivor supported by Unseen

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 13

MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

outreach services support survivors at every stage of recovery

Survivors described their caseworkers as a steady presence during uncertain times. Through a range of services, we empowered them to make informed decisions about their futures.

In 2025, 187 survivors were referred to Unseen to be supported through our outreach services. This figure was down from 278 in 2024, a 33% fall, likely reflecting changes in legislation and guidance which have resulted in higher evidential thresholds for support. This means fewer potential victims meet the criteria for referral into outreach services, rather than a genuine fall in underlying need.

Our expert casework team provided trauma-informed, person-centred support, helping survivors access physical and mental health care, legal advice, wellbeing support, safe housing, and opportunities for education, volunteering or employment.

Our weekly Wellbeing Café continued throughout the year, offering a safe, welcoming space for emotional support, advice, skill-building and friendship. Thanks to talks from professionals and community leaders

who visited the Wellbeing Café, survivors were able to connect with wider community networks and support services.

Building trust in hard-to-reach communities

Unseen also continued to support survivors in 2025 as a first responder, a designated organisation authorised to help identify potential victims of modern slavery and refer them to the National Referral Mechanism for support.

Unseen’s frontline team made 82 successful referrals to the NRM in 2025, up from 18 the previous year. Our team attended sites of possible exploitation alongside the police to provide independent support and build trust with people in hard-to-reach communities.

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MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

the views of survivors on Unseen’s outreach services

“I am extremely satisfied as a with your kindne caseworker, your help and support you have been offering me as a victim of modern slavery at Unseen.”

“I cannot write the story of my life without including my Unseen caseworker. The period I was supported by Unseen has given me more independence and confidence about the UK as a welcoming place for me and my family.”

“I just want to say a huge thank you for everything Unseen has done. I truly appreciate the wonderful support and services you’re providing. It really means a lot to have an outreach caseworker as dedicated as mine in my corner. I am giving you all five stars for all your massive support and kindne you have offered me!”

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 15

MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

helpline reveals rise in number of potential victims

The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline team indicated nearly 3,000 cases of exploitation in 2025. Case volumes rose by 41%, underlining the need for better community awareness and earlier intervention.

More than 6,600 potential victims of modern slavery were indicated by the Helpline in 2025, a 37% rise on 2024.

Potential victims were indicated across almost cases of 3,000 exploitation in 2025, up 41% on the previous year.

The number of signposts to other organisations and agencies for resources and support rose by more than 50% to in 2025. 13,700

In total, our Helpline team responded to 11,231 calls, web form and app submissions from people wanting information, advice and guidance on modern slavery.

The team provided more than 1,800 outgoing referrals to agencies, including the police, local authorities, HMRC, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and NGOs, a 16% increase on 2024.

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MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

“I get great satisfaction from seeing how Helpline advisers are using their skills to educate profe ionals on technical assistance calls. This includes for example where a police officer has called us with no modern slavery knowledge and a Helpline adviser has managed to explain the National Refe al Mechanism, statutory defence, slavery and trafficking prevention orders, and advised them on how to engage with survivors in a trauma-informed way. They empower people with the tools to support the survivor.”

Sarah, Unseen Helpline Manager

driving advances in technology

The aims of the Helpline team in 2025 included introducing tech enhancements to drive efficiency in response to rising demand. This was achieved through technical upgrades to the Helpline infrastructure, enhancing data capture, analysis, and overall usability. We also redeveloped our web form to gather more actionable information from the initial stage of contact, and created FAQ resources to fast-track queries and empower people to self-advocate.

helpline data supports campaigns targeting hard-to-reach communities

Data from the Helpline was used in 2025 to help identify hard-to-reach communities where above-average numbers of people are in vulnerable positions. Thanks to funding of £1m from The National Lottery Community Fund, Unseen is running a five-year project to identify communities at increased risk of exploitation, raising awareness of modern slavery and supporting them in their journey to recovery.

The Helpline is free, confidential, independently funded and open 365 days a year.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 17

MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

helpline enables swift police intervention in trafficking case

When disturbing information on cases of sexual exploitation surfaced online, vital information was shared with the Helpline. This ultimately helped bring a dangerous offender to justice.

A whistleblower contacted the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline after interacting with an adult British male on a travel-hosting platform. During their exchange, the perpetrator claimed to own a local massage parlour and shared disturbing details suggesting his involvement in trafficking boys for sexual exploitation. Alarmed, the whistleblower reported the interaction to the Helpline, which promptly referred the case to South Wales Police for investigation.

In July 2023, the perpetrator was arrested by South Wales Police. Officers recovered evidence from his property including multiple mobile phones and a card machine to accept payments. Police discovered WhatsApp messages where the perpetrator had shared child sexual abuse images and offered the sexual services of men under his control. They also found evidence that he was prepared to travel internationally to liaise with clients.

After breaching bail conditions, the perpetrator tried to evade capture by the police but was arrested again a few days later.

In December 2025, he was convicted of controlling prostitution for gain, two counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and acquiring criminal property. He received a custodial sentence of 45 months.

South Wales Police have shared information from their investigation with international police forces to aid investigation into individuals the perpetrator may have collaborated with, and to ensure other victims can be identified and receive support.

“The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline was invaluable in making us aware of a dangerous individual and his criminality, who has now been convicted for multiple serious offences. The Helpline was particularly useful as the reporting person was in another country which would have made it difficult to report to UK authorities otherwise. The information was disseminated to us in a timely manner which meant we could act swiftly and stop the suspect from travelling and safeguard any potential victims.”

Detective Constable Robyn Allen, South Wales Police

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MODERN SLAVERY SUPPORT SERVICES

helpline referral leads to protection for trafficked worker

by Border Force, finally breaking contact with his exploiter.

After graduating in Moldova, Matei* took out a loan to pay for medical treatment for his mother. To repay it, he accepted gruelling factory work and borrowed further money from his employer as her condition worsened. The debt bound him to the company, and he was sent to Montenegro to “work it off”. There, his wages stopped and threats and violence became routine.

Following release on immigration bail, a charity connected him with the Helpline. Indicators of labour exploitation were identified, and a referral was made to the National Referral Mechanism.

Matei received a positive reasonable grounds decision, secure accommodation, legal support and specialist medical care, including treatment for complex PTSD. He is now rebuilding his life and volunteering locally.

Matei was moved between countries and factories, physically abused and prevented from leaving. One transfer brought him to the UK, where he was detained

*Some details changed to protect identity. Image posed by model.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 19

2025 in pictures

 Theresa May (centre), former Prime Minister and a driving force behind the Modern Slavery Act 2015, visited Unseen’s offices to be updated about our work and services.

Clare Moody (right), Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, provided funding over five years to Unseen, enabling us to continue our work as a first responder and collaborate with the police on safeguarding operations. 

 Advertising on digital boards on busy high streets across the UK enabled Unseen to raise awareness of the signs of modern slavery and how to seek advice via the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline.

20

Our annual business awards celebrated the organisations leading the way in tackling modern slavery and exploitation. 

 Unseen CEO Andrew Wallis won the Founder of the Year Award at the Benefact Group Charity Heroes Awards 2025.

Unseen’s carol service at Bath Abbey was attended by more than 300 guests who joined us for an inspiring evening of music,  speeches and reflection.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 21

BUSINESS SERVICES

helping businesses build a more ethical future

Unseen partnered with businesses to address modern slavery across operations and value chains in 2025, delivering the insight, tools and support needed to protect workers and build resilient, responsible brands.

