London, 18 October 2026 – The October Club raised more than £900,000 after costs for STOP THE TRAFFIK at its 39th annual gala, held last Wednesday at The Savoy. It was one of the most successful fundraising years in the Club’s history. The funds will significantly boost STOP THE TRAFFIK’s ability to prevent children from being exploited and to protect those at risk.
Guests heard moving speeches from Eleanor Lyons, the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and Rebekah Lisgarten, CEO of STOP THE TRAFFIK, on the urgency and scale of the charity’s work.
Why this work matters
There are an estimated 140,000 victims of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK alone, and British nationals are the most commonly referred nationality for support through the UK National Referral Mechanism. Approximately 75% of these referrals are children who are being groomed for drug trafficking or sexual exploitation.
STOP THE TRAFFIK uses data and technology to disrupt such exploitation. It has built what it describes as the world’s richest database on trafficking, and this intelligence informs its digital programmes, which are proven to prevent exploitation, as well as its collaboration with financial institutions, businesses and law enforcement agencies to disrupt traffickers’ business models.
With the funds raised, STOP THE TRAFFIK will expand its Safer Futures programme across England. The programme collects localised intelligence, specifically to help prevent child criminal exploitation.
A night of generosity
Guests bid generously in the evening’s live and silent auctions, which featured Boodles platinum and diamond earrings, artworks by Luci Maclaren and James McGrath, places in the London Marathon and a “money-can’t-buy” private chef experience, among numerous other lots. Pledges made on the night added substantially to the total raised.
The October Club Committee is deeply grateful to everyone who joined the gala dinner and made it such a tremendous success, with a very special mention to all those kind individuals and companies that donated the evening’s auction lots.
Rebekah Lisgarten, CEO of STOP THE TRAFFIK, said: “Words cannot express my gratitude to The October Club and everyone in the room. I cannot wait to tell the stories of all the people we will be able to keep safe as a result of this funding and support. Thank you so much.”
For enquiries, please contact:
The October Club: enquiries@theoctoberclub.co.uk
STOP THE TRAFFIK: info@stopthetraffik.org