Mental health of hundreds of Londoners to improve thanks to City Bridge Foundation funding

Trauma Treatment International (TTI) has been awarded a three-year grant to work with London-based survivors of hostage situations, torture, state persecution and war, along with the organisations which support them. 

The funding from City Bridge Foundation, London’s biggest independent charity funder, sees the launch of a new project to assist organisations working with survivors of abuse, exploitation and hatred. Our work will help to strengthen their pathways to trauma management, mitigation and treatment services.

The organisations supported through this project will also be given tools to support staff mental health and gain knowledge about trauma, while beneficiaries will be given access to evidence-based treatment to support their recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

TTI CEO Quen Geuter said: “We are extremely grateful to City Bridge Foundation for their generous grant. This three-year funding means that more than 350 staff and volunteers working with survivors will benefit from improved mental health and lower rates of stress, burnout and vicarious trauma. In turn, the mental health of 600 survivors of collective violence will be improved through access to services from organisations that are trauma-informed.

“What’s more, 15 individuals suffering from trauma and PTSD will be given access to evidence-based trauma treatment with our expert clinical psychologists.”

Quen added that there is a growing need for this project, with TTI receiving multiple requests each week from organisations struggling to manage unprecedented levels of trauma in their beneficiaries, communities and workforces. 

In a recent TTI survey, only a quarter of trauma-exposed organisations said they felt they had adequately responded to the mental health needs of their staff after the pandemic. “And yet trauma is increasing exponentially in communities across London, as organisations work hard to secure justice and human rights for victims of state aggression, war and torture,” said Quen.

She added: “Clients with acute trauma or PTSD who receive clinical interventions fare better than 90 per cent of those who are not treated. This underlines the importance of accessible therapy. Indeed, NHS trauma services have a waiting list of up to three years, while we can currently offer treatment within two to three weeks.”

If your organisation works with people affected by torture, trafficking, slavery, persecution or war, and are concerned about the impact of trauma in your workplace, visit www.tt-intl.org to find out how to access support from TTI. There, you will also find free tools to assess your organisation’s level of risk from trauma in our Resource Hub.

• City Bridge Foundation is a world-class bridge owner responsible for five Thames crossings – including the iconic Tower Bridge – and London’s biggest independent charity funder.

  It awards over £30 million a year in grants to charitable organisations across London, and has made a further £200 million available over the five years to 2026 to support the capital’s charity sector.

  The foundation has been bridging London and connecting communities for over 900 years. Its sole trustee is the City of London Corporation – the governing body for the Square Mile.