The business services team’s aims in 2025 included increasing the number of people trained in modern slavery, growing our Business Hub and sharing more cases of exploitation identified via our Business Portal.

our year in numbers: 2025

4,082

61

25

people trained on modern slavery up from 1,800 in 2024 (127% increase)

Business Hub members

up from 57 in 2024 (7% increase)

Finance Hub members

up from 22 in 2024 (14% increase)

67

140

240

cases of exploitation shared from the Business Portal

up from 57 in 2024 (18% increase)

industry leaders at Unseen’s business awards

up from 60 in 2024 (133% increase)

workers interviewed during on-site employee engagement

(this data was recorded for the first time in 2025)

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what are the Business Hub and Business Portal?

Unseen’s Business Hub Membership is a bespoke package of services designed to strengthen and evolve organisations’ modern slavery strategies. More than 90% of our Business Hub members in 2025 said membership supported them well or extremely well.

The Helpline Business Portal gives companies secure, real-time access to modern slavery cases linked to their operations and supply chains, reported through the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline.

supporting our clients in an evolving legislative landscape

Government guidance on Transparency in Supply Chains (TISC), which Unseen helped shape, signalled a clear shift for businesses in 2025, raising the bar from box-ticking to genuine accountability and meaningful action.

Unseen’s business services team led the way in empowering companies to adopt the guidance, providing practical direction on how to identify, mitigate and report on modern slavery risks across their operations and value chains.

We conducted extensive reviews of our service offerings to ensure our consultancy and training work meets statutory expectations. In line with TISC requirements for continuous improvement, we supported our clients in developing long-term strategic visions, helping them strengthen credibility and trust, protect their corporate reputations, and reduce harm while embracing opportunities for positive social impact.

modern slavery benchmark highlights impact of Unseen’s support

The CCLA modern slavery UK benchmark evidenced the impact of Unseen’s business services in 2025 with 50% of the top 10 most improved companies currently partnering with Unseen.

The benchmark assessed FTSE 100 companies’ 2024 statements relating to the Modern Slavery Act and best practice in modern slavery reporting. It ranked Investec – an Unseen Hub member – as both the most improved company for 2025 and since the benchmark began.

All Unseen membership clients from 2024 achieved Tier 2 (evolving good practice) or above, and 92% of companies that worked with us in 2024 improved their benchmark scores.

A key milestone was the launch of Unseen’s TISC readiness workshop, which enables businesses to assess compliance, align teams, break down silos, and create clear, actionable plans. This approach ensures that modern slavery is treated with the same level of responsibility and attention as health and safety, with everyone across the business playing an active role.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 23

BUSINESS SERVICES

building capacity and celebrating excellence

Unseen’s training programme in 2025 spanned construction, retail, and entertainment sectors, covering key topics such as modern slavery awareness, responsible value chain risk management, and worker wellbeing.

We also continued to recognise leadership in tackling modern slavery through our annual business awards, which brought together more than 140 business professionals at a ceremony at the London Stadium and received 60 nominations across all categorises. The awards featured a panel discussion with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons; Matt Crossman, Stewardship Director, Rathbones; and Giles Bolton, Executive Director, Ethical Trading Initiative, providing valuable insights into the future of modern slavery and business responsibility (see image).

empowering rightsholders through direct engagement

Our direct engagement with rightsholders expanded in 2025. The business services team conducted 30 worker wellbeing site visits, engaging more than 240 workers across construction, retail and entertainment.

Some of the issues we saw across sites in 2025 included:

These visits allowed us to observe the on-the-ground reality of policy implementation, and identify indicators of exploitation, providing an honest picture of worker experience. Following identification of these gaps and risks to rightsholders, we supported our clients in addressing areas where strategy may not yet be translating into practice.

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BUSINESS SERVICES

“Our partnership with Unseen has been instrumental in strengthening our efforts to addre modern slavery risks within our operations and supply chains. Through this collaboration, we have developed and rolled out comprehensive training programmes, awarene raising activities, and targeted initiatives to educate our employees and suppliers about modern slavery.

and Finance “Our participation in Unseen’s Busine Hub has provided us with valuable opportunities to engage in peer-learning groups and other collaborative initiatives. These se ions allow us to share le ons learned and best practices with other financial institutions, and to take forward specific programmes aimed at improving our strategies to combat modern slavery.”

UK Sustainability Lead, Investec

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 25

POLICY, LEGISLATION AND OPERATIONAL CHANGE

shaping the conversation how unseen influenced policy in 2025

Unseen continued to bring frontline expertise into policy discussions across multiple sectors, ensuring survivor needs remain central to reform.

Staff represented Unseen and survivors at policy roundtables and engagement forums with policymakers, MPs and statutory leads, contributing evidence, insights and best practice on proposed policy changes.

We contributed evidence, in person and in writing, on the frontline impact of the Home Office’s pledge to clear the modern slavery case backlog within two years. While faster decisions can reduce the delay that hinders recovery, rushed assessments risk flawed refusals – pushing victims into a tougher reconsideration process with reduced eligibility for support.

In 2025, we were consulted on vital improvements to policy guidance for child victims in the NRM as they transition to adulthood. The changes made, published in February 2026, include:

We also provided expertise on improving the NRM first responder form and guidance after many years of highlighting gaps in their trauma informed nature. The April 2025 improvements aim to help first responders capture more detailed survivor accounts, strengthening decision-making. Advocacy on improving the resource and training allocated to first responding remains a priority for Unseen.

The temporary permission to stay (VTS) guidance outlines how professionals decide non-UK nationals’ rights to remain in the UK after exploitation. We have supported survivors where decisions hindered recovery, providing best practice advice and witness testimony that informed several policy updates. We continue to advocate for those affected by this guidance.

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POLICY, LEGISLATION AND OPERATIONAL CHANGE

driving policy change through Unseen’s reports and projects

Our ‘Restoring belief, reducing criminality’ report, which assessed the negative impact of modern slavery provisions within recent immigration legislation, was acknowledged by the Home Office, the UK’s devolved governments, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. This liaison has led to several speaking opportunities for Unseen to promote our recommendations with the aim of influencing policy.

The report highlighted how public order disqualifications fail to assess genuine risk to the UK, instead enabling traffickers to act with impunity, increasing the risk of survivor re-trafficking, and breaching international law. A public order disqualification allows the government to deny modern slavery protections to potential victims deemed a public risk. Following concerns raised by

Unseen and others, the Home Office paused decisionmaking on such disqualifications within the NRM as of December 2025.

Unseen’s report on ‘The economic cost of modern slavery: policing’ was shared and discussed by policymakers at the Home Office, the Welsh Government, Scottish Government, and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The report outlined how, in 2024, only £854,000 was recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) from modern slavery cases – a mere 0.4% of the total amount recovered by police and just 0.4% of the estimated policing cost of the crime. Our research aims to influence policymakers on issues including recognising modern slavery as an economic crime.

Unseen at the heart of modern slavery debate in 2025

Unseen team members continued to speak regularly at high profile events in the UK and internationally including:

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 27

POLICY, LEGISLATION AND OPERATIONAL CHANGE

leading collaboration across the anti-slavery sector

Unseen helped shape a long-term strategy on tackling modern slavery in the UK, bringing together charities, policymakers, and practitioners.

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Decade of Dignity: A Strategic
Vision for Eradicating Modern
Slavery in the UK
April 2026 1
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Unseen led the development of an ambitious project ‘Decade of dignity: a strategic vision for eradicating modern slavery in the UK’. Beginning in 2025, we collaborated with other leading anti-slavery charities on a collation of short-term requests for the government, followed by the publication of a report (see report cover). It focused on four priority areas:

1. Building a new legislative foundation for corporate accountability.

2. Dismantling criminal networks.

3. Ensuring sustainable recovery processes for survivors.

4. Creating a cross-government strategy for responding to child exploitation.

Funded by the Samworth Foundation, the strategic project has been underpinned by the inclusion of data insights and lived experience to inform policy design.

