I don't like running. Let's just be clear on that from the start. 

Sure, I'll pick up my pace a little when playing sport or in the morning to get the metabolism going, but will I voluntarily go running of a weekend? Hell no.

That's exactly what I've signed up to do here though. Why? I asked myself the same question when I got the confirmation email.

Freedom from Torture (FfT) is a charity I feel very passionately about, you can read a little bit about them below. But while I've supported them for some time now, I can't really 'give' that much as an individual. I'm a student; we're not exactly renowned as the most affluent demographic.

But what if I could do something, something which allowed other people to make their small contributions too? As they add up, the money raised becomes significant, significant enough to make a difference, to turn around the lives of victims of one of the most despicable and barbaric acts humans commit.

My target is £300.

This could pay for 60 survivors to be able to travel to FfT and receive a first assessment. 60 survivors

It might also pay for 3 months' worth of counselling for a victim of torture, an intimate part of what FfT does.

It would be great to raise more, but please support me in this campaign by giving what you can. I don't like running, but I hate torture. I hate that it still exists in the world today. I hate that victim's lives are ruined by the inhumane actions of sadistic individuals.

Let's do something to help the survivors.

Freedom from Torture – overview

Freedom from Torture is a human rights organisation that works with survivors of torture who come into the UK. We have been working for 28 years to provide direct clinical services to survivors of torture, Medico Legal Reports that document evidence of torture to support clients’ asylum claims, and strive to protect and promote their rights. Over 50,000 individuals have been referred to us for help since 1985. We are the only national organisation in the UK dedicated solely to the rehabilitation of survivors of torture.

 

About our work

We have five centres across the UK. Our centres are currently seeing almost 2000 clients (1846) – of those 1,145 are receiving long-term therapy and 392 are seeing us for a Medico Legal Report.

 

In 2013, 26,710 appointments were offered to 1,526 clients nationally. We received referrals for help from people from 53 countries, including Sri Lanka, Iran, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Uganda, Nigeria and Cameroon.

 

·         Our work helps our clients to re-build their lives, tell their stories, and cope with the physical and psychological consequences of their past.

·         Our Medical Legal Report Service is very important in supporting asylum claims and ensuring our clients’ voices are heard and believed.

·         We also offer practical help and advice, working alongside caseworkers, to help our clients with the practical problems they encounter whilst adjusting to life in the UK.

·         Finally, our many therapy groups are vital in giving survivors a place to feel safe, welcome and learn to trust and meet new people.

 

In the North West

In 2013 at our North West centre, based in Manchester, we received 295 new client referrals, a 23% increase on 2012. We provided support to 207 survivors of torture, who fled from 40 countries.

 

Our clients come into the centre extremely traumatised having experienced unimaginable things, leaving friends, family, their country and culture behind, and having to re-build their lives in the UK, whilst also fighting for their right to stay in the country for safety.

 

Having escaped torture and persecution, the majority of the survivors helped by Freedom from Torture arrive in the UK as asylum seekers and refugees, where their difficulties are often far from over. Many must navigate the complex and bureaucratic asylum system in which their experiences can appear to be diminished and discounted. The uncertainty of their present and future can be compounded by the distress of having to recount over and over again the horrors from the past in order to secure their refugee status, and therefore safety – as well as living in exile with such painful memories, surrounded by hostile voices in the media and host communities. Many fear being returned to their torturers.

 

Moreover, 15% of our clients are in absolute street destitution without entitlement to work or benefit as a result of coming to an end of their asylum claim, and their country not being considered safe enough for them to be returned to. Destitution has a huge impact on our clients’ ability to engage in therapy and consequently their recovery.

 

Where your money goes

v  £25 could buy an hour of counselling

v  £30 could pay for six survivors to travel to Freedom from Torture for their first assessment

v  £100 could buy a month of counselling sessions for a survivor of torture

v  £500 could cover the cost of providing a volunteer doctor, one day a week, for a whole year