Homelessness in London
170,068
According to Shelter, 1 in 47 people are affected by homelessness in London (that’s approx 170,068 people)
11,993
In 2023-2024 there were 11,993 people rough sleeping on the streets of London, as estimated by CHAIN. This is a 19% increase on 2022-2023
£26,000
It costs the public purse £26,000+ each year to support ONE person affected by homelessness (Greater Change Impact Report 2021)
This means that homelessness in London costs the taxpayer at least £288,106,000 each year (and that’s not even including hidden homelessness).
At Unseen Tours we want to do something about this:
- We provide training and meaningful work opportunities for people affected by homelessness, so that they can do a job they love and chart a path out of vulnerability.
- We raise awareness about homelessness issues by encouraging conversations across social divides.
Human Trafficking in the UK
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
At Unseen Tours, we’re all about keeping the conversation alive even after our tours end. So, we’ve gathered some resources and links to keep you engaged and the conversation going.
Discover Organisations Making a Difference:
- Stop The Traffik: These folks are on the front lines globally fighting human trafficking. Their website has a detailed definition of human trafficking, and a comprehensive guide on how to spot the signs. Check out what they’re up to and how you can get involved: Stop The Traffik.
Source: “Three Core Elements”. Stop The Traffik, https://www.stopthetraffik.org/what-is-human-trafficking/definition-and-scale/
- The Salvation Army UK: As one of the leading anti-trafficking organisations in the UK, The Salvation Army provides support for survivors, raises awareness, and advocates for systemic change. Learn more about their initiatives and how you can support their mission: The Salvation Army UK.
- Unseen UK: Dedicated to fighting modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK and beyond, Unseen offers support services, advocacy, resources and a helpline. Explore their work and find out how you can get involved: Unseen UK.
Want to Learn More? Check Out These Reads:
- Human Trafficking Foundation: Explore resources and reports on human trafficking in the UK provided by the Human Trafficking Foundation, and subscribe to their newsletter: Human Trafficking Foundation.
- Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW): GAATW is a global network advocating for the rights of migrant workers and trafficked persons. They promote a social justice approach to human trafficking, addressing intersecting factors like gender, race, class and migration status. Explore their publications, including their most recent special issue examining the link between housing, homelessness, migration and exploitation: GAATW Publications.
Support the Cause with a Donation:
- Unseen Tours: Help us support more survivors of human trafficking, share their stories and find employment, by donating to Unseen Tours.
- Stop The Traffik: Join the movement to prevent human trafficking and exploitation by supporting Stop The Traffik’s initiatives in the UK and around the world. Your donation can make a difference: Donate to Stop The Traffik.
- Hope for Justice: Support Hope for Justice’s work to rescue victims, provide restorative care, and bring perpetrators to justice in the UK. Your contribution helps in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery: Donate to Hope for Justice UK.
Stay Connected with Unseen Tours:
- LinkedIn: Connect with us on LinkedIn to stay in the loop about upcoming events and initiatives: Unseen Tours LinkedIn.
- Instagram: Follow us @UnseenTours for updates, stories and more.
Thank you for being part of our journey and for your commitment to making a positive impact. Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to create change together!
Help us address raise awareness
Come on a tour!
Support our guides to earn income (while having a wonderful walk and learning fascinating new things about London).
Donate
Help us extend the positive social impact we’re able to create in helping more survivors.
Partner with us
Find out how your organisations could support Unseen Tours to increase the impact they’re able to make through corporate partnerships.
Free tours for like-hearted organisations
In Summer 2025, we will be able to offer our tours for free to London-based organisations supporting:
- refugees
- people affected by homelessness
- people affected by human trafficking and modern slavery
As part of our commitment to help refugees, people affected by homelessness and people affected by human trafficking and modern slavery, we really want our tours to be aspirational for people with lived experience of it. The project for which we received funding will therefore be used to deliver walks for London-based organisations working with these groups, who no longer have funding to pay for walks, but whose beneficiaries could really benefit from walks around their own neighbourhoods for a number of reasons:
- To help their health and fitness
- Mental health benefits of walking
- To meet other people who have been in similar situations to them previously (peer support through difficult circumstances)
- Aspirational walks – to see someone who has experienced homelessness (like them) lead a walking tour and give them the encouragement that they may be able to do something similar
- Get a new appreciation for London and the outdoors
We’re grateful to have received the Community Ideas Grant, funded by Transport for London in partnership with The London Marathon Charitable Trust and managed by the environmental regeneration charity Groundwork London under the Walking and Cycling Grants London grant programme, to enable us to reach these audiences and increase the positive social impact we’re able to make in London.
To nominate your organisation for these free walking tours, please complete the form below: