For the fourth year of our Ramadan Prisoner Welfare Pack Project we have been able to support 10 prisons and 2168 prisoners which is the largest number of prisons/prisoners supported by Himaya Haven to date. These include HMP/YOI Stoke Heath, Swinfen Hall, Birmingham, Oakwood, Featherstone, Brinsford, Sudbury, Stafford, Dovegate and Rye Hill. We have also supported our first Medium Secure Service with 15 patients at Reaside Clinic in Birmingham. Last year HMP Sudbury and Dovegate were interested in our project and receiving items for Ramadan however, expressed their interest once everything had been finalised meaning we were unable to provide this that time around, but ensured to include them this year. As a hands-on team of just 4 people we are incredibly proud of supporting this number of prisons/prisoners.

As always leading up to Ramadan, as we plan the timeframe for the project, we contact the Imam’s from the prisons to inform us of the items they will need for the coming Ramadan. Once receiving the information on the number of prisoners for each prison and their items list; we then purchased the items, separated and organised them for each prison and arranged either pick-ups or drop offs by the team/imams in perfect timing for the start of Ramadan 2024. All of the prisons received dates, attar bottles, some Islamic literature and Eid cards. HMP Swinfen Hall were also given Quranic CD’s, and stools for their wudhu (cleansing ritual before prayer) area. HMP Stoke Heath, were also given Fortress of the Muslim books, mosque hats and miswaak. HMP Oakwood were given prayer mats and Stafford were given Quranic CD’s too.

For Eid, this time around we supported HMP Long Lartin with baklava packs, and HMP Birmingham who also received biryani which was donated via a catering service. The Baklava for HMP Birmingham was sponsored by Asad Khan (A.k Legal/Hussain Solicitors).

Thank you to everyone who donated to or sponsored a part of this project. It is with you that we can continue this project year on year.