Other partnership highlights in 2025 included collaboration with:

28 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

POLICY, LEGISLATION AND OPERATIONAL CHANGE

policy influencing via written evidence

In 2025, Unseen provided input for the Home Office’s call for evidence on its identification of victims of modern slavery consultation. This consultation sought to strengthen the NRM, following sustained calls from Unseen and others to review how it supports victims. The consultation results are expected to feed into policy change in 2026.

Unseen partnered with organisations, contributing joint written evidence and briefings, including:

We have contributed to multiple parliamentary briefings, championing issues such as mandatory human rights due diligence and forced labour ban legislation and providing insights on the state of legislation a decade after the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

A letter from Unseen to House of Lords peers also helped drive policy change. An amendment to the Great British Energy Bill tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool passed in the Lords, ensuring public funds are not used for goods linked to modern slavery – particularly solar panels – following Unseen’s call for support.

research and projects that we contributed to

Our policy and research professionals worked with:

Unseen has been able to share unique data and insights thanks to the broad range of our services, including the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, our frontline work and our support for businesses. Policy change is a collective effort, and while we contribute to improvements, the impact is shared with our partners.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 29

POLICY, LEGISLATION AND OPERATIONAL CHANGE

survivor voices shaping research, policy and practice

The aim of the policy and research department in 2025 was to maintain focus on victims and survivors of modern slavery during a period of ongoing upheaval in the government’s approach to modern slavery policy.

We achieved this through several projects and areas of focus, including:

A team of 10 survivor consultants shared their insight and lived experience with external agencies and research units including:

“Academic research can explain the ‘what’, but survivor consultants explain the ‘how’ and the ‘why’. By bringing our lived experience to the table, we ensure that policies are not just well meaning but are actually safe, practical, and respectful of the people they are designed to protect.”

Survivor consultant

“Nothing about us should be designed without us.”

Survivor consultant

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POLICY, LEGISLATION AND OPERATIONAL CHANGE

grounded in lived experience survivor consultants shape modern slavery research

Survivor consultants co-produced a report with Unseen staff on the impact of recent immigration laws on efforts to combat modern slavery.

Published in 2025, our ‘Restoring belief, reducing criminality’ report assessed the impact of modern slavery provisions within the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024.

It found that efforts to combat modern slavery were undermined by immigration laws, deterring victims from coming forward and enabling traffickers to evade accountability.

The lived experience of survivor consultants was central to the report, with their insights used to highlight the reality of recent immigration legislation for victims.

The research drew on official Home Office figures, data from the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and interviews with police, professionals on the frontline and survivors, concluding that policies designed to curb irregular migration have weakened both victim protection and law enforcement capability.

“Lived experience turns policy from theory into reality — bringing truth, accountability, and impact to the fight against modern slavery.”

Survivor consultant

Scan QR code to read ‘Restoring belief, reducing criminality’

Work with us

For more information and to explore collaboration opportunities with Unseen’s policy and research team, email policyandresearch@unseenuk.org

PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION

driving strong coordination on anti-slavery initiatives

In 2025, we continued to strengthen focus on modern slavery among statutory and non-statutory partners in the south-west through the . Anti-Slavery Partnership

Partnerships like this are essential vehicles for continuous improvement of the UK’s response to modern slavery. As co-chair and coordinator of the partnership, Unseen provided strategic direction, keeping partners abreast of key policy and sector developments, and supporting partner agencies in their individual and collective responses to modern slavery.

We developed a comprehensive local partnership self-assessment tool, promoting good practice in antislavery partnership collaboration.

In addition, we shared our research with the National Networks Coordinators’ Forum, which brings together coordinators of the regional anti-slavery networks and partnerships operating in the UK.

In Avon and Somerset, partners in local authorities, the fire service and NHS were supported in the development of modern slavery protocols, which are essential practice for the effective identification of survivors and their facilitation into support.

“Through collaboration with Unseen and the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline team, the Bristol Modern Slavery Operational Partnership has become an e ential and effective way of working in what is a highly complex area. Through our combined experience and expertise, we’ll ensure the Bristol area remains a hostile place for anyone intent on committing these exploitative offences.”

Carlos Filippsen, Detective Chief Inspector, Avon and Somerset Police

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PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION

promoting ethical leadership in the chocolate sector

Unseen supported the promotion of the annual Chocolate Scorecard – a tool that highlights responsible practice across the chocolate supply chain and empowers consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions. Produced by NGO Be Slavery Free, the scorecard assesses the world’s largest cocoa purchasers, along with the retailers that stock their products, against key ethical indicators including child labour, living income and supply chain traceability.

ambassadors and patrons

We are very grateful to our ambassadors and patron for the work they do promoting the work of Unseen across their networks.

Ambassadors

David Olusoga, James Ewins KC historian and broadcaster

Patron

Levison Wood, explorer, writer and photographer

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 33

CORPORATE PARTNERS AND FUNDERS

thank you

We extend our sincere thanks to our corporate partners and funders in 2025, as well as to our individual givers and major donors. Your generosity has made it possible for us to stand alongside survivors and move closer to ending slavery for good.

Corporate partners

Corporate partners in 2025 included:

 Staff at Burges Salmon went the extra mile to raise money for Unseen at the London Landmarks Half Marathon

Funders

We would also like to thank all our many generous private donors.

Pro bono support

We are very grateful to all those who provided us with pro bono support in 2025, including: Burges Salmon; Jisc; Reed Smith; Leonardo Hotels Bristol; AlphaSights; Gowling WLG; Omnia Strategy LLP; Forward Global; Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP; Kirkland & Ellis LLP; and Latham & Watkins LLP.

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CORPORATE PARTNERS AND FUNDERS

the voices of Unseen donors

“I believe that modern slavery is a te ible tragedy. Unseen does a huge amount of good by helping victims of exploitation and raising awarene of this systemic injustice. I hope and pray that one day we’ll live in a world free from all forms of slavery, exploitation, and human trafficking.”

Mike

cause “I am supporting the work of Unseen and a that does not get the attention it deserves. This work is so important and makes such a difference. I am proud to be a supporter of Unseen.”

Jill

“Having heard of the work done by Unseen, I was inspired by the bravery and compassion of its staff in providing hope and a way out for those trapped in modern slavery.”

Chris

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 35

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVITIES

driven by generosity the partnerships and people behind our impact

The team’s key aims for 2025 included securing income for our existing services both during the year and into the future, delivering a positive donor experience, and exploring new fundraising activities. We achieved these aims through a busy programme including:

Partner-led events supporting our mission

We were honoured to be supported through the Construction Cup hosted by Black & White Engineering, and the Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club Dragon Boat Race. We were one of the chosen charities at the We Out Here festival and joined a modern slavery awareness event at Southwark Cathedral. The team ended the year with two special events at Bath Abbey, including a carol service supported by the Break Out Voices choir.

When supporters push their limits for survivors

Our supporters went above and beyond, taking on challenges including the Monsal Trail hike; the London Landmarks Half Marathon; the London, Manchester and Bristol marathons; boxing competitions; a 100km running challenge; and a 300km Boxing Day cycle. Students raised funds through the Three Peaks Challenge, skydives, and the Lisbon marathon, while Renewal Choir delivered an inspiring performance in support of Unseen.

Raising funds through partnerships

Multi-year funding from the Samworth Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund and City Bridge Foundation continues to safeguard the future of the Helpline, while support from the Swire Foundation provides stability for our survivor Wellbeing Café through to 2026. We have also benefitted from transformational funding from the CIPS Foundation, driving essential technical improvements to the Helpline, and we are excited to continue this relationship into 2026.

In 2025, we were pleased to welcome new partners including Benefact Group, which awarded our CEO Andrew Wallis their Founder of the Year award, alongside the Sir James Reckitt Charity and Skipton Charitable Foundation. We also renewed long-standing relationships with supporters such as the Garfield Weston Foundation, The Nisbet Trust and The Wixamtree Trust.

36 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVITIES

fundraising activities and campaigns

 The Construction Cup at Charlton Athletic’s The Valley stadium brought together 30 teams and 275 players from across the construction sector to raise vital funds for Unseen’s work.

 A student raises money at the Lisbon marathon to help Unseen fight modern slavery.

 Unseen raised awareness of modern slavery at an event at Southwark Cathedral.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 37

ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OPTIMISATION

income

Our total income for 2025 was £3,427,747, an increase of £133,689 (4.1%) on the prior period. Fundraising income grew by £106,797 (19%), of which £67,857 (7%) was earned through business engagement (2024: £46,353, 5%).

Earned income from services to businesses increased by £270,994 (24%), although this was partially offset by a £240,862 reduction in service income from the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC). Policy, legislation and research income in 2025 was £28,348 (2024: £7,528).

38% Service income ............................. £1,311,505

20% Grants income .............................. £677,668

1% Policy, legislation and research income .................... £28,348

33% Earned income ............................. £1,112,077

Total income £3,427,747

38 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OPTIMISATION

expenditure

Our total expenditure for 2025 was £3,398,806, an increase of £82,046 (2%) on the prior period, reflecting investment in business engagement activity.

Of the total expenditure, £3,147,039 (93%) was spent directly on our charitable activities.

6%

Educating society ..........................£200,044

19% Business engagement ...................£639,101

6%

Policy, legislation and operational change ........................£201,318

53%

Support services ............................£1,817,126

9%

Organisational sustainability and optimisation ............................£289,463

7%

Raising funds .................................£251,754

Total expended £3,398,806

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 39

ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OPTIMISATION

principal risks

The delivery of our strategy and achieving our vision is dependent on the effective management of risk. During 2025, the senior leadership team and trustees identified a number of principal risks facing the organisation, which were subject to regular review throughout the year.

The principal risks identified for 2025 were:

These risks continue to be reviewed on a quarterly basis to ensure they remain current and appropriately managed. As at quarter one 2026, the principal risks facing the organisation were:

As part of the MSVCC, we must comply with ISO standards 9001, 14001, 23001, 27001 and 45001, embedding these principles across our systems and processes. While we are not formally ISO accredited, our approach reflects the requirements of these standards.

Trustees

The trustees retain overall responsibility for the management and control of the organisation and are actively involved in the key aspects of the risk management process. This includes regular review of the risk register, with a full review embedded within the annual governance calendar.

Control systems and policies are in place to ensure that risks are appropriately identified and managed at all levels of the organisation.

During 2025, Unseen placed particular focus on strengthening our cyber security arrangements. This included migrating to enhanced licensing to provide a more integrated and robust security environment alongside improved reporting and oversight. We introduced minimum compliance standards for all devices and implemented regular reporting across key areas, including data loss prevention, software usage to reduce the risk of shadow IT and patch management.

Under the direction of the trustees, the senior leadership team has also undertaken a comprehensive review of the organisation’s insurance arrangements to ensure that cover remains appropriate for both Unseen’s office-based operations and secure accommodation. This review is revisited annually as policies are renewed.

1 UK Government (2025), Modern slavery: National Referral Mechanism and duty to notify statistics, UK – end of year summary 2025 . gov.uk

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ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OPTIMISATION

In addition, we have outsourced a number of specialist operational areas, including IT support and employment law advice, to external providers with relevant expertise. This approach strengthens our access to specialist knowledge and supports ongoing compliance with current legislation, providing assurance that these risks are being effectively managed.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

At year-end, cash and bank balances were £704,631 (2024: £741,006) and unrestricted reserves were £805,331 (2024: £798,292). The decrease in cash reflects a deliberate decision by the trustees to invest strategically, placing funds in instruments that maximise returns while remaining readily liquifiable to meet shortterm cash flow requirements.

The trustees are satisfied that the organisation remains in a sound financial position and that it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.

Net assets at the balance sheet date were £854,385 (2024: £801,386) and net current assets at the balance sheet date were £521,473 (2024: £491,380).

reserves policy

Our reserves policy is set to achieve a balance between ensuring that our work is protected from the risk of disruption that occurs at short notice because of a lack of funds and ensuring we do not retain income for longer than required.

The trustees have determined that the charity needs free reserves for the following purposes:

The trustees further determined that Unseen should be holding sufficient free reserves equal to between six and nine months of expenditure, where pre-secured income does not exist.

Based on the above policy, the trustees calculate that the target level of free reserves would be between £929,322 and £1,393,983. At the year-end we held £788,859 of free reserves representing 5.1 months of expenditure, falling moderately below the target range. The trustees acknowledge this position and have identified rebuilding reserves as a priority. A plan is in place to work towards a further surplus in 2026, with the aim of returning reserves to within the target range over the short to medium term.

We plan to use these reserves as we move towards a greater level of income diversification and also continue to grow the charity so we can maximise our impact. Recent years have shown the importance of holding significant reserves, which enable us to absorb fluctuations in income and continue to make decisions that are in the best interests of the charity and its stakeholders.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 41

ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OPTIMISATION

governance and management

Legal status

Unseen is a charitable company limited by guarantee and governed by its memorandum and articles of association, which were updated in 2024. There are therefore no shares in issue. In the event of the company being wound up, the members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. Unseen is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission.

Governance

During the year, the trustees have considered the requirements of the Charity Governance Code and its principles – organisational purpose, leadership, integrity, decision making, risk and control, board effectiveness, equity, diversity and inclusion, openness and accountability – and believe that these principles are consistent with how the organisation is governed.

Fundraising

Fundraising was undertaken by Unseen employees, donors and supporters participating in activities and challenges to raise funds for the charity, and no professional fundraisers or commercial participators were engaged. Unseen is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and seeks to follow best practice in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice. During the year, the charity received no complaints in relation to fundraising activities and was not subject to any failure to comply with fundraising standards or schemes.

Fundraising activities undertaken by donors, supporters and clients were overseen by Unseen staff where appropriate, with advice, guidance and resources provided to help ensure activities were conducted safely, responsibly and in line with the charity’s values. The charity seeks to protect vulnerable people and members of the public from unreasonable intrusion, undue pressure or other inappropriate behaviour in connection with fundraising activities.

Appointment of trustees

Due to the nature of the services Unseen provides, the board of trustees seeks to appoint members who have a wide range of appropriate skills and knowledge of the sector that will allow them to govern and grow the charity successfully.

Unseen has an experienced, knowledgeable, and diverse trustee board with a range of skills and experience, including financial planning and advice, project management, safeguarding, human resources, management, advocacy and partnership, policy, policing, law, fundraising and government strategy.

Recruitment

Periodic skills audits are conducted, enabling trustees to identify potential gaps in the board that can then be suitably recruited for.

The usual term of office for a director shall be three years, at the end of which they shall retire. Subject to article 32 of the Articles of Association, a director shall be eligible for reappointment by the directors for up to a further two terms, each of three years. No director shall serve for more than nine consecutive years, unless the directors consider it would be in the best interests of the charity for a particular director to continue to serve beyond that period and that director is reappointed in accordance with the articles.

