What happens to the donations

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture offers a unique multi-disciplinary service to survivors of torture and organised violence. There is no other comprehensive service of its kind in the UK.

Our principles

From the first moment that a person or family arrives at the MF, we aim to address the whole person, or family, and the full extent of the experience they bring to us.

That is why we have brought together such a wide range of clinical and other specialities into a single, integrated service for survivors of torture and organised violence. Since the MF was established in 1986, we have worked hard to create a holistic approach, embracing the hearing of testimony, crisis intervention, long-term rehabilitation and practical assistance. Since we began, over 45,000 clients from all over the world have been referred to us.

Our services

The MF aims to provide the following services free of charge to survivors of torture and their families, whatever their race, ethnic origin, language, gender, age, or religious or political background:

  • medical, psychiatric and psychological consultation, assessment and treatment.
  • rehabilitation, short and long term - through social care, casework and counselling psychotherapy, physiotherapy, complementary therapies and group and family work.
  • forensic medical reports to document torture and ill-treatment in support of claims for asylum.
  • small financial grants as well as practical assistance with getting help from housing and welfare agencies.

We work in partnership with others who help torture survivors and their families by collaborating with community groups and other organisations and agencies in the UK and abroad.

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We aim to provide training and advice for health professionals, teachers, social workers, local community groups and others who work with torture survivors in the UK.

In addition to its work with clients, the MF plays an important role nationally and internationally in raising public awareness of the plight of torture victims, and in lobbying Government departments. Fundamental to our help for survivors of torture are our ongoing efforts towards the abolition of torture through:
  • documenting evidence of torture.
  • researching and publishing objective findings about torture and organised violence.
  • educating public opinion and decision-makers about torture and its consequences.
  • supporting the implementation of international human rights laws as well as standards of medical ethics against torture.
  • campaigning to improve the legislative framework in the UK for the treatment of survivors of torture.
  • educating the public and decision-makers about the consequences of the international trade in repressive technology and training used to perpetrate torture and organised violence.