Annual Report 2025
In 2025, the doctors, clinical psychologists, lawyers and caseworkers across the Helen Bamber Foundation Group have stood alongside our clients as they rebuilt their lives with safety, dignity and hope in the UK.
Together, we have supported 1705 survivors of trafficking and torture, stateless people and unaccompanied young children fleeing violence and persecution in 2025.
At a time marked by an increasingly difficult global climate, it has been both deeply humbling and inspiring to witness the resilience of the people we serve. This year has also brought immense challenges. For the second summer in a row, people seeking protection in the UK were subjected to violence outside asylum hotels, and extremely hostile and dehumanising rhetoric from politicians and parts of the media. This has a significant impact on our clients, many too afraid to leave their rooms for therapy appointments, legal meetings, or even daily life. This climate of fear was intensified by government announcements introducing further asylum reforms that jeopardised stability for survivors.
Among the most damaging was the suspension of refugee family reunion, causing profound distress for people who had often waited desperately for years to reunite with loved ones. In the face of these challenges, our staff and volunteers showed extraordinary courage and compassion. Together, they worked tirelessly to keep our clients safe during periods of heightened tensions, supported many to submit last minute family reunion applications, and continued to challenge harmful policies and narratives. We are immensely proud of our team and volunteers, and we are continually inspired by the strength and determination of the survivors we support.
As the challenges facing survivors grow, the need for specialist organisations like ours has never been greater.
Demand for specialist services is rising, while the sector remains stretched and under-resourced. Too many organisations lack the expertise to support survivors of torture, trafficking and exploitation, leaving vulnerable people without the psychological, medical, legal and practical support needed for recovery. Without intervention, survivors remain trapped in destitution, isolation and fear, making them vulnerable to re-exploitation.
In 2025, one of our key priorities was to grow access to trauma-informed support through training, partnership and advocacy. Drawing on over 20 years of expertise, we delivered training to statutory agencies including police forces, NHS practitioners and frontline support organisations in our Helen Bamber Foundation Group Trauma Centre.
Through our strategic partnerships, training and evidence-led advocacy — and informed by the lived experience of the survivors we support — we continue to drive systemic change.
On behalf of our organisation and our clients, we want to thank our dedicated partners and supporters for your unwavering commitment to standing with survivors of trafficking and torture. We are proud to share the impact of our work in this report, and we look forward to continuing this vital work together.
Illustration credit: Berenice Termote