FREEDOM FROM TORTURE
Freedom from Torture is a human rights organisation which exists to enable survivors of torture to engage in a healing process. We provide direct care, treatment and protection services in five UK centres. We engage in activism in order to bring the plight of torture survivors to light and carry out research that underpins our policy and advocacy work.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted cash reserves of £3.523m as of March 2025, which equates to approximately 4.25 months of operating costs, falling within the trustees' target range of 3 to 5 months. While the charity reported a net income surplus for the 15-month period, the trustees note that projected income for the next three years will not cover projected cost rises, prompting the development of plans to align income and expenditure through new streams and operational adaptations.
What the accounts disclose
“Trustees have agreed a target range for free reserves of 3 to 5 months’ operating costs. As of year-end, the free reserves stood at £3.107m (including working capital), equating to approximately 4.25 months of operating costs, within target range.” — page 16
“Having considered these factors, including known risks and available mitigations, Trustees have a reasonable expectation that Freedom from Torture has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Our projected income for the next three years will not cover projected cost rises for the charity. Therefore, Trustees and the Senior Management Team are developing plans to align income and expenditure.”
“Our only subsidiary, Survivors Trading Limited, is dormant and has no significant assets or liabilities.”
In the news
- Freedom from Torture pulls up a blood-soaked chair to Parliament
- Freedom from Torture slams ‘UK-funded brutality’ over Channel policing plans
- Freedom from Torture chief to lead legal charity
- Freedom from Torture details traumas of torture survivors in UK asylum accommodation
- Freedom from Torture launches follow-up to award-winning campaign
- ‘Right to freedom from torture’: UN experts urge the Gambia not to decriminalise FGM
- Charity Freedom from Torture to launch debut garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
- Sotheby’s London To Host Art Auction For Freedom From Torture Charity
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Care Quality Commission ratings
- Freedom from Torture: Good
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (19/03/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (14/07/2021)
- Received assets from another charity (02/12/2014)
Trustees
- Catherine Lois SAYERchair
- Angela CLUFF
- BRIAN GARETH DUNLOP
- Dr Declan Neil WOODS
- Dr Sarah Louise HEKE
- MAHESH WICKRAMASINGHE
- Michelle Leanne WEEKS
- Orla FEE
- PHILOMENE UWAMALIYA
- Professor Sir Francis Atherton
- RASHA OBAID
- Shehara Natalie SAMARASINGHE
- Timothy Stuart GUY
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £15.1m | £14.4m |
| 31/12/2023 | £9.9m | £12.1m |
| 31/12/2022 | £11.9m | £11.9m |
| 31/12/2021 | £10.3m | £10.4m |
| 31/12/2020 | £12.8m | £10.1m |
Common questions
Is FREEDOM FROM TORTURE financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted cash reserves of £3.523m as of March 2025, which equates to approximately 4.25 months of operating costs, falling within the trustees' target range of 3 to 5 months. While the charity reported a net income surplus for the 15-month period, the trustees note that projected income for the next three years will not cover projected cost rises, prompting the development of plans to align income and expenditure through new streams and operational adaptations. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Moore Kingston Smith LLP.
Who funds FREEDOM FROM TORTURE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name FREEDOM FROM TORTURE as a grant recipient include PROJECT GIVING BACK, THE TOLKIEN TRUST, JUSTICE COLLABORATIONS, THE LEGAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THE BROOK TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/01/2026 | £20k | Supporting torture survivors through stabilisation |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/07/2024 | £20k | Improving mental health through group therapy and social activities in London |
| City Bridge Foundation | 02/05/2023 | £213k | Grant to Freedom from Torture |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 24/03/2023 | £300k | Supporting survivors of torture through therapy and advice in the West Midlands |
| UK government | 15/09/2022 | £55k | Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund 2019-2023 (4 month extension) |
| Community Foundation North East | 24/06/2021 | £2k | A grant to Freedom from Torture |
| UK government | 26/03/2021 | £2k | COVID-19 Extraordinary National Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/03/2021 | £10k | Supporting Torture Survivors to Recover and Reconnect through COVID and Beyond |
| UK government | 01/01/2021 | £95k | Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund |
| Barrow Cadbury Trust | 18/09/2019 | £30k | Towards a movement of informal migrant-led campaigning |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 18/04/2019 | £10k | Torture Survivors Improving Connectivity |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £152k | Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Fund |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £63k | Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund |
| Greater London Authority | 01/12/2018 | £150k | Young Londoners Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/03/2017 | £465k | Healing Neighbourhoods - integrating survivors of torture |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/11/2016 | £455k | Holistic Rehabilitation to help Adult Torture Survivors Recover to Reb |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 02/12/2015 | £450k | Helping Adult Torture Survivors Recover to Rebuild Their Lives |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 01/07/2015 | £406k | Holistic support for torture survivors |
| City Bridge Foundation | 13/05/2015 | £75k | Grant to Freedom from Torture |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 15/05/2012 | £120k | Grant awarded to Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture (North East) |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 10/08/2010 | £375k | Casework Counselling for Torture Survivors |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 09/06/2010 | £315k | Improving Health and Wellbeing of Survivors of Torture in the West Midlands |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 10/02/2010 | £307k | Supporting Torture Survivors in North East England to Improve Health/Wellbe |
| City Bridge Foundation | 21/01/2010 | £96k | Grant to Freedom from Torture |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 08/12/2008 | £120k | Grant awarded to Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture (North East) |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| JOFFE CHARITABLE TRUST CIO | 2 | £164k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF EPSOM | 1 | — |
| H M SASSOON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £172k |
| DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £170k |
| THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £159k |
| THE BROMLEY TRUST | 1 | £70k |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 1 | £49k |
| ALLAN AND NESTA FERGUSON CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT | 1 | £18k |
Charities like this
- SUPPORT A SURVIVOR OF TORTURE
- TRAUMA TREATMENT INTERNATIONAL
- THE REDRESS TRUST LIMITED
- THE FREEDOM FUND UK
- TRIBE FREEDOM FOUNDATION
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CHARITY
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FREEDOM FROM TORTURE | £15.1m | — | — | within | — | noted |
| SUPPORT A SURVIVOR OF TORTURE | £263k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| TRAUMA TREATMENT INTERNATIONAL | £288k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE REDRESS TRUST LIMITED | £2.4m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| THE FREEDOM FUND UK | £3.7m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| TRIBE FREEDOM FOUNDATION | £218k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |