East Sussex Freedom from Torture Supporters Group

29/12/2024

A concert in aid of Freedom from Torture in this time of terrible conflict. With tenor Mark Padmore, pianist Nancy Cooley and friends.

Music includes works by Bach, Abuwarda, Tippett, Holst, Macmillan, Messiaen, and a special composition for Freedom from Torture by Orlando Gough.

Readings include poems by Darwish, Hirschfield, Longley and Larkin.

St Anne's Church, Lewes: 3.00pm Saturday 25 January 2025. Book here: https://bit.ly/FFT25JAN

Freedom From Torture (FFT) is the only charity solely dedicated to the care of survivors of torture and provides a range of services including counselling for clients with complex PTSD, medical assessments, pain management, legal and welfare advice and medico/legal reports.

Torture causes long-lasting mental and physical pain. It can take many years for someone to recover from it. FFT helps people come to terms with their experiences and enjoy lives that are as full and happy as possible.

07/10/2024

Hastings Community of Sanctuary & Freedom From Torture East Sussex have teamed up again with Hastings' comedy kings Kamikaze Komedy. Expect lots of laughs and an auction of fantastic promises, under the expert eye of MC Tim B'vard, from the legendary Bavard Bar. All funds raised will go to support the vital work of both charities.

Line up: Alvin Liu, Jessica Fostekew & William Stone. MC – Tim B'vard from Hastings’ legendary Bavard Bar. With an Auction of Promises for some amazing & enlightening activity days.

Held in the beautiful Durbar Hall, at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery Bohemia Road Hastings TN34 1ET

Friday 22 Nov 2024, 7-10pm. Tickets from Eventbrite - £16.96 each including booking fee. Pay bar available.

A great night of comedy from Kamikaze Komedy, raising funds for Hastings Community of Sanctuary and Freedom From Torture East Sussex.

11/08/2024

Join us on a lovely coastal walk along the South Downs, raising awareness and funds for Freedom from Torture. £10 entry, includes cream tea.

29/09/2023

NATIONAL POETRY DAY CELEBRATION EVENT "Refuge" 7 p.m. Thursday 5th October . Free admission from 6-30. The Fishermens Club Royal Parade Eastbourne BN22 7AA. Ample free parking at the adjacent Fishermens Green car park. Level access, pay bar. duration aproximately2 hours. ALL WELCOME

The Programme will feature
1. The four worthy winners of our poetry competition
2. Two members of the Freedom From Torture "Write to Life" group - see details below
3. a number of local poets presenting their take on the NPD theme of refuge

Freedom From Torture's Write To Life group is the world's only long running creative writing group for survivors of torture. Its members meet each week to explore stