21/05/2025 – We hosted our BAME Families of Prisoners conference, where we launched our 5 year evaluation report on the impact of imprisonment on BAME Families and the essential work of Himaya Haven, in supporting such families. We had guest speakers who included; Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands Chris Loughran, Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal, Dr. Nathan Kerrigan Principle Investigator of the report, Muslim Chaplain Imam Zahid Ali from HMP Birmingham, HMP Birmingham Senior Leadership Team Member Craig Smith, Imam Ismail Isakji and West Midlands Police Crime Commissioner Simon Foster. In attendance were also Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Sofia Buncy MBE who is also CEO of Muslim Women in Prison Project, West Midlands police officers, Muslim chaplains from prisons in the West Midlands, Youth crime prevention teams, mental health officials, PACT representative and more.
We launched our brand new 3 part Hidden Victims Programme (Prisoners, Families and Communities), and our brand new client video interviews, where we highlight the suffering and challenges that prisoners families experience. These will be launched on YouTube very soon.
We are so pleased to have professionals in the room who are interested in how we as a whole can support those affected by imprisonment. We have taken this opportunity to open up the conversation around this topic and bring it forward into the community and we will continue to bring light to this hidden topic so that those who have a loved one in prison or custody can receive the all round support that they deserve when facing this alone. We are sure that those in attendance have left our conference with a deeper insight and understanding into this very important topic.
This is more than just a report – it is a call for action, compassion and understanding towards the hidden victims of crime.
We would also like to acknowledge Birmingham City Football Club Foundation for lending us their conference room, Azad’s Supermarket (Stoney Lane) for their donation of drinks, and Midland Catering for donating part of our provided lunch.
BAME Families of Prisoners Conference Himaya Haven
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Simon Foster BAME Families of Prisoners Conference Himaya Haven
