Join a movement of incredibly passionate people across the UK raising vital funds and awareness to help survivors of torture rebuild their lives.
Joining your local supporters' group couldn't be easier, with 16 active local groups and 5 student groups to pick between – find details about our current groups by scrolling down!
Need advice on events you could organise, or how to start your Local or Student group? Scroll to the bottom for our 'how to' booklets! Full of great advice and tips & tricks for starting out.
Chair: Sue Jones-Davies
Secretary & Treasurer: Michael Freeman
Number of members: 8-10.
A Supporters Group since 2015.
Since then, the group have organised various sponsored beach clean-ups and litter picks, several poetry evenings, yoga events and other little collection opportunities throughout the years.
If you would like to join, please contact the group directly by email to [email protected].
Chair: Michael Lister
Number of members: 8 +
The supporters group organises a hugely popular annual concert for Human Rights Day and a quiz night in collaboration with Amnesty International as well as sponsored walks and numerous stalls throughout the year.
If you would like to be involved in the group please get in touch with our Local Groups team [email protected]
Chair: Andrew Jackson
Treasurer: Amanda Williams
Secretary: John Humphrey
Number of members: 45 +
A Supporter Group since 2016.
The group have organised a number of successful fundraising and awareness raising events including a Christmas fair, a literary evening on Sri Lanka's disappeared, a Labour Party fringe event and a number of Survivors Speak Out talks. During the pandemic, they held a virtual Cycle against Torture, following an 850 mile long virtual route from Hastings to Edinburgh, which raised over £5,000.
If you are interested in getting involved or hearing more about the group, please contact us on:
Chair: Linda Walz
Membership Secretary: Alison Wickert
Treasurer: Gillian Rice
Number of members: 100+
The group have held some incredible events in their time including organising multiple performances and speaker events collaborating with their local Amnesty and STAR groups and the Human Rights Implementation Centre at the University of Bristol. Recent events include "The Criminalisation of Refugees" and "A roadmap for safe and dignified housing for survivors of torture" at the University of Bristol and a photo exhibition at 44AD art space in Bath.
We are always ready to welcome new members either to attend meetings, raise funds or join our mailing list so we can inform you about future events. Anyone interested please contact us:
Chairs: Jane Martin and Martin Kerrison
This group is mainly based around Penzance. Across the years the group have raised over £13,000 for FFT. Within this fundraising were events ranging from art auctions to open gardens at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.
Chair: Rob & Alex Womack
Treasurer: Marion Jones
Secretary: Lauretta Kerridge
Number of members: 40
A supporters group since 1999.
The group have been highly successful in raising awareness and increasing the presence of Freedom from Torture through regular stalls, coffee mornings and other events througout Dorset. The outstanding support we have received locally is a huge indication of this.
For more details on all upcoming events or to help out with future group activities, contact Lauretta on 01305 268641
Chair: Leah Levane
Treasurer: Rohan Jayasekera
Number of members: 80+
Supporters group since 2016.
The group has been very successful in raising funds for Freedom from Torture through music and arts events and an annual sponsored walk. The group is also keen to raise awareness of Freedom from Torture's crucial work by speaking at public events and exhibitions. They are mostly active in Lewes and Eastbourne.
Please contact the group on:
Chair: Vacant
Treasurer: Rachel Fawthrop
Secretary: Vacant
Number of members: 100+
The group has been extremely successful, holding multiple events over the last 15 years, including live music gigs with well known artists headlining, house concerts, sponsored walks, comedy nights, garden parties, art and craft sales, coffee mornings and more.
In 2019, member Moira Dunworth co-ordinated Cycle against Torture, an 865-mile bike ride from Hastings to Edinburgh. The epic adventure raised close to £30,000 for Freedom from Torture.
Chair: Nick Carmichael
Treasurer: Grace Buckley
Number of members: 30+
The group have held brilliant concerts, comedy nights, quiz nights and film screenings. The group raise thousands of pounds every year and have close links to our Glasgow Centre.
If you are interested in getting involved with this group, please complete the drop down registration at the top of the screen.
Chair: Rotating
Treasurer: Kumiko Matsuoka
Secretary: Adam Griffith
Number of members: Executive Committee of 15 and a mailing list of 200+
The group has organised a number of highly successful fundraising events, including beautiful music evenings, literary events featuring Andrew Motion, Alan Hollinghurst, John Hegley and Shobu Kapoor, several evenings of words and music at Hampstead Parish Church, quiz nights, comedy nights and film screenings as well as a Desert Island Disc event featuring Fiona Shaw. During the pandemic they moved all their events online and organised two highly successful webinars featuring Sue MacGregor, James Naughtie and author Patrick Gale.
The group were the founders of what became the national campaign 'Crossing Over Water' in August/September 2021. This became an annual event (now known as Journeys in Solidarity) in which supporters across the UK can make their own version of a journey to raise vital funds. in 2022 the group launched a biannual international on-line photo competition raising thousands of pounds for Freedom from Torture and culminating in 6 major exhibitions at prestigious venues and art galleries in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bath.
