Charity Number 1185728 The Together Free Foundation ## ANNUAL REPORT The Together Free Foundation For the year ending 31 December 2022 ## **Charitable Status** The Together Free Foundation is a registered charity in England. Charity Number 1185728 **Registered Address** 6 Clarence Road Southend-on-Sea Essex SS11AN **Trustees Serving During 2022** Peter Dominey Diane Watts Jackie Raja Dan Pratt Retired Dec 2022 The charity is established by means of a constitution with trustees appointed by the trustee body. ## **Summary of Objectives and Activities** The Together Free Foundation (TFF) helps local communities, faith groups and charities end modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT). This is done through catalysing and supporting local communities, including charities, grassroots community groups, the local authority and law enforcement to find local solutions for local problems of exploitation through: 1) developing localised antislavery partnerships to partner towards slavery-free communities; 2) raising awareness within the community and among at-risk groups; 3) developing and delivering training to community groups and front-line responders, 4) developing referral pathways to ensure the effective safeguarding of victims and; 4) supporting victims and survivors of modern slavery through long-term community-based survivor care. During 2022 the charity employed three part-time staff and relied on volunteer and community engagement, thereby offering excellent value for money for its output. ## _Public Benefit Statement_ The charity’s trustees continue to have regard for both the charitable objects set out in the governing document and to ensuring that the activities of the charity, as described, meet the public benefit test. In so doing, they take account of the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when planning the charity’s programme of activities. The trustees of the Together Free Foundation are confident that the activities of the charity demonstrate strong evidence of public benefit. www.togetherfree.org.uk www.samspartnership.org.uk 1 Charity Number 1185728 The Together Free Foundation ## **Strong Progress PostPandemic and During the Cost of Living Crisis** 2 0 2 2 c o n t i n u e d t o b e challenging for TFF. There has h o w e v e r, b e e n s t r o n g progress and adaptability. Increased opportunities for face to face partnership engagement, training and awareness raising resulted in new opportunities of working. Although employed staff-time decreased during 2022, the charity sought revised ways to be strategic in its operations, priorities and outputs through developing the Survivor Care Project work and starting a new Antislavery Partnership in Chelmsford. **World Day Against Trafficking, 30th July** ## An awareness campaign coordinated by SAMS included: - -10 participating organisations -138 conversations with the public - Art mural painted on Southend High Street -Artwork and awareness posters at Southend Central Train Station -Social media campaign in partnership with Southend City Council - 14,357 Social Media Impressions and 674 Engagements -1 Article in local newspaper - Press releases from Southend Council and Police During 2022 twenty-five partner organisations participated within SAMS, including charities, faith groups and the local council and police. Best practice and increased partnership work emerged through developing joint actions towards a slavery-free community, including: `o` Organising and facilitating quarterly partnership meetings with national and local stakeholders `o` Delivering specialist training for front-line professionals . 287 people were trained. Workshops were conducted with South Essex College, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Social workers and local charities and faith groups `o` Six local community leaders are on the SAMS steering group, giving accountability and guidance. `o` The SAMS Survivor Care Project continued to develop, offering community-based support to survivors of MSHT. `o` Research undertaken exploring volunteer contributions within antislavery partnerships. To be published in 2023. `o` Facilitating the Word Day Against Trafficking awareness campaign within the Borough of Southend _Above: World Day Against Trafficking, 30th July, stall and public engagement._ _Below: Mural commissioned for 30th July._ www.togetherfree.org.uk www.samspartnership.org.uk 2 Charity Number 1185728 The Together Free Foundation ## ✦ **Survivor Care Project** The Survivor Care Project provides community-based support to survivors of modern slavery and trafficking in the City of Southend, including sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, domestic servitude, and criminal exploitation. The project provides long-term and bespoke wrap-around support in the form of befriending, mentoring, casework, and practical help. The project is delivered through trauma-informed trained volunteers with enhanced DBS who meet with survivors 1-1 in the community, on a weekly basis. The project aims to increase well-being, encourage community integration, improve access to local services and build resilience and new skills. All services and support are person-centred