Through our Social and Recreational Programme, we aim to provide relief from the trials of daily life and much needed companionship for our families. We organise coffee mornings, iftars, Eid parties, day trips, Summer outings and more to help families unite and experience a return to normalcy.
During our weekly coffee mornings, families who have been affected by anti-terror laws unite. This allows them to socialise with one another without fear of being marginalised or judged. Sharing experiences, advice and skills, they begin to feel less isolated and alone.
On special occasions like Eidal-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, the festivals that occur at the end of the month of Ramadan and at the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimageHHUGS organise gatherings for families. We know that holidays can be the loneliest time of year without a husband, father or son to celebrate with. To take their minds off of every-day life we try to ensure they are not alone and still enjoy the happiness of that day, whether that’s giving them a change of scenery, taking them on all expenses paid trips to theme parks and gifting them vouchers for Eid and presents for the children and elderly. We also cover the costs of other regular social activities such as gym membership, sports clubs and recreational activities for children, helping them to grow in confidence.
At HHUGS we sincerely believe that comfort and social support brings long-term emotional benefits, giving the wives and children of detainees the ability to resume a wholesome and balanced life.
“Yes, people may see the family of someone incarcerated and think they are getting by but no-one knows what that family is truly going through behind closed doors and the truth is, that family is falling apart. The children grow up without guidance and a father figure amongst the trials and pressures of teenage life; they grow up not having what their friends have, not being able to ask their parents for Eid gifts, feeling they have to provide for their family a lot sooner as the breadwinner is no longer there. They feel deprived and inadequate compared to their friends; they feel they do not have the ability or chance to fulfill their potential in life.”