There were a range of fundraisers virtually climbing Kilimanjaro, from 78 years old to 4! People made the challenge their own, our CEO Ed climbed stairs, Mischa – one of the team members – ran in a ski suit, Meg completed it in just three days!

We want to say a huge thank you to Brian Gregory, who raised over £2000, making him the number one fundraiser and the winner of a years supply of Tony’s Chocolonely!

We have been overwhelmed by your support, the funds raised mean we can start developing a brand new Restoration Hub, which will provide essential items to those arriving in our safe houses, and items that make a house a home for those moving into their own accommodation.

The Sofa to Summit challenge involved climbing the equivalent of the 103,488 steps to the summit of Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a new Restoration Hub, which will provide essential items to those arriving in our safe houses, and home-start packs to those moving into their own home, such as rugs and lamps.

Mischa explains “I love focusing on clients having sustainable independence and long-term freedom. I have seen first-hand the difference basic essential items can make to those we support. When they arrive in our safe houses, even just having a pair of slippers means so much.”

“We support men and women through our safe houses and eventually help them to find their own accommodation when they are ready to move on. Some clients have waited years for their own home, and I’ve seen them moving in with no belongings; without cutlery, a hoover or kettle. Everyone should have these essential items. The things we may think of as basic are part of their recovery – having the freedom to choose is precious.”

“The funds raised from Sofa to Summit will help us provide items which give our clients value, helping them to feel empowered. The restoration hub will help us to organise donations and get essential items to clients who need them quickly. The hub will help the community connect with City Hearts through donations, and I hope it will grow to include furniture and larger items, which would be amazing.”

“I wanted to make it fun, but also a challenge. I ran the last leg around Sefton Park in my ski suit to get people to notice and hopefully raise more awareness.”

Mischa has raised over £1055 so far and is hoping to raise as much as possible before the closing date of May 12th.

Visit https://cityhearts.enthuse.com/cf/sofa-to-summit to donate.

Tell us a bit about yourself..

After two years as chief officer of the volunteer Special Constabulary, I finally retired from the force to concentrate on managing and leading the emergency response and medical services of the British Red Cross initially in the North then in national operations.

Translating my past experiences of supporting and helping those who are being held against their will into the charity sector, I developed a human trafficking response team in the North West of England. Drawing together partner agencies and professionals to train staff and volunteers, the team were then deployed into rescue centres, where survivors were received and supported in the initial hours following their liberation. I ensured that psycho-social experts were on hand to provide crucial help for both victims and their supporters affected by trauma.

Why are you a trustee?

Throughout the past 20 years, I have been involved in helping people in distress who have been held against their will. From first meeting City Hearts , I was inspired by their commitment and approach to supporting survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking. When the opportunity presented itself to join their board of Trustees, I jumped at the chance to work with this group of highly motivated and effective people with a proven track record of making a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the UK today.

What are you most excited about this year for City Hearts?

As a new trustee who is emerging from an extended period of shielding, I am most excited at being able to get out and to know the size and shape of City Hearts better. I am particularly looking forward to working alongside my fellow trustees and to being associated with an inspirational staff team, as more victims of human trafficking are supported and we make a real and measurable difference to their lives. I welcome the prospect of visiting some of the projects over the next 12 months and sharing the experiences of staff and survivors.

I love meeting new people and getting involved in loads of activities; horoscopes, anything to do with food and tiktok. My superpower is that I have a shockingly powerful, yet very niche, memory- I am a great person to have on a pub quiz team!

My background is related to student politics; I was a former Sabbatical Officer, Charity Director and Trustee for Lancaster University Students’ Union. I am currently completing my Masters in Human Resources Management at the University of Liverpool.

I am really excited to have started working for City Hearts as I am really passionate about the work the organisation carries out. I have a huge passion and specialism within EDI; both through my degree and my activism outside of work and university.

I am currently involved in external projects such as Merseyside BLM and Merseyside Feminist Society.”

During his time with Merseyside Police, Geoff had senior leadership roles, including spending 14 years of his service as a hostage negotiator. He completed a master’s degree in Critical and Major Incident Psychology at Liverpool University, focusing on hostage taking.

Geoff, 56, said: “After two years as chief officer of the volunteer Special Constabulary, I finally retired from the force to concentrate on managing and leading the emergency response and medical services of the British Red Cross initially in the North then in national operations.

“Translating my past experiences of supporting and helping those who are being held against their will into the charity sector, I developed a human trafficking response team in the North West of England. Drawing together partner agencies and professionals to train staff and volunteers, the team were then deployed into rescue centres, where survivors were received and supported in the initial hours following their liberation. I ensured that psycho-social experts were on hand to provide crucial help for both victims and their supporters affected by trauma.”

“Throughout the past 20 years, I have been involved in helping people in distress who have been held against their will. From first meeting City Hearts , I was inspired by their commitment and approach to supporting survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking. When the opportunity presented itself to join their board of Trustees, I jumped at the chance to work with this group of highly motivated and effective people with a proven track record of making a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the UK today.”

Read the full piece here.

Linda explains: “I returned to education later in life to study Education, Childhood and Culture at the University of Sheffield. I became a mature student ambassador and the first-ever student to have a work placement at City Hearts. When I graduated three years ago, I continued volunteering at the charity alongside my job as a temporary supply teacher.  Just before the first lockdown, the health and wellbeing coordinator encouraged me to apply for a role at City Hearts. I was thrilled to be successful, but had to delay my start until July because of the pandemic.”

So many people’s mental health has been affected by lockdown, it is unsurprising that those who have already been held captive against their will became even more traumatised when they could not leave their safe houses.

“I see every day how my role really makes a difference”, smiles Linda. “Even something as simple as going for a walk with a client increases their wellbeing- and helps me too! The isolation of some clients caused them to have suicidal thoughts. Decisions about whether they could stay in the UK or would be sent back to their country of origin have been slower or up in the air with the various agency staff working from home. Clients struggled with the uncertainty without people to talk their fears through with, especially if there was a language barrier.”

Telephone calls- though important- were just not the same, so when Covid guidance allowed two people to walk together, Linda was relieved. “Clients said our walks became something for them to look forward to. A reason to get dressed and make an effort. One of my clients had twins and even in the rain, she would wrap her babies up and off we would go! I was fortunate to be classed as a key worker, so my little girl could go to school and had a letter of permission in case we were stopped.”

Back in the first lockdown, Linda admits her own mental health dipped. “At that time we were only allowed one activity per day and I had kids at home to look after and school. I found I had slipped into getting up late, so I decided I would start running. A friend at church called Kayla Kavanagh founded a virtual group called Mothers Runners to get fitter and do a Mud Challenge. She invited me to join and before I knew it, I had started setting a 6.30am alarm on my phone to go for a run before the kids were up.”

“At first we put our virtual runs on facebook to prove we had gone out! I started with the Couch to 5k programme and took pictures of my activity using the Strava app on my phone. When we could meet outside again as lockdown regulations relaxed, we started running in twos and now sixes. I can’t thank Kayla enough for setting up the group, she has helped so many people who were just stuck in their house.”

“I feel so much better in myself, running and getting fitter has really boosted my confidence. At Christmas I even did my first ever competitive fun run. I used to be always on the go, overdoing things for others. I have realised it’s not selfish to look after ourselves. Keeping my mental health strong, helps my clients and kids too. I’m trying to get my son and friends to join in now!”

“I normally do about 15-20,000 steps a day when I am meeting our survivors. Some days I may have three one-hour walks with different clients. Like many people, I noticed in this third lockdown that my motivation to run had reduced. I used to run 2k to 5k five times a week, so now I am averaging about 80,000 steps.  When I heard about Sofa to Summit, I saw it as a great way to reclaim my mojo and raise money for a vital cause. I was encouraged when many of my friends at Mothers Runners got involved or sponsored me towards our goal of £62,000, including our inspiring founder, Kayla.”

“Every day I see how the money we raise can make such a massive difference in our clients’ lives. They usually arrive at the safe house with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. When they are sufficiently recovered to leave, the new Restoration Hub will provide things they need to begin a new life in society, so they aren’t starting with nothing. As a mum myself, I have cried that there are mothers we know who are sharing their mattress with two kids, doing without basic things like a hoover or microwave, things we take for granted. Every penny our supporters help us raise will make a massive difference in our clients lives while they get fitter. It’s a definite win-win.”