An interview with the CEO and chair of trustees takes place before an appointment. The induction of trustees is coordinated by Unseen’s senior leadership team, with new trustees undertaking training in health and safety, information security and safeguarding. Their appointment is also subject to DBS checks. All trustees receive ongoing training as required.

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ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OPTIMISATION

The trustees recognise that having a board consisting of diverse individuals can support its effectiveness and leadership and enhance decision-making through a wide variety of perspectives, experience, and skills. Diversity is an area of ongoing improvement with the first equality, diversity and inclusion survey for trustees taking place in 2025. This has provided data on the characteristics of the board, which will act as a benchmark for surveys in subsequent years and for measuring improvement.

Training has been provided to trustees to ensure the board is aware of diversity and its responsibilities in this area. We seek to minimise barriers around attendance at board meetings, for example ensuring that meetings are held with full disabled access and that trustee expenses are fully reimbursed.

As an organisation, we do not favour a quota approach to the wider diversity issue and instead, we focus on ensuring that the board is as diverse as possible within the need to recruit trustees with the right skills and experience. We continue to seek diverse people from a multitude of backgrounds.

Organisational structure and executive team

The CEO has been appointed by the trustees to oversee the running of the charity through the executive team. For matters significantly affecting the charity’s operations, decisions are discussed in detail by the executive team and the board of trustees together before a decision is made. Executive remuneration is based on consideration of market rates before approval by the board of trustees.

Meetings

Safeguarding

As a values-led organisation, we are committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk in everything we do.

The appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out for all staff and volunteers who work with vulnerable people being supported by Unseen. All trustees and the executive team are subject to the DBS check required for their role. We:

Volunteers

Unseen welcomes the support of volunteers, who receive an induction appropriate to the role they are undertaking and are overseen by a staff member. In 2025, an IT professional volunteering at Unseen provided vital expertise, improving Helpline systems and streamlining accurate data input and reporting. This individual gave 15 days of their time, including support with updates to the Helpline web form, improving data quality, upskilling the data team, improving system administration, and managing and governing our CRM.

Directors meet a minimum of two times a year as per the charity’s governing document.

43

ENVIRONMENTAL , SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE RESPONSIBILITY

building a culture of sustainability

We embed environmental responsibility across our operations through clear policies, staff engagement and recognised management standards. Our approach ensures sustainability is considered in everyday decisions and organisational planning.

Unseen’s environmental policy is read by all staff during induction, helping shape positive values and actions. We work to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ensuring a structured approach to environmental management and compliance with relevant legislation. As part of this, we maintain an Aspects and Impacts register to identify any activities that may affect the environment. This register is reviewed regularly through our compliance management processes and updated when organisational activities or suppliers change. We also maintain an Interested Parties list, which states the expectations of various parties, the legal and contractual obligations we have to them, and the risks and opportunities we have identified.

We promote responsible operations by encouraging waste reduction, recycling and sustainable travel where possible. Staff are supported through internal campaigns and resources that promote practical

sustainability actions. Responsible procurement is also prioritised, supported by our social value policy and commitment to working with ethical suppliers.

Our sustainability internal communications enable staff to share information and events to increase environmental awareness and sustainability within the organisation. Cross-organisational groups, including our diversity and inclusion network and wellbeing group, support a positive working culture. Staff also have access to sustainability-related learning through our training platform and performance review process.

Our governance work includes monitoring progress through internal reporting, staff feedback and operational data, including analysis of our organisational carbon footprint on an annual basis so that we can monitor improvement year-on-year. Our policies and procedures also ensure that fundraising and organisational practices remain ethical, transparent and accountable.

44

TRUSTEE DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Objectives, aims and public benefit

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2025. The directors of the charitable company are also its trustees.

The accounts and annual report are required to comply with the requirements of company and charity legislation and have therefore been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Statement of Recommended Practice, Charities SORP (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and the provision of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Consideration was also given to the requirements of the new Charities SORP 2026 (effective from 1 January 2026) when preparing this report.

Objectives, activities, and public benefit

The objects for which the charity is established (the ‘objects’) are to relieve the need of, and to help and assist anyone who may have been a victim of human trafficking and modern slavery, in particular by:

Aims

Unseen is working towards a world without slavery. We do this by:

Mission statement

Unseen is working towards a world without slavery.

Public benefit

The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives, and planning its activities.

Addressing modern slavery through supporting survivors, working with businesses, educating and influencing society, and ensuring organisational sustainability are in the public interest. These activities:

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 45

TRUSTEE DIRECTORS’ REPORT

statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The charity trustees, who are also the directors of Unseen (UK) for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charity for that year. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees have complied with section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 by having due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees confirm (to the best of their knowledge) that there is no information relevant to the audit that the auditors are unaware of. The trustees also confirm they have taken every necessary step to ensure they themselves are aware of all relevant financial information and that this information has been communicated to the auditors.

The charity has taken advantage of the exemptions available to small companies and has not prepared a strategic review. This report was approved by the board of trustees on 9 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:

Chair: Rosey Hurst

Trustee: Edward Rackham

46 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

TRUSTEE DIRECTORS’ REPORT

executive information

Charity name

Unseen (UK) trading as Unseen

Company number

06754171 (England and Wales) Charity number 1127620 (England and Wales) Company registered office and charity address 7 Hide Market, West Street, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0BH

Trustees

Rosey Hurst, Chair Nicholas Dutnall, Vice Chair Richard Marsh Andrea McMahon Raquel McGrath Shaun Sawyer Edward Rackham (appointed November 2025) Dr Jan Birtle (resigned June 2025) Daniel Pounder (resigned July 2025) Eric Anderson (resigned March 2025) Samantha Burt (resigned June 2025) Luciana Hodgson (appointed July 2025, resigned February 2026) Leah Brown (resigned March 2025)

Executive team

Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Wallis OBE Deputy CEO: Justine Carter Director of Fundraising, Communications, and Operations: Sian Hartstill (resigned May 2026) Deputy Director of Frontline Services: Lauren Saunders Director of Finance: Rachel Burkinshaw (appointed March 2026)

Bankers

Bank of Scotland, Pentland House, 8 Lochside Avenue, Edinburgh, EH12 9DJ Triodos Bank UK, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS

Auditors

Albert Goodman, Goodwood House, Blackbrook Park Ave, Taunton, TA1 2PX

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 47

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Trustees and Members For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Unseen (UK)

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Unseen (UK) (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 December 2025, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

48 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Trustees and Members For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Directors’ Report included within the Trustees’ Report.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 49

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Trustees and Members For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Unseen (UK)

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities set out on page 46, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org. uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

50 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Trustees and Members For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

In response to the risk of irregularities and noncompliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of noncompliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 51

Unseen (UK)

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Trustees and Members For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members and trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors’ report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body and the charitable company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Michelle Ferris BSc (Hons) FCA DChA

Senior Statutory Auditor for and on behalf of Albert Goodman LLP Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor

Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton Somerset TA1 2PX

Date: 22 June 2026

52 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total Unrestricted Restricted 2024 Total
funds funds funds funds funds funds
Notes £ £ £ £ £ £
Income:
Donations and legacies 3 367,859 37,858 405,717 303,491 115,547 419,038
Charitable activities
Support services 4 1,311,505 563,874 1,875,379 1,552,367 443,756 1,996,123
Business engagement 4 1,072,139 - 1,072,139 810,323 - 810,323
Policy, legislation and 4 - 28,348 28,348 - 7,528 7,528
operational change
Educating society 4 - 32,535 32,535 1,645 32,132 33,777
Organisational 4 13,629 - 13,629 27,269 - 27,269
sustainability and
optimisation
Total income
Expenditure:		 2,765,132 662,615 3,427,747 2,695,095 598,963 3,294,058
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Support services
Business engagement
Policy, legislation and
operational change
Educating society
Organisational
sustainability and
optimisation
Total expenditure
Net income /
(expenditure)
Other recognised gains
and losses
Unrealised gains on
investments
Transfer between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried
forward		 5
6
6
6
6
6
16		 251,755
1,256,261
639,101
172,970
167,509
289,463
2,777,059
(11,927)
24,059
(5,093)
7,039
798,292
805,331		 -
560,865
-
28,348
32,535
-
621,748
40,867
5,093
45,960
3,094
49,054		 251,755
1,817,126
639,101
201,318
200,044
289,463
3,398,807
28,940
24,059
-
52,999
801,386
854,385		 270,402
1,366,464
406,772
149,793
189,036
286,781
2,669,248
25,847
-
25,847
772,445
798,292		 -
607,852
-
7,528
32,132
-
647,512
(48,549)
-
(48,549)
51,643
3,094		 270,402
1,974,316
406,772
157,321
221,168
286,781
3,316,760
(22,702)
-
(22,702)
824,088
801,386

The Statement of Financial Activities has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations. There were no gains or losses arising in the year that are not shown above. The Statement of Financial Activities incorporates the income and expenditure account.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 53

Company number: 06754171

Unseen (UK)Unseen (UK)

Balance SheetStatement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total Unrestricted Restricted 2024 Total
funds funds funds funds funds funds
Notes £ £ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
12 16,472 - 16,472 25,397 - 25,397
Tangible fixed assets
Investments 13 316,440 - 316,440 284,605 - 284,605
332,912 - 332,912 310,005 - 310,005
Current assets
Debtors 14 516,926 - 516,926 346,537 - 346,537
Cash at bank and in 507,006 197,625 704,631 733,906 7,100 741,006
hand
1,023,932 197,625 1,221,557 1,080,443 7,100 1,087,543
Liabilities
Creditors falling due 15 (551,513) (148,571) (700,084) (592,157) (4,006) (596,163)
with one year
Net current assets 472,419 49,054 521,473 488,286 3,094 491,380
Total net assets 805,331 49,054 854,385 798,292 3,094 801,386
The funds of the Charity:
Restricted funds 16 - 49,054 49,054 - 3,094 3,094
Unrestricted funds 16 805,331 - 805,331 798,292 - 798,292
Total Charity funds 805,331 49,054 854,385 798,292 3,094 801,386
----- End of picture text -----

The financial statements have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Approved by the board of trustees for issue on 9 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:

R Hurst Chair

E Rackham Trustee

54 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)Cash Flows For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

2025 2024
Notes £ £
Cash fows from operating activities
Net movements in funds for the year 53,000 (22,702)
Adjustments to cash fows from non-cash items
Investment income reinvested 13 (31,832) (21,781)
Depreciation and amortisation 12 18,793 24,328
Working capital adjustments 39,961 (20,155)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 14 (170,389) 247,156
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
Net cash fow from operations
Cash fows from investing activities
Purchase of fxed assets		 15
12		 103,921
(26,507)
(9,868)		 150,982
377,982
(22,871)
Purchase of investments 13 - -
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities (9,868) (22,871)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents		 (36,375) 355,113
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
reporting period		 741,006 385,893
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
reporting period		 704,631 741,006
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand 704,631 741,006

To manage inflationary risk, the trustees decided to hold less cash and make strategic investments. The charity is able to liquidate these investments to meet any short-term cash-flow needs of the charity.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 55

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of accounting

Unseen (UK) is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act. The maximum liability of each member is limited to £1. The address of the registered office is given on page 47. The principal activities of the Charity are the provision of help and assistance for those who are victims of human trafficking and raising awareness of human trafficking locally, regionally, and nationally.

The financial statements have been prepared in £ sterling on the historical cost basis and in accordance with accounting and reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably. Amounts received which are not yet recognised are classified as deferred income.

Investment income is included when receivable.

Incoming resources from charitable trading activities are accounted for when earned.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Costs of raising funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income.

Expenditure on charitable activities comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the charity activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

56 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Individual fixed assets costing more than £250 are capitalised at cost. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Fixtures and fittings over 5 years

Straight line basis

Computer equipment over 3 years

Straight line basis

Investments

Investments which are publicly traded are recognised initially at fair value which is normally the transaction price (but excludes any transaction costs). Subsequently, investments which are publicly traded are held at market value, with all realised and unrealised gains and losses passing through the SOFA.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

Operating lease commitments

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged in the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. The charity has operating leases for the premises in which they operate. The title of the leased premises remains with the lessor.

Debtors

Accrued income is recognised at the settlement amount due and prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third-party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 57

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity.

Restricted funds are donations or grants which the donor or grant body has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

1.2 Judgements and estimates

Key accounting judgements and assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The trustees believe that the most significant area of estimation relates to the recognition of grant income. The policy applied is outlined above in this accounting policies note.

Financial instruments

The charity only holds basic financial instruments as defined in FRS 102. The financial assets and liabilities of the charity and their measurements are as follows:

Financial assets – trade and other debtors are basic financial instruments and are debt instruments measured at amortised cost. Prepayments are not financial instruments. Investment portfolios are basic financial instruments measured at fair value through the income and expenditure account as detailed in note 18.

Cash at bank and deposit accounts is classified as a basic financial instrument and is measured at face value.

Financial liabilities – trade creditors, accruals and other creditors are financial instruments, and are measured at amortised cost as detailed in note 18. Taxation and social security are not included in the financial instruments disclosure definition. Deferred income is not deemed to be a financial liability, as the cash settlement has already taken place and there is an obligation to deliver services rather than cash or another financial instrument

2. Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.

58 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

3. Donations and legacies

Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total **Unrestricted ** Restricted 2024 Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Donations 254,065 37,858 291,923 267,616 115,547 383,163
Grants of general nature 113,794 - 113,794 35,875 - 35,875
367,859 37,858 405,717 303,491 115,547 419,038

4. Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total Unrestricted Restricted 2024 Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Support services
Service income 1,311,505 - 1,311,505 1,552,367 - 1,552,367
Grants received - 563,874 563,874 - 443,756 443,756
Business engagement 1,072,139 - 1,072,139 810,323 - 810,323
Policy, legislation and - 28,348 28,348 - 7,528 7,528
operational change
Educating society - 32,535 32,535 1,645 32,132 33,777
Organisational sustainability 13,629 - 13,629 27,269 - 27,269
and optimisation
2,397,273 624,757 3,022,030 2,391,604 483,416 2,875,020

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 59

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

During the year to 31 December 2025, the following trusts and other institutions supported the work of the charity and the amounts below are included in grants received above across notes 3 and 4:

