OUR STORY
OUR MISSION
Founded in 2011 by Sophie Hayes, a British woman trafficked into sexual exploitation overseas, Sophie Hayes Foundation’s work has always been centred around sustainable freedom. Sustainable freedom means freedom from exploitation, slavery, and trafficking; and freedom to look to the future with renewed confidence, rebuilt skills, and a sense of purpose for survivors.
Whilst our mission of sustainable freedom has continued over the last 13 years, forms of exploitation, as well as the landscape of support to survivors of exploitation, have changed beyond recognition. To adapt and respond to this, our new clearly defined and executed mission, coupled with enhanced brand awareness, and with survivor voice at its heart, will enable us to raise awareness, provide leadership, and develop the conversation on modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK.
Freedom from modern slavery and human trafficking must be achieved through creating a community of survivors whose voices are amplified to challenge assumptions about slavery and trafficking and to work with policymakers and businesses to understand and tackle the root causes of the exploitation of vulnerabilities.
We will build on our core strengths to consolidate, expand, and diversify our funding streams for the immediate benefit of our services and the long-term stability and growth of our organisation, opening up and seizing all opportunities and partnerships that arise, to expand and improve our support to survivors.
Our strategy, starting Spring 2024, will bring stability and transformation, will be created through collaboration and inspirational leadership, will provide foundational support to survivors and empower them as actors for change.
WE WILL WORK AT 2 LEVELS:
1
Freedom to look to the future with renewed confidence, rebuilt skills and sense of purpose must be achieved through meeting survivors where they are in a complex survivor support landscape, adapting and responding to need as it arises, and pursuing new and innovative ways to open lifelong development, employment, and education opportunities and long-term support to survivors of exploitation, slavery, and trafficking in their journeys towards independence and freedom.
2
Whilst adapting and responding to need, we will boldly assert that survivors deserve better than a system in collapse, recognising their right to comprehensive care and a genuine pathway to sustainable freedom. To this end, Sophie Hayes Foundation will take up our place as a dynamic and recognised charity, carving out a thought leadership niche for ourselves where our unique voice will enable us to attest to measurable advocacy achievements that improve life for survivors in the UK, and in turn make society fairer.
OUR VALUES
In supporting survivors, and advocating for sustainable freedom, we need to inspire people with hope and belief that a better future is possible. Adapting our approach to recognise the challenges people face, we remain optimistic and look to find and provide inspiration wherever we can.
WE ARE BOLD
Slavery and trafficking are abhorrent crimes which have no place in the modern world. Survivors’ stories of bravery and survival inspire us to be courageous in boldly challenging assumptions about slavery and trafficking, and in advocating to policymakers and citizens, businesses and consumers, for a future free from exploitation for all.
WE ARE INQUISITIVE
We are experts in our work with a thorough understanding of the context and realities of modern slavery and human trafficking, centred around lived and learnt experience. But we see great value in continued learning, and take up all opportunities to develop our skills and understanding. We invite everyone to inquire alongside us and believe in their roles as agents of change.
WE ARE INCLUSIVE
We seek to build understanding and awareness of all areas in which exploitation of vulnerabilities can lead to modern slavery and human trafficking and the profound significance of intersectional marginalisation on survivors. We champion and amplify voices of survivors in. We actively welcome and respect different perspectives and experiences from amongst staff, survivors, volunteers, trustees, and supporters, to enhance the quality of the services we provide and the work we do.
WE ARE CREATIVE
We are flexible, adaptable, and responsive to change. We look to innovate, with an entrepreneurial and creative approach to providing opportunities for survivors and to expand our work. We are open to partnership with a wide range of institutions and businesses, and collaborating with them to co-create bold approaches to tackling exploitation and providing pathways to sustainable freedom.
WE ARE
HOPEFUL
In supporting survivors to, and advocating for, sustainable freedom, we need to inspire people with hope and belief that a better future is possible. Adapting our approach to recognise the challenges people face, we remain optimistic and look to find and provide inspiration wherever we can.
WE RAISE AWARENESS
We tell Sophie’s brave story of survival and we raise awareness that this can tragically happen to anyone. - your sister, your daughter, your friend, your neighbour, you.
There’s a need for change and an essential requirement for freedom. With the right support we can help more women like Sophie.
WE REBUILD LIVES
We offer a unique programme for women survivors that enables them to gain valuable life changing employability experiences across a diverse range of sectors.
We offer training to renew survivor confidence, purpose, and employability through workshops, coaching and access to work placements.
WE BUILD
PARTNERSHIPS
We partner with businesses who are willing to share knowledge, skills and work-based experiences with survivors.
Work placements not only provide professional employability skills, but life skills, confidence, a sense of self-worth and the ability to communicate and engage with others.