If you'd like to join us or have any suggestions or offers of help do please get in touch with us at:
Check out their amazing Welcome Pack
Chair: Vacant
Number of members: 140 +
The supporters group was launched in 2012 covering a number of Boroughs including Lewisham, Greenwich, Bromley and Southwark but is currently dormant.
The group have organised many fundraising events including concerts, literary evenings with celebrity performers, art auctions and numerous highly successful woodturning auctions. In 2017 alone, the group raised an amazing £33,000 through their fundraising events. We are very keen to revive the group. Please e-mail [email protected] if you would like to get involved.
Chair: Janet Purnell
Number of members: 8 Committee members (plus others on mailing list)
A supporters group since 2020
After overcoming the many technical and logistical challenges of setting up a new group in the middle of a pandemic, the group held its first ever event in March 2021. The event featuring Freedom from Torture speakers, readings by the Write to Life group and a performance by the Sing for Freedom Choir was very well attended and a great success. The event was followed by many other successful activities but is currently dormant. We are very keen to revive the group. Please e-mail [email protected] if you would like to get involved.
Please get in touch at
Chair:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Number of members:
The groups' Chorlton Open Gardens, concerts and annual quiz nights have raised significant funds for Freedom from Torture year on year. Chorlton Open Gardens which showcases around 40 private and community gardens in Chorlton-cum-Hardy every summer, raises around £12,000 every year. The group is very active and also organise numerous music events, book swaps and other events. They have also raised the local profile of Freedom from Torture's work. Some of the group's members are volunteers at the Freedom from Torture Centre in Manchester.
Social Media:
Chairs: Amy Cortvriend & Jessica James
We have just launched our new Northampton Local Group, if you are interested in being involved with this group please contact either Sabine at [email protected] or the group directly at [email protected].
Social Media:
Chair: Helen Coyne
Treasurer: Shirley Mansfield
Number of members: 300 +
Across the years the North East group have organised multiple fundraisers, including treks, skydives, film showings, Celidths, Garden Parties, and walks. They also have raised awareness through stalls at festivals and local events and by giving presentations to the public at Newcastle University.
In 2021, the group held an incredible art auction of the work of Ausama al Khalil, a talented artist and ex-client of FFT.
Volunteers have also accompanied clients to Minsteracres Retreat Centre, where two became artists in residence and had a stunning exhibition, and to Edinburgh Book Festival, where clients' creative writing was read. In recent years the group have also organised a number of quiz nights.
Chair: Edward Millard
Treasurer: Edward Millard
Number of members: Approx 12 on committee
The group have organised a number of very successful music concerts, garden parties and Write to Life performances for Freedom from Torture. Most recently an event at the Bonavero Institure of Human Rights at the University of Oxford featured internationally renowned human rights expert and former Chair of the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture, Sir Malcolm Evans.
The group also hosts plant sales, coffee mornings, sponsored walks, an annual garden party, stalls at One World Fair and similar. Contaxct the group directly at [email protected]
Social Media:
Chair: Jasbir Cargill
Number of members: 20+
A supporters group since 2000 now with a new chair!
Mainly based around Halesworth, but welcomes members from across Suffolk.
The group has held concerts jointly with Amnesty International, art raffles and more recently a number of drama events with plays by members of Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal Writers and performed by local actors. The most recent major event was an “Evening of Music and Drama” hosted by BBC’s Martha Kearney which raised over £1000. Across it's time the group has raised £33,000!
Please contact us at [email protected] to find out more.
Chair: Helen Clarke
We have just launched our York Local Group, if you are interested in being involved with this group please contact the group directly at [email protected]
Social Media:
Our university ambassador scheme is a brand-new network designed to engage students in a similar way to our local groups network. Our university ambassadors represent and lead fundraising and campaigning initiatives on their campuses, eventually becoming societies within their Universities.
Contact them at [email protected] or message them on Instagram @cambridgeunifreedomfromtorture
President: Alice Shi
Vice Presidents: Affan Afdhal & Georgia Stewart
Treasurer: Rasa
Publicity: Katrina Brigmane
Campaigns: Alex Picton-Lynas
Welfare: Bea Barbieri
The University of Cambridge group have organised panel events, dance fundraisers, bake sales and more to raise awareness and funds for FFT.
Social Media:
contact them at [email protected] or message on Instagram @royalholloway.fft
President: Ruby Caballero
Contact them at [email protected] or message them on Instagram @uosffts
President: Nayeem Zulkar
The University of Sussex group have organised BBQs, Movie Nights, marathons and many more events to raise awareness and funds for FFT.
Contact them on Instagram @bristoluni_fft or email Jay at [email protected]
President: Jay Gallagher
The University of Bristol group is in the midst of organising panel events, Pizza meetups, collabs with other societies and more to raise awareness and funds for FFT.
