Survivors support fund

Our Survivors Support Fund, formerly known as the Victim Care Fund, provides additional support to survivors of modern slavery. 

It funds essential items outside of the support they are entitled to through the Government contract and was established to help survivors of modern slavery where no other funding is available to meet their immediate needs and to ease their transition to independent living. This might be a deposit or purchasing items for someone to move into their own home, or help accessing training, education or employment.

The fund is secured from within The Salvation Army’s charitable funds and is actively supported by thousands of generous donors through fundraising activities, one-off donations or regular giving initiatives.

Grants have been made to pay for clothing including school uniform for children or work clothing and equipment; essential technology to help with learning and job hunting; maternity and baby items; household items including furniture; therapeutic leisure activities such as gym membership,  and special celebrations.

Through the Survivors Support Fund, The Salvation Army has also provided financial assistance for some of our partners to pilot innovative schemes, which benefit a number of people in their service such as cookery classes, befriending programmes and employment and training opportunities. 

In addition to grants to individual survivors, the Survivor Support Fund has supported the cost of:

• improved Move in /Home starter packs for people who often arrive with little or no possessions, which include quality bedding, toiletries and food and meet individual’s cultural needs.  
• the interpreting service for The Salvation Army First Responder Service 
• a Survivor Inclusion and Engagement Specialist  
• delivery for donations such as clothing, toiletries, baby, and household items
• supplying bicycles from The Salvation Army Recycles Project to survivors. 

The impact the fund has

People supported in our service and support workers share how the Survivors Support Fund has benefited their life:

“I couldn’t even have afforded to do the course if The Salvation Army hadn’t funded my course books, chef’s uniform and knife set. And now I’ve got the chance for a new future with this job.”  

“The money I received for CCTV cameras was really helpful. I was really scared living in the house after what happened to me, and getting the cameras made me feel more secure in my home. They have helped me sleep better at night and feel much safer.” Survivor.

“This [support to buy essential uniform items] means that my children will not stand out when it comes to uniform. They will fit in with their peers which is even more important to them when they already stand out for sounding different to everyone else. They have already been through so much this makes their lives a little bit easier.” Survivor

“Having my own laptop has meant I can work on my studies anywhere and has made me more independent in so many ways. I am very grateful to you for making me an award enabling me to have a laptop. Thank you.”

“I have been going to the gym and it is helping me to think about other things rather than all the stress I have.”

Cooking sessions and healthy eating courses have not only helped with practical skills such as budgeting, meal planning and food hygiene but also build stronger social relationships between survivors and support staff. “…thank you so much for the funding that fills our clients with so much joy and brings laughter and happiness to our kitchen!” Support worker

Fundraise for the Survivor's support fund

Want to help survivors of modern slavery on their journey to an independent life? 

Donations and fundraisers provide essential funds to give survivors the tools they need. If you would like to hold a fundraiser or donate to our Survivors Support Fund, get in touch with our fundraising team.

In 2018, 94-year-old Harry Read completed a skydive and raised more than £8000 for the Survivors Support Fund. It was the first time he had jumped from a plane since he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, 74 years ago.

Of the experience, Harry said: “It has surprised our western world that trafficking is so rife here. The Salvation Army’s programmes are imaginative, and they’re a real ministry to people. There’s tenderness, there’s graciousness, there’s godliness. It’s a wonderful project to support.”