and tailored to the interests, needs and aspirations of each survivor we work with. In 2022 the Project supported 12 survivors of modern slavery and their families (7 children). The survivors we work with originate from 10 different countries and the majority are asylum seekers with no recourse to public funds. Many have additional health challenges and mental health conditions. A total of 315 hours of support was offered to the survivors. Volunteer befrienders provide essential regular contact and support, meeting survivors to talk, go for a walk, visit a café or park or museum. Survivors feedback of the support, is it makes a significant difference to their well-being and confidence. They feel cared for and more a part of the community. Volunteer mentors help survivors to work towards specific goals in volunteering, education and employment. One survivor was helped by her mentor to access a local 8-week training programme for careers in health and social care and with encouragement and support she is now doing some part time work in this sector. The project is now helping her to find a placement so that she can enrol at a local college to continue her studies of Health and Social Care Level 2. A wide range of practical help has been provided to the survivors we work with, for example regular financial support for clothing and food, toiletry hampers, Christmas hampers, DIY projects, and sourcing household furniture. Practical help and emergency support makes a huge difference to survivor well-being. www.togetherfree.org.uk www.samspartnership.org.uk 3 Charity Number 1185728 The Together Free Foundation **Community Based Survivor Care © Jacky Douglas** ## **Survivor Care in Numbers, 2022** 12 survivors of modern slavery receiving support 7 children supported through practical help 10 countries from which the survivors originate from 9 volunteers offering support as befrienders and mentors 315 hours of total support given including: 85 hours of befriending 45 hours of mentoring ## **Survivor Care Case Study** One family who live in poor quality, shared asylum housing, wished that the families in their house could make use of the garden and outdoor space. The garden was in a poor state, so the befriender and survivor spent some weeks creating a garden plan together. They sourced some free garden furniture and a free lawnmower. The volunteers arranged for the garden to be cleared of rubbish and weeds. Then a day was arranged where the volunteers and families living in the home all worked together to plant the flowers and vegetables. It was a lovely day and the survivor talked about how much joy it had brought. **Feedback:** ’ _I have been able to interact well, and SAMS has been of great help to me. I have learnt yoga, cycling a bit, and funding me with money for jackets’._ 75 hours of case work 6 hours of group work 110 hours of practical help _‘With the mentor and befriender I can’t thank them enough. I love seeing my befriender and mentor for as long as they still want to see me’._ ## **Funding** TFF appreciates the 2022 grant funding to enable its work from: - -The Hilden Charitable Trust - Southend Emergency Fund -The National Lottery - British Airways Crowdfunding www.togetherfree.org.uk www.samspartnership.org.uk 4 Charity Number 1185728 The Together Free Foundation ## ✦ **Chelmsford Against Slavery Partnership** In 2022 Together Free in partnership with Chelmsford City Council and their Safer Chelmsford Partnership launched the Chelmsford Against Slavery Partnership (CASP). This builds on the best-practice of the Southend Against Modern Slavery Partnership. CASP uses SAMS community organising and assets based approach to mobilise partners towards a slavery-free community. Forty people attended the launch event with representatives including the lead of the Council, the Police, local charities and faith groups and national antislavery organisations. Bi-monthly CASP meetings are being codelivered and facilitated by Together Free and the Council in order to work on: awareness raising; training and resourcing; developing referral pathways and victim support maps, intelligence sharing and partnership development. _Below: Launch event in the Council Chamber at Chelmsford City Council_ ## **Reserves Policy** ## **Accounting Basis** Reserves will be maintained to ensure core activity can continue during any period of unforeseen difficulty. A proportion of reserves will be maintained in a readily realisable form. The calculation of the required level of reserves is an integral part of the organisation's planning, budget and forecast cycle. It considers: **1.