Join your local supporters' group

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.

Local groups

Aberystwyth

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].

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Brighton

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: 

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Bristol & Bath

Chair: Linda Walz
Membership Secretary: Alison Wickert
Treasurer: Gillian Rice

Number of members: 100+

The group have held some incredible activities in their time. Including organising multiple performances, collaborating with their local amnesty and STAR groups. In 2022 the group held a fantastic in-person and on-line hybrid event at Bristol University with former Guantanamo detainee Mohamed Ould Slahi.

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:

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Calderdale

Members: 50+

A supporters group since 2012.

Calderdale's Freedom from Torture Supporters' Group aims to raise vital funds for and awareness of Freedom from Torture's work. The group is based in and around Hebden Bridge.

If you are interested in getting involved in our Supporters' Group, helping to raise awareness of the issues around asylum, refugees, and human rights, raising vital funds to help support our work in your area, having fun and meeting new people, then please do get in touch with the group.

Email [email protected] or call Michael on 01422 845371.

Cornwall

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.

Contact the group at the email below, or follow social media:

Facebook I Email

Dorset

Chair: Rob & Alex Womack
Treasurer: Nancy Sheppard
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. 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

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East Kent

Chair: Anne Sutcliffe
Treasurer: Anne Sutcliffe
Number of members: 10

The East Kent Group is one of Freedom from Torture's longest running groups, despite the wide-spread geography of its members.

The types of events and activities organised over the years include store and street collections, authors talks, cake stalls, refugee talks, film screenings, book sales and more. For more information, please contact [email protected]

East Sussex

Chair: Leah Levane

Treasurer: Rohan Jayasekera

Number of members: 80+

S 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 very active in Lewes and Eastbourne and plan new work in Hastings and Bexhill.

Please contact the group on:

Email I Facebook I Twitter

Edinburgh

Chair: Marjory Burns
Treasurer: Rachel Fawthrop
Secretary: Marjory Burns
Number of members: 100+

The group have been extremely successful. Holding multiple events including sponsored walks, comedy nights, garden parties, concerts, literary events, coffee mornings and more. A highlight of the year for this group is the weekend during the Edinburgh International Book Festival when survivors from London, Glasgow and Newcastle have their writings read at the Amnesty Imprisoned Writers’ sessions.

In 2019, the group under the leadership of 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.
 

Get in Touch

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Glasgow

Chair: Nick Carmichael
Treasurer: Grace Buckley
Secretary: Sara Barry 
Number of members: 30+

The group have held brilliant concerts, comedy nights, quiz nights and film screenings. The group raise incredible amounts yearly, raising over £10,000 across their time as a group. 

If you are interested in getting involved with this group, please complete the drop down registration at the top of the screen.

Heart of England (Birmingham)

Chair: Michael Lister

Number of members: 8 +

This supporters group relaunched in 2022.

The group still maintained a level of participation via an annual carol concert and quiz night in collaboration with Amnesty International, even whilst dormant.

If you would like to be involved in the group please get in touch with Sabine Nierhoff at [email protected].

London North

Chair: Joanna Pienkowska
Treasurer: Kumiko Matsuoka
Secretary: Adam Griffith

Number of members: Executive Committee of 10 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 our events online and organised two highly successful webinars featuring Sue MacGregor, James Naughtie and author Patrick Gale.

The group were the founders of the, what became the national campaign 'Crossing Over Water' in August/September 2021. This is now an annual event in which supporters across the UK can make their own version of a journey across water. With the campaign raising over £26,000 across the two years.

If you'd like to join us or have any suggestions or offers of help do please get in touch with us at:

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Check out their amazing Welcome Pack 

London South East - currently on pause with plans for a revival shortly

Chair: Gillian Jordan
Treasurer: Mr Matthew de Lange
Number of members: 140 +

A supporters group since 2012.

The group covers a number of Boroughs including Lewisham, Greenwich, Croydon, Bromley, and Southwark.

The group held incredible woodturning auctions across the years. With their first fundraising event being a very successful sale of hand-turned wooden bowls which raised over £2000.

Since then the group have organised many fundraising events including concerts, literary evenings, art auctions and woodturning auctions. In 2017 alone, the group raised an amazing £33,000 through their fundraising events.

London South West - currently on pause with plans for a revival shortly

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.

Please get in touch at

Email I Facebook I Instagram

Manchester - currently on pause with plans for a revival shortly

Chair: Fran Devine

Secretary: Fran Devine
Treasurer: David Cooke
Number of members: 9+

The groups' Chorlton Open Gardens and annual quiz nights have raised significant funds for Freedom from Torture year on year. We raised almost £13,500 in 2016 and the open gardens on their own made £11,000 in 2022. We have also raised the local profile of Freedom from Torture's work. Some of our members are volunteers at the Freedom from Torture Centre in Manchester.

Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram

Northampton

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 Poppy at [email protected] or the group directly at [email protected].

Social Media:

Instagram | Facebook

North East England

Chair: Vacant
Treasurer: Shirley Mansfield
Secretary: Helen Coyne

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 the Newcastle Community Green Festival, and 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.

Across it's time as a group, the North East Group have raised over £20,000.

Get involved:

Email I Twitter

Oxford

Chair: Ann Gibson
Treasurer: John Hume
Number of members: Approx 12 on committee

A number of very successful music concerts and Write to Life performances for Freedom from Torture. Most recently, an evening of music and poetry entitled 'Exile and Healing' featuring renowned author Mark Haddon that raised £1000.

The group also hosts concerts, plant sales, coffee mornings, sponsored walks, an annual garden party, stalls at One World Fair and similar, Write to Life readings.

Social Media:

Instagram

Suffolk

Chair: Sue Harrington-Spier
Treasurer: Brian Wesley
Secretary: Brian Wesley and Maggie Cohen

Number of members: 20+

A supporters group since 2000

Mainly based around Bury St Edmunds, 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.

York

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:

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

If your patch of the UK doesn't have a group yet, why not be bold and start one? Contact our Local Groups Coordinators at [email protected] or call 020 7697 7788 and we'll give you the help you need to get started.

University Groups

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 Poppy, [email protected], if you are interested in starting your own group.

Bristol University Group

Contact them at [email protected] or message them on Instagram @uniofbristolfft

Cambridge Uni Freedom from Torture Society

Contact them at [email protected] or message them on Instagram @cambridgeunifreedomfromtorture

Presidents: Molly Jamieson & Nimisha Iyer

Secretary: Annabelle Hewartson

Treasurer: Magnus Hole

Other committee members: Toga Ibrahim, Mako Zuva, Iris Shulman, Yusuf Izhac & Sarah Akande

The University of Cambridge group have organised panel events, dance fundraisers, bake sales and more to raise awareness and funds for FFT.

Social Media:

Instagram

Glasgow University Group

Contact them at [email protected] or message on Instagram @uofg_fft

Royal Holloway University Group

contact them at [email protected] or message on Instagram @royalholloway.fft

President: Ruby Caballero

University of York

[email protected]

President: Lytham Facey

Secretary: Annabelle Sharikj

Treasurer: Fiza Faheem

Social Media: Instagram

The University of York group have organised walking challenges, karaoke events, bake sales and podcasts alongside collaborating with other societies to provide informative events about Freedom from Torture.