What is the Restoration Hub?
City Hearts’ head of development, Phill Clayton adds: “For over 15 years we have supported some of society’s most vulnerable and exploited people. We want those we support to feel cared for from the moment they arrive, whether that looks like providing a pair of comfy slippers in their welcome pack or a simple bar of delicious chocolate on their pillow to help someone feel valued. When they’re ready to move into their new home, which for many is a major step in their journey to independence, we want to provide the kind of items which make a house a home, like lamps, pictures and rugs.”

“A cross-section of our staff came up with the idea of a ‘Restoration Hub’ in our new innovation group, basically a storehouse from which we could provide packs which give people back their dignity. We’re aiming to raise a total of £62,000, which will cover the costs of the hub set up and running for the first year. This means 124 fundraisers, raising a total of £500 each. Participants can complete the 7392 steps a day any way they like. Teams are welcome and you can keep up with your team’s progress on your virtual map.
And as a final sweetener, our super sponsor, Tony’s Chocolonely are giving the best individual fundraiser a year’s supply of chocolate. That really sounds like a win-win to me!”

To sign up or donate, visit https://cityhearts.enthuse.com/cf/sofa-to-summit

We currently work alongside South Yorkshire Police through our About Face, Forging Ahead and Plan B programmes, which all aim to help individuals seeking a crime-free future.

The deferred prosecution scheme will aim to reduce re-offending compared to offenders who are prosecuted, giving the offender a chance to work with us to address the issues causing them to offend.

Stuart Otten, About Face Service Manager, said “We are delighted to build on the work we are currently doing with the addition of a deferred prosecution scheme, working in partnership with Merseyside Police. The aim of the scheme is to offer support to individuals, looking at violence reduction and creating a path for crime-free futures.”

Merseyside Police Sergeant Simon Newman said: “We are pleased to have partnered with About Face in order to deliver the deferred prosecution scheme to Merseyside. Working together with About Face we are determined to tackle the root cause of individuals offending to reduce re-offending rates and lower crime across the region, making our communities safer for all.”

“With 5 and 6-year-old children, I personally (and naturally!) feel the pandemic has been particularly hard on parents. Those living alone, undoubtedly feel the same. NHS staff would rightly say they have experienced the brunt of it all. And those who have shielded, with underlying health conditions, must feel the same. The last year has been unfairly hard on so many; on everyone.

However, for many survivors of modern slavery and those who have experienced trauma this has been both a particularly challenging experience, yet a familiar one. Those we support here in City Hearts have so often been physically ‘locked down’ and restricted, in ways we cannot imagine. Even more than that, they have been traumatised, controlled, manipulated and exploited. Psychologically locked down.

Here in the UK, we’re hopefully moving out of lockdown 3.0. For many people, it’s lockdown 4.0 or more.

Huge societal events or crises, such as coronavirus, so often have a disproportionate impact on the poor, minorities, and the already-disadvantaged. Our team here at City Hearts, working with survivors of modern slavery, has seen first-hand the consequence of the pandemic on our clients: increased mental health challenges, increased suicidality, a reliving of trauma, and a significant slowdown in their recovery and journey to independence. And recovery is why they’re here. It’s why we’re here.

Our strapline ‘pursuing freedom and restoring lives’ could not be more apt right now. This year, more than ever, we’ve been reminded why we do what we do. We’ve been reminded what our clients have been through, and been given a (very small) insight into their experiences. We’ve been reminded how important freedom is. And why we must fight for it.

We can’t really compare our shared experience of lockdown with modern slavery, of course. But we can use it to motivate ourselves and others to do what we can; to relentlessly pursue freedom for others. Especially those who are the most vulnerable in society.

I believe that we can’t always do everything to ‘fix’ the world. But we can do something. We should do more. And we should try harder.

On the 19^th of April, City Hearts are embarking on a two-week virtual expedition to raise money for a new restoration hub for survivors of modern slavery and crime. It’s our way of doing what we can this year, to make the lives of those we support better, and help them take one more step towards recovery. We’d love you to be a part of it. We’d love you to join us in the expedition, or sponsor someone who is. It’s a fun challenge which anyone can take part in, which makes a real difference. You can find out more about it here.