Unrestricted
Restricted
2025 Total		 Unrestricted Restricted 2024 Total
funds funds funds funds
Avon & Somerset Police & Crime -
36,123		 36,123 - 41,416 41,416
Commissioner
Benefact Trust Limited 5,000 -
5,000		 - - -
City Bridge Foundation -
68,572		 68,572 - 44,240 44,240
Dandia Charitable Trust 3,000 -
3,000		 - - -
Garfeld Weston Foundation 30,000 -
30,000		 - - -
Heart of Bucks Community Foundation -
-
-
-		 5,000 5,000
Highway One Trust -
10,000		 10,000 - - -
J & M Britton Charitable Trust -
-
-
-		 5,000 5,000
John James Bristol Foundation -
10,000		 10,000 - 10,000 10,000
Nestlé UK Ltd -
10,000		 10,000 - - -
Samworth Foundation -
68,029		 68,029 - 50,000 50,000
Souter Charitable Trust -
3,000		 3,000 - - -
Swire Charitable Trust -
20,000		 20,000 - - -
The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation -
10,500		 10,500 - 10,000 10,000
The Batchworth Trust -
-
-
10,000		 - 10,000
The Burden Trust -
7,000		 7,000 - 6,000 6,000
The CIPS Foundation -
59,999		 59,999 - - -
The Clothworkers’ Foundation -
-
-
-		 10,000 10,000
The Emmanuel Kaye Foundation -
-
-
-		 30,000 30,000
The Evan Cornish Foundation -
-
-
-		 5,000 5,000
The Green Room Charitable Trust -
5,000		 5,000 - 5,000 5,000
The Henry Smith Charity -
-
-
-		 39,800 39,800
The JD Foundation -
20,000		 20,000 - 20,000 20,000
The Medlock Charitable Trust 5,000 -
5,000		 - - -
The Michael Bishop Foundation 20,000 -
20,000		 - - -
The Miss Kathleen Beryl Charitable Trust -
-
-
10,000		 - 10,000
The Moondance Foundation -
-
-
-		 15,000 15,000
The National Benevolent Charity -
20,000		 20,000 - 20,000 20,000
The National Lottery -
173,418		 173,418 - 58,713 58,713
The Nisbet Trust -
10,711		 10,711 - 10,855 10,855
The Odin Charitable Trust -
-
-
-		 10,000 10,000
The Peter Stebbings Memorial Charity -
10,000		 10,000 - - -
The Scouloudi Foundation -
-
-
-		 15,000 15,000
The Screwfx Foundation -
-
-
-		 5,000 5,000
The Seneca Trust 15,000 -
15,000		 - - -
The Symondson Foundation 20,600 -
20,600		 - - -
The Tony and Audrey Watson Charitable Trust 5,000 -
5,000		 5,000 - 5,000
The Wixamtree Trust -
6,000		 6,000 - 6,000 6,000
Other grants (individually < £2,500) 10,194 15,522 25,716 10,875 21,732 32,607
113,794 563,874 677,668 35,875 443,756 479,631

60 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

During the year to 31 December 2025 the charity received the following amounts from universities and other institutions.


institutions.
Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total Unrestricted Restricted 2024 Total
funds funds funds funds
£ £ £ £ £ £
University Of Sussex - 12,133 12,133 - - -
University Of Bristol - 9,089 9,089 - - -
University Of Exeter -
-		 7,126
28,348		 7,126
28,348		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-

5. Expenditure on raising funds

Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Unrestricted Restricted 2024
Total Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Direct fundraising costs 22,442 - 22,442 27,439 - 27,439
Staffng cost 143,122 - 143,122 156,127 - 156,127
Support costs (note 7) 85,182 - 85,182 85,681 - 85,681
Governance costs (note 7) 1,009 - 1,009 1,157 - 1,157
251,755 - 251,755 270,402 - 270,402

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 61

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

6. Expenditure on charitable activities

Policy, Organisational
legislation and sustainability
Support Business operational Educating and
services engagement change society optimisation 2025 Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Activities costs 17,486 327 5,848 - - 23,661
DBS checks 550 86 - - - 636
Depreciation 5,994 880 986 - - 7,860
Finance costs - 2,100 - - 54 2,154
General premises and 10,191 - 1 - - 10,192
sundry costs
Heat, light and insurance 12,156 - - - - 12,156
Interpreting costs 38,468 - 91 - - 38,559
IT costs 34,605 3,813 1,062 5,850 7,300 52,630
Offce costs and comms 3,308 29,128 656 15,493 - 48,585
Printing, postage, stationery 1,462 295 - - - 1,757
and advertising
Professional fees and 315 10,466 - - 1,182 11,963
outsourced service costs
Property costs 68,576 - - - - 68,576
Staff and contractor costs 1,107,966 447,681 156,606 101,804 - 1,814,057
Staff other costs 14,592 3,345 450 - - 18,387
Staff travel 16,954 15,760 1,684 1,176 17,955 53,529
Subscriptions 4,998 29,285 35 - 1,065 35,383
Telephone 19,685 - 10 - - 19,695
MSVCC costs 238,177 - - - - 238,177
Waste disposal and cleaning 1,987 - - - - 1,987
Support costs (note 7) 210,494 93,807 32,853 74,868 248,241 660,263
Governance (note 7) 9,162 2,128 1,036 853 13,666 26,845
1,817,126 639,101 201,318 200,044 289,463 3,147,052

62 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

6 (cont’d) Expenditure on charitable activities

Policy, Organisational
legislation and sustainability
Support Business operational Educating and
services engagement change society optimisation 2024 Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Activities costs 18,622 - 1,000 39 - 19,661
DBS checks 168 108 114 - - 390
Depreciation 7,216 804 1,690 - - 9,710
Finance costs - - - - - -
General premises and 17,431 - 21 - 77 17,529
sundry costs
Heat, light and insurance 21,607 - - - - 21,607
Interpreting costs 34,126 - - - 189 34,315
IT costs 11,989 1,791 759 5,813 - 20,352
Offce costs and comms - 15,153 - 22,120 - 37,273
Printing, postage, stationery 2,271 - - - - 2,271
and advertising
Professional fees and 4,995 1,994 - - - 6,989
outsourced service costs
Property costs 73,927 474 - - - 74,401
Staff and contractor costs 1,198,751 284,979 124,851 126,581 - 1,735,162
Staff other costs 28,646 1,460 383 - - 30,489
Staff travel 16,148 11,347 2,503 534 12,859 43,391
Subscriptions 353 10,388 2 - 2,289 13,032
Telephone 26,831 370 - - - 27,201
MSVCC costs 349,718 - - - - 349,718
Waste disposal and cleaning 4,992 - - - - 4,992
Support costs (note 7) 144,449 75,468 24,811 65,104 265,346 575,178
Governance (note 7) 12,076 2,436 1,186 976 6,021 22,695
1,974,316 406,772 157,320 221,167 286,781 3,046,358

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 63

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

7. Allocation of support costs and governance costs

The charity identifies the costs of its support functions. It then identifies those costs which relate to the governance function. Governance costs and other support costs are apportioned separately between the costs of raising funds (note 5) and five charitable activities (note 6) undertaken in the year. The table below gives the basis for the apportionment and the analysis of support and governance costs. The costs have been apportioned based on a % of direct expenditure (2024: % of direct expenditure).

Support Governance 2025 Total Support Governance 2024 Total
costs costs costs costs
£ £ £ £ £ £
Auditors’ remuneration - 9,588 9,588 - 7,920 7,920
Offce costs and 115,784 5,054 120,838 110,034 - 110,034
communications
Premises cost 22,800 - 22,800 21,338 - 21,338
Professional fees 67,152 - 67,152 50,535 3,729 54,264
Depreciation
Staffng costs		 10,933
528,776
745,445		 -
13,212
27,854		 10,933
541,988
773,299		 14,618
464,335
660,860		 -
12,203
23,852		 14,618
476,538
684,712

8. Net incoming resources

Net resources are stated after charging:

2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation of owned assets 18,793 24,328
Operating leases expenditure 101,444 94,507
Bad debt expense - -
Auditors’ remuneration for:
Audit services 9,588 7,920

64 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

9. Employees

9.Employees
Employment costs 2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 2,162,837 2,101,971
Social security costs 239,952 174,508
Other pension costs 65,096 65,213
2,467,885 2,341,692

Number of employees

The average monthly head count during the year was as follows:

Direct staff 2025
2024
60
77
Leadership and operations staff 14
14
74
91

Of the 74 employees, 51 were Full-Time and 23 Part-Time (2024: 65 and 26 respectively).

