Anti-Slavery Charity Unseen Launches Striking Campaign from Aesop

Anti-slavery charity Unseen, is launching a striking new ad campaign to help raise the £800,000 needed to save its Modern Slavery Helpline.

Unseen has until Christmas 2019 to raise funding to secure the future of the Helpline which has identified 15,000 potential victims of trafficking since its launch in October 2016 and now handles more than 250 calls a week.

The powerful new #UnseenStories campaign, by London creative agency Aesop, uses a story-within-a-story technique based on real survivor experiences to expose the lies told by those who prey on potential victims. 

Seemingly romantic poetry will appear on billboards and social media, only to change during the run up to Modern Slavery Day on Friday, October 18th.

For example, the romantic phrase “I lost myself to the nightlife and bright lights in London” transforms into the stark and unsettling “I lost my life in London.” 

In Bristol, where Unseen was founded, bright green projections will light up homes across the city, highlighting the often ‘hidden-in-plain-sight’ nature of modern slavery. 

People will be encouraged to donate to the Helpline (by texting a 70085 with HELPLINE 5 to give £5;HELPLINE 20 to give £20, etc. ) and to show solidarity with victims on Modern Slavery Day by changing their social media profile pictures to a recognisable fluoro green.

More than 7,100 suspected victims of modern slavery were identified across the UK in 2018 alone, with Romanian nationals comprising the largest victim group. 

Unseen runs the only independent, confidential, 24/7 specialist hotline for anyone wanting to seek help or report modern slavery. Unseen is currently privately funded by voluntary sources including trusts, policing authorities and corporate sponsors. 

But, the charity says that political uncertainty and tough economic circumstances have seen this funding fall putting the charity, its Helpline and, most importantly, thousands of modern day slaves in peril.

This drop in funding comes at a vital time for the charity as it sits against a backdrop of a 36% increase in the reporting of modern day slavery victims in the past year. 

Andrew Wallis OBE, Chief Executive of Unseen, said: “Without the Modern Slavery Helpline, thousands of men, women and children across the UK will remain enslaved and unseen.

“Unfortunately in our current political climate victims of modern slavery are particularly at risk because nobody is counting them - they are unseen in every sense of the word.

“For thousands of people trapped in slavery, our Helpline is the only way out. If the lines go dead, hope will die with them.

“We hope the #UnseenStories campaign will remind people that there are 1000s of victims of modern slavery, often hidden in plain sight, that need their help and will support us by donating and show solidarity by changing their social media to fluro green.”

Nick Dutnall, Managing Partner at Aesop Agency said; “Ever since we heard about the work done by Unseen we’ve been keen to get involved. The victims of modern day slavery don’t often get to tell their story so we wanted to do it for them. Shining a light on to this issue is an absolute must and we’re really proud of the #unseenstories campaign.”

To donate to Unseen and save the UK's only modern slavery helpline, please click here.