I have some personal hopes for this year. I’m hoping that as we move out of lockdown, we may all have a greater revelation of compassion for those in our society who need it the most. I’m hoping that so many more of us use whatever influence and energy we have, to make the world freer.

When under pressure, the temptation for any individual, community or society is to look inward and protect oneself. I hope and choose to believe that the coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity and motivation to do the exact opposite; to look outward and protect others.”

I’m Sheffield born and bred and love my city with a passion.  I’ve been married to my beautiful wife for 36 years and have two lovely girls, our 23 year old is an early years school teacher and our 21 year old is just about complete her final year at Sheffield Hallam university.

I left school at 17 and got a job at The British Steel Coking works at Orgreave, starting in the offices as a timekeeper. I then worked for a short time in the payroll dept and the finally went into accounting, at first as a cost accountant and then progressing to the Works accountant. I worked for 13 years at the Orgreave site until its closure in 1990.

I was then given the opportunity to relocate to the Scunthorpe site, which I took and stayed there for 8 years working as a Management accountant. Daily travelling to Scunthorpe from Rotherham took its toll and in 1998 I took the chance to obtain a transfer to the Rotherham and Stocksbridge sites.

I finally left the steel industry after 34 years in 2013 and took the chance to work at my local church within the finance function and I’m loving my current role.

I played football in the Yorkshire area for 20 years at varying levels and when I finished playing at the age of 38, I turned my attention to playing Golf and watching Sheffield United.

I love caravan breaks, which enable me to spend relaxing time with my wife and family.  My favourite overseas holiday destinations are the Greek islands and Menorca, one of the Balearic islands.  

Why are you a trustee?

Five years ago I was asked by the then CEO to come along in an advisory capacity to view some perspective offices, to see if they were fit for purpose. I knew a little bit about City Hearts and was happy to go.

During the visit I met a few of the management team and saw first hand the passion and desire to make a difference in the lives of survivors of human trafficking.

From then on in the back of my mind I felt a real desire to get involved with the charity, even if it was just as a financial donor. Then, a few weeks later after the office visit, I was approached and invited to join the board of trustees.

I jumped at the chance to be involved in changing and bettering peoples lives. and It’s been an amazing journey, with no regrets, ever since.

What are you most excited about this year for City Hearts?

I was so excited when we were given the anti trafficking contract for another term, the charity has grown not only in size but in influence in our area of expertise. I’m really enjoying working with all the other trustees

The charitable sector is an ever changing sphere of people in need and I feel we have a real part to play in making a difference to the people we support.

“Hi I’m Meg and I am the Drop-in facilitator for the North West. Over the past year we have been unable to run drop-ins, so the Health and Wellbeing Team we have been busy running other projects for those we support, for example Christmas, Well-being packs, Online events and referrals.

I am honoured to be chosen as a member of the new Innovation Committee as I am so excited to see new ideas come to fruition. I wanted to be a part of this team as my heart is to see City Hearts showing clients that they have a voice and for them to see that we are trying to develop our service to meet their needs, keeping the clients at the centre of everything we do.

Being a part of the Health and Wellbeing Team means that we constantly have to come up with new ideas to keep things fresh for the men, women and families we support, but also to solve challenges that come our way, for example no drop-ins due to COVID! Also, seeing clients on a weekly basis (pre-COVID), we see what works well and what they enjoy, against what needs to be improved or revisited.

I think our first idea of the Renovation Hub is exactly what City Hearts Clients need at the moment. Those we support are always in need of donations, whether that be clothes or furniture, for moving accommodation or joining the service. In the North West we currently have a donations room but its full to the brim and it’s in desperate need of some reorganising!

We have also had to turn down some quality donations due to lack of space and no staff to sort the donations as they come in. Having a clear space and a dedicated staff member to manage the donations as well as being able to source good quality items will really help to show clients that they are important, cared for and give them a great chance at a fresh start in life.

We’re raising money for this in our upcoming Sofa to Summit event, you can register here.”