The key management personnel of the charity are considered to be the Chief Executive, the Deputy Chief Executive (appointed October 2025), the Director, and the Deputy Director (2024: Chief Executive, two Directors, and the Deputy Director). The total cost to the charity for employee benefits for the employed key management was £284,940 (2024: £259,933).

The number of employees whose annual emoluments (excluding employers NI and employers pension costs) were £60,000 or more were:

2025 2024
number number
£60,000 - £70,000 2 2
£70,000 - £80,000 1 1

Included within staff costs is a settlement payment to a former employee, including an ex gratia element of £4,407 (2024: Nil).

Defined contribution pension scheme

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the company to the scheme and amounted to £65,096 (2024: £65,213).

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 65

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

10. Trustees’ remuneration and benefits

There was no remuneration or other benefits paid to trustees for their governance duties during the year ended 31 December 2025, nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.

During the year, travelling expenses of £450 were reimbursed to one trustee (2024: travelling expenses of £110 were paid to one trustee).

11. Operating lease commitments

At 31 December, the charity had future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:


follows:
2025 2024
£ £
Land and Buildings
Expiry date:
Within one year
Between two and fve years		 25,770
64,076		 70,540
68,412
Offce Equipment
Expiry date:
Within one year
Between two and fve years		 916
-		 1,222
916
Total 90,762 141,090

66 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

12. Tang ible fixed assets

Fixtures & Fittings Computer Equipment Total
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 January 2025 32,819 158,320 191,139
Additions - 9,868 9,868
Disposals (24,128) (105,127) (129,255)
At 31 December 2025 8,691 63,061 71,752
Depreciation
At 1 January 2025 28,549 137,192 165,741
Charge for the year 4,270 14,523 18,793
Eliminated on disposal (24,128) (105,126) (129,254)
At 31 December 2025 8,691 46,589 55,280
Net book value
At 31 December 2025 - 16,472 16,472
At 31 December 2024 4,270 21,128 25,398

13. Investments

13.Investments
2025 2024
£ £
Cost
At 1 January 284,608 262,827
Gains 31,832 21,781
Losses - -
At 31 December 316,440 284,608

Shares in subsidiary undertaking

None.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 67

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

14. Debtors

14.Debtors
2025 2024
£ £
Trade debtors 327,909 170,972
Prepayments and accrued income 189,017 175,565
516,926 346,537

15. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 37,665 35,819
Other taxes and social security 100,727 68,224
Other creditors 11,396 13,580
Accruals and deferred income 550,296 478,539
Reconciliation of deferred income 700,084 596,163
Opening balance 467,637 318,153
Released during the year (437,337) (318,153)
Received during the year 510,816 467,637
Closing balance 541,116 467,637

68 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

16. Summary of movements in funds

----- Start of picture text -----
At 1 Income Expenditure Gains on Transfers At 31
January Investments December
2025 2025
£ £ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General funds 798,292 2,765,132 (2,777,059) 24,059 (5,093) 805,331
798,292 2,765,132 (2,777,059) 24,059 (5,093) 805,331
Restricted funds
Anti-Slavery Partnership 3,094 32,535 (40,722) - 5,093 -
(ASP)
Helpline (Support Services) - 563,874 (514,820) - - 49,054
One Team (Support - 37,858 (37,858) - - -
Services)
Policy, legislation, and - 28,348 (28,348) - - -
operational change
3,094 662,615 (621,748) - 5,093 49,054
TOTAL FUNDS 801,386 3,427,747 (3,398,807) 24,059 - 854,385
Summary of movement in funds – 2024
At 1 Income Expenditure Gains on Transfers At 31
January Investments December
2024 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General funds 772,445 2,695,095 (2,669,248) - - 798,292
772,445 2,695,095 (2,669,248) - - 798,292
Restricted funds
Anti-Slavery Partnership 3,094 32,132 (32,132) - - 3,094
(ASP)
Helpline (Support Services) 48,549 353,345 (401,894) - - -
One Team (Support - 205,958 (205,958) - - -
Services)
Policy, legislation, and - 7,528 (7,528) - - -
operational change
51,643 598,963 (647,512) - - 3,094
TOTAL FUNDS 824,088 3,294,058 (3,316,760) - - 801,386
----- End of picture text -----

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 69

Unseen (UK)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

16. Summary of movements in funds (continued)

Details of Restricted Funds:

One Team: funding from One Team has been split up to cover the costs of the following three areas:

Anti-Slavery Partnership (ASP): a collaboration between Unseen, south-west regional police authorities, Bristol City Council, and other partners to discover and respond to incidents of human trafficking and exploitation.

Helpline: working with survivor consultants to ensure the Helpline is promoted to hard-to-reach communities in England

17. Related party transactions

No related party transactions during the year (2024: None).

18. Financial instruments

18.Financial instruments
2025 2024
£ £
Financial assets measured at fair value through income
and expenditure account		 316,440 284,608
Financial assets that are debt instruments measured at
amortised cost		 1,173,532 1,054,266
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 1,489,972
54,523		 1,338,874
60,301

Restatement of comparative figures

Comparative figures for financial liabilities have been restated to correct a prior year disclosure error, reducing previously reported balances by £6,000. There is no impact on net income or total funds.

Item of income, expenditure, gain or losses

Item of income, expenditure, gain or losses
Income Expenses Net gains Net Losses
£ £ £ £
2025
Financial assets measured at fair value through income
and expenditure account		 31,832 - - -
2024 Income
£		 Expenses
£		 Net gains
£		 Net Losses
£
Financial assets measured at fair value through income
and expenditure account		 21,781 - - -

70 ANNUAL REPORT 2025

OUR PLAN FOR 2026

future-ready Supporting more survivors in 2026 and beyond

In 2026, we continue to focus on delivering and developing our services to meet changing demands, while navigating the challenges of the current political landscape and strengthening Unseen’s financial sustainability and long-term impact.

A key development is the implementation of the new seasonal worker support line, representing a significant extension of our service offer and enabling us to reach and support more individuals affected by exploitation within this sector.

Building on the progress made during the year, we will continue to focus on financial performance, with the aim of not only achieving but exceeding budget, further strengthening the surplus position. Alongside this, there will be a continued emphasis on developing and diversifying income streams to reduce reliance on individual and government funding sources and support sustainable growth.

We are actively seeking funding to continue running our safe houses and outreach survivors support beyond the end of the current Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract. In parallel, we will continue to strengthen the senior leadership team to support delivery of our strategy.

These priorities position Unseen to sustain and extend its impact, while maintaining a clear focus on financial resilience and operational effectiveness.

ANNUAL REPORT 2025 71

modern slavery thrives when we look away

If we fail to act, modern slavery will continue to thrive in the shadows – more people will be exploited, more lives controlled for profit, and more perpetrators will operate with impunity.

Communities will continue to be affected, often without realising the scale of harm taking place around them.

Become a champion for change by supporting survivors through donations, speaking out for stronger protections, working with Unseen and learning to recognise and share the warning signs of exploitation.

Together, we can challenge and dismantle the systems that enable slavery to persist and create a future built on freedom, safety and justice for everyone.

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unseenuk.org

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Unseen is a registered charity no 1127620, and a company limited by guarantee, no 06754171. Registered office: 7 Hide Market, West Street, St Philips, Bristol BS2 0BH.

72 ANNUAL REPORT 2025