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.
Objects
3.1 THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY ARE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT: -3.1.1 TO PROVIDE RELIEF AND REHABILITATION FOR PERSONS, AND MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES, WHO HAVE BEEN TORTURED OR WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATISED BY OBSERVING TORTURE OR RELATED VIOLENCE ON OTHERS CLOSE TO THEM IN RELATIONSHIP OR PROXIMITY, PARTICULARLY AT A YOUNG AGE, IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, AND WHO, AS SURVIVORS OF TORTURE, ARE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED;3.1.2 TO EDUCATE, TRAIN AND SUPERVISE LEGAL, MEDICAL AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND PERSONS WHO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVORS OF TORTURE;3.1.3 TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS (AS SET OUT IN THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND SUBSEQUENT UNITED NATIONS CONVENTIONS AND DECLARATIONS) AND THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE REFUGEE CONVENTION AND THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE (THE “CONVENTIONS”) BY THE FOLLOWING MEANS: (I) PROMOTING THE PROTECTION OF AND REDRESS FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE BY PROVIDING LEGAL AND WELFARE ADVICE, MEDICO-LEGAL REPORTS, RELIEF AND FINANCIAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE;(II) RAISING AWARENESS BOTH IN THE UK AND ABROAD OF INCIDENTS AND PATTERNS OF TORTURE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD; (III) RAISING AWARENESS BOTH IN THE UK AND ABROAD OF HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES RELATING TO THE OBLIGATIONS ON STATES UNDER THE CONVENTIONS TO PREVENT AND PROHIBIT TORTURE, PUNISH THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTS OF TORTURE, PROVIDE REMEDIES TO SURVIVORS OF TORTURE AND NEVER TO EXPEL, RETURN OR EXTRADITE A PERSON TO ANOTHER STATE WHERE THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THERE IS A DANGER THEY WILL BE SUBJECTED TO TORTURE;(IV) CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOUND ADMINISTRATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND ENSURING THAT GOVERNMENTS FULFIL THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO TORTURE AND TORTURE SURVIVORS.
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.”
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Volunteers: 120
- Government income: £371,917 — contracts £261,917 (6), grants £110,000 (3); 2% of the £15,113,123 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 3; £100,001–£110,000: 1)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Volunteers: 123
- Government income: £257,307 — grants £257,307 (6); 3% of the £9,887,078 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 4 (£70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 2; £90,001–£100,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2022
- Volunteers: 74
- Government income: £325,037 — grants £325,037 (5); 3% of the £11,929,940 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 3; £100,001–£110,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
In the news
- Freedom from Torture pulls up a blood-soaked chair to Parliament
- 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
- Resolution on the Right to Dignity and Freedom from Torture or Ill-Treatment of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities in Africa - ACHPR/Res.343(LVIII)2016
- Freedom from Torture launches follow-up to award-winning campaign
- ‘Right to freedom from torture’: UN experts urge the Gambia not to decriminalise FGM
Property (HM Land Registry)
Advertised salaries (public job ads)
- Clinical and Office Administrator — £23,693 per year
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Care Quality Commission ratings
- Freedom from Torture: Good
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (04/11/2026)
- 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 |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 15/05/2013 | £351k | Helping Torture Survivor Families Recover to Rebuild their Lives |
| 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 |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ALLEN LANE FOUNDATION | 2 | £10k |
| THE WISLEY FOUNDATION | 1 | £29k |
| THE CENTRE FOR INNOVATION IN VOLUNTARY ACTION | 1 | £14k |
| THE HILDEN CHARITABLE FUND | 1 | £10k |
| THE TRUEMARK TRUST | 1 | £5k |
| SCHRODER CHARITY TRUST | 1 | £5k |
| SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £3k |
| DUMBRECK CHARITY | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- SUPPORT A SURVIVOR OF TORTURE
- TRAUMA TREATMENT INTERNATIONAL
- Free From Fear
- I Choose Freedom Charity
- FREEDOM CHURCH WORCESTER
- THE ARTS OF CHANGE TRUST
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 | £353k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| Free From Fear | £44k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| I Choose Freedom Charity | £1.5m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| FREEDOM CHURCH WORCESTER | £296k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |