Survivors of Torture Activity Fund
This Manchester-based group works to support survivors of torture that come to the UK as asylum seekers. The Activity Fund offers support on a long-term basis, and aims to ease the physical and mental pain often experienced by survivors of torture. Work includes encouraging and assisting people to access community facilities, helping people to source practical items they need such as equipment and books for college courses, helping with jobs information and advice, and accessing volunteering opportunities, training or suitable jobs. Overall the work improves survivors’ emotional and psychological wellbeing, supports positive mental health, and helps with their rehabilitation. It provides a friendly face in an otherwise quite frightening world.
At the October 2021 Trustee meeting, a grant totalling £5,000, split equally over two years was made. The funding will go towards two projects that the group runs – supporting people to access local leisure centres with passes; and assisting with practicalities through its Positivity Building Project. Outcomes of the work include that survivors of torture will have improved physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing; and that they will feel more positive, confident, and start to alleviate their difficulties.