** Risks associated with each stream of income and expenditure being different from that budgeted **2** . Planned activity level **3** . The charity’s commitments On this basis, and having reviewed the policy during the year, the Trustees believe that for 2022 a reserve equivalent to three months’ running costs should be maintained. The reserves policy will be reviewed annually. _The accounts were prepared on a receipts and payments basis._ Report prepared by. D Pratt Signed on behalf of the Trustees by P. Dominey 24.03.23 www.togetherfree.org.uk www.samspartnership.org.uk 5 Charity Number 1185728 TheTogether Frèè Foundation CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Charfty no lif any) Set out on pages 8-11 I re￿)rt to the trustee5 ￿ my examination tharity {Ihe Trust") for ihe year ended 31 the ccwnls of the atM)ve aOZL Responsibilities and basls of report As the chantys trustees. you a￿ responsible for Ihe preparation of the accounts in accordance wlh the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {Ihe ACY). I rewrt in resped of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried oui under seraion 145 of the 2011 Act and in caffying out my examinab"on, I have folowed all Ihe appliGable Directsons given by the Charity c￿ls$ under Secti￿ 145I5Hb) of the A Independent lThe thariws gross ir￿￿ exLwded £250.0￿ and l am qua4fied to examlnerf5 Statemerrt undertake the examination by being a qualified member of linsert narne of applicable listed bLMJyll. Delete I l rfnot applicable. I have Com￿eted my examinab"on. I confirm that no material matters have come lo ffly attention In connects.on v4ilh the examination lother than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in. any malenal respecl. the accwntsng records were kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chall￿e$ Acl: the acC￿ntS did nol accxxd the accounting records., or the amsnts did Tbot CL¥npty with the applicable requirefflents conceming the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charilies {Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any reqLtirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf vsew which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come auoss no other matters in connectsc vthh the examination to which attention should be drawn In this rewrt in order to enabSe a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brdckets rfthey (k) not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualificationls) or body tsT IER Ocl 2018 ethertree.o -uk www.sams artnershi -or -uk Charity Number 1185728 TheTogether Frèè Foundation (11 Section Disclosurè dl•ck• IER Oct 2018 etherfree.o www.sams artnershi -or -uk7 Charity Number 1185728 TheTogether Frèè Foundation THE TOGEfHER FREE FOUNDATION STATEMENT OF FINANaAL AcfiviTY FOR YEAR ENDED 3 12 2022 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Fund Total 2022 Total 2021 I￿oMI Resources Voluntsry income Donations 1.012 3,485 216 817 1.829 42,215 286 1.105 34,600 708 Grants 38,730 70 Other Other- Furlough aaims Total V(Auntary I￿orne 5,818 42.230 4.713 38.8CX) 44,330 Investment inc(xne Interest 81 81 Total Inccmlng Resources 4.794 38.8LX) 44,411 42.230 Resources Ex tharitiable actimties Operational Costs Staffing Awareness resources 801 4.254 40,422 437 5.055 42,502 437 4.092 42,461 258 2,080 Surviour Care Support Other Totsl Resources Used 1,825 88 1,825 88 494 2.657 49,962 2.882 47.026 49,908 Net loutgoingllincoming resources 1.912 (8.226) (5.497) 17.7311 Transfer between funds {5.834) 5.834 Net movement in funds for￿ar {3.922) (2.392) (5.497) 17.7311 Fund Balance at 31 December 2021 6.365 20.621 26.986 34.718 Fund Balan￿ at 31 December 2022 2.443 18,229 21,490 26.986 etherfree.o www.sams artnershi -or -uk8 Charity Number 1185728 TheTogether Frèè Foundation THE TOGETHER FREE FOUNDATION STATEMENT OF AND UABILMES FOR YEAR ENDED 31 2022 Unrestrirted Restrirted Fund Fund Total 2022 Total 2021 CASH FUNDS CAF Bank Cash in hand 2.443 19.046 21.490 26,986 2,443 19.046 21,490 26,986 REPRESENTED BY Unrestiicted 2022 2021 General Furnl 2.443 6.365 2,443 6,365 Restrirted SAMS & Survivor Care 11.593 26.126 15,5041 National ITogether Free} Chelmsford ICOSP) 7.453 19.046 20,621 Total reserNes 21.490 26,986 Trustee- Peter tyominey 06-Apr-23 Trustee.. tiane Watts 06-Apr-23 etherfree.o www.sams artnershi -or -uk9 Charity Number 1185728 TheTogether Frèè Foundation lHE￿￿ER FREE FOUNDAIION 140TESTOTHEHNANCIAISTAIEME14TS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 Iz Z022 Accountl Policles sotprep*•tlon Rec*pts and Payment accountshavebeen preparal. Volun In Unre#rirtwl Fund Restricted Fund Tot4 2022 Total 2021 General Fund Chdm5ford ICASPI Sumvor Care Donation5 1.012 3.485 216 817 1.829 42.215 216 1.105 34.600 708 Grants 26.730 12.000 Bookssales Other 70 70 5.818 42.230 4.713 27.617 12.000 44.330 Ji Resources nded UAre5trirtEd Fund Restricted Fund Total 2022 Totsl 2021 Chdmsford ICASPI General Fund Survivor Care Optratitsnal Costs Staffing Awareneks resources 801 3,828 36.301 437 426 5,055 42.502 437 4.092 42.461 258 2.080 4.121 Surviour Caresupport Other 1,825 88 42,479 1.825 494 2.657 49.962 2.882 4,547 49,908 ffvnd 2022 Unrestrfcted 31112n021 6.365 Incoming 4.794 C*Jt goings 2.882 Transfers 31n2n022 2.443 Gen￿31 Fund Restricted 15,8341 SAMS & Survivor Care 26.126 15.5041 27.617 42.479 330 11.593 National ftogether Freel Chelrnsford ICASPI 5.504 12.000 44.411 4.547 49,908 7.453 21,490 26,986 etherfree.o www.sams artnershi .or .uk10 Charity Number 1185728 The Together Free Foundation As permitted by the Charity Commission, the ex-officio trustee received a salary for employment as the Antislavery Coordinator. Total remuneration received was £33,619 (£33,571 2021), inclusive of salary and pension contributions. www.togetherfree.org.uk www.samspartnership.org.uk 11