OUR APPROACH
Strategy • Advocacy • Research • Partnerships • Impact
Sophie Hayes Foundation focuses on preventing re-exploitation — empowering survivors to live lives of freedom and autonomy for the long term. We do this by adapting and flexing our programmes to be responsive to need in a complex and hostile environment, meeting survivors where they are and taking them to where they want to be.
At the same time, we do not accept a support system which lets survivors down. We are led by our lived and learnt experience advocates for informed and improved policy affecting survivor outcomes.
As a small charity, partnership is vital to our survivor programmes and advocacy efforts.
OUR IMPACT
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We were founded by Sophie Hayes, a British woman trafficked into sexual exploitation overseas.
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We supported 215 women in 2025 through our programmes.
160 women took part in the Employability Programme in 2025.
122 women took part in CEFI in 2025.
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72% of women reported significant improvements in or a maintenance of their health and wellbeing.
82% of participants report increase confidence and resilience.
73% of participants report increased aspirations.
78% of participants report improvements in financial literacy skills.
75% of participants report significantly developed employability skills
100% of participants who finish Module 2 of the Programme complete a Cover Letter and CV.
SUPPORT US
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SUPPORT US -
Your donation helps us achieve our mission of supporting women survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking toward sustainable freedom.
SHF unites survivors, advocates, employers, and partners to address systemic barriers collectively - Through campaigns like the “Right to Work for Survivors,” which I help build, SHF challenges policies that restrict survivors’ opportunities.
— Programme Participant
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
Sector
SHF partners with organisations in the Modern Slavery sector to enable quality and consistent survivor outcomes.
Research
Partnerships with research and academic institutions enable us to build the evidence base around re-exploitation and long-term support outcomes.
Corporate
Businesses provide valuable engagement to SHF, covering volunteering, skill sharing, and donations in kind.
Institutional
SHF works with local authorities and Jobcentres to increase knowledge and practice of survivor support.
Want to partner with us? Click below to get in touch!
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 seek to inspire wherever we can.
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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.
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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 join us in inquiry and believe in their roles as agents of change.
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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 the voices of survivors. 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.
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We are flexible, adaptable, and responsive to change. We aim to innovate with an entrepreneurial and creative approach to providing opportunities for survivors and expanding our work. We are open to partnerships 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.
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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 seek to inspire wherever we can.
OUR CAMPAIGNS
Preventing
Re-Exploitation
If the survivor support system is not targeted at preventing re-exploitation in the long-term, it fails survivors, wastes public funds, and places unsustainable burdens on charities. At Sophie Hayes Foundation, we work with partners throughout the modern slavery sector and beyond to ensure that support focuses on long-term freedom, financial independence, and social resilience.
Right
to Work
Without the ability for survivor to access financial independence as well as the numerous social and mental health benefits quality employment brings, it is impossible to break cycles of re-exploitation. This is why the Right to Work for survivors of modern slavery in the asylum system, within the context of appropriate employability support, is the key campaign of Sophie Hayes Foundation.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Click below to view our Annual Reports from the past 3 years.
