BLOG: Life-Changing Impact of BTG Support 

08 Sep BLOG: Life-Changing Impact of BTG Support 

Oakleaf is a key delivery partner for Bridge the Gap, providing tailored one-to-one support designed around each person’s individual circumstances and goals. Support can include help with physical and mental healthcare, finances, housing, daily living and accessing other services. 

The following anonymous case study illustrates the profound difference that this kind of sustained, compassionate support can make. It tells the story of two brothers who had experienced more than 13 years of exploitation and financial abuse.  

The brothers first came to our attention when a social worker contacted us about a food parcel. It quickly became clear that they had been victims of modern slavery for more than 13 years. Alongside their full-time jobs, the brothers were forced to work for a perpetrator and his family, carrying out cleaning, running errands and other tasks. Their wages were paid into the perpetrator’s bank account, leaving them with just £40 a month to live on. 

Their home was also used as part of the exploitation. One brother was coerced into remortgaging the property, while the house became filled with unwanted belongings from the perpetrator’s family. By the time we met them, the impact of years of exploitation was severe. One of the brothers was experiencing intense anxiety and panic attacks and was terrified that he and his brother would be attacked if they returned home. 

We arranged emergency accommodation for both brothers and began working with the police to ensure their safety and explore a modern slavery investigation. They were not yet ready to provide statements, so practical measures were put in place, including changing the locks on their home. 

Supporting Recovery 

Over the following three years, Bridge the Gap provided consistent, one-to-one support as the brothers began to regain control of their lives. 

One brother experienced daily panic attacks, sometimes lasting for hours, as well as severe health anxiety. We supported him to access Safe Haven services through Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, while continuing to provide practical and emotional support. 

We also helped tackle the significant financial problems created by years of exploitation. Working alongside the police, forensic accountants, banks, social services and Citizens Advice, we gradually began to resolve the debts and financial agreements that had been taken out or accumulated during this time. 

The results were significant: 

• A £130,000 water debt was removed. 

• The brothers’ car finance was cancelled. 

• They secured Personal Independence Payment (PIP). 

• The remaining mortgage was paid off, allowing them to own their home outright. 

• They regained control of their finances and built significant savings. 

Three Years On 

The brothers’ circumstances are now very different. After years of financial control, they have rebuilt their financial security and have more than £100,000 in savings. 

One brother was unable to return to work because of the trauma he experienced and took voluntary redundancy from his long-term employment. He is now focusing on his recovery with ongoing mental health support. Most importantly, the brothers have regained control over their home, their finances and their choices. 

Their story demonstrates the importance of long-term, trauma-informed support. For people who have experienced years of exploitation and control, recovery does not happen overnight. Building trust, addressing practical problems and regaining independence takes time. 

About Bridge the Gap 

Bridge the Gap is a trauma-informed outreach service delivered as part of the Government’s Changing Futures programme. Working with experts with lived experience, the service provides flexible, person-centered support to people facing multiple disadvantages across Surrey. 

Oakleaf is a key delivery partner, with support workers providing one-to-one practical and emotional support tailored to each person’s needs. This can include help with mental health, housing, finances, healthcare and everyday living, supporting people to build greater stability and independence. 

A wider network of support 

Bridge the Gap is one part of Oakleaf’s wider partnership work across Surrey. Alongside Changing Futures, Oakleaf works with voluntary-sector and statutory partners to support people experiencing  multiple disadvantage, comprising mental ill-health, criminal justice involvement, homelessness, domestic abuse and substance misuse. 

This includes work funded through the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund, delivered in partnership with organisations including The Hope Hub, Guildford Action, Rentstart and Catalyst Support. 

Across our outreach services and evening support – including Bridge the Gap, Check Point, Assertive Outreach, Open Door and The Holding Space – our approach is centred on early intervention, trauma-informed support, lived experience and practical help. 

Together, these services provide different routes into support, helping people access the right help at the right time and, where possible, preventing problems from escalating into crisis. 

To find out more about Bridge the Gap and our wider support services, visit: www.oakleaf-enterprise.org/get-support 

 Help Us Continue This Work 

Stories like this show what can be achieved when people have access to the right support, for as long as they need it. As Oakleaf looks towards our Next 30 Years, we want to ensure services like Bridge the Gap can continue to make a difference for people facing some of life’s most difficult challenges. 

Our Next 30 Years campaign is about securing the future of Oakleaf and helping us continue to provide vital support across Surrey for years to come. 

Find out more about our campaign and how you can help: www.oakleaf-enterprise.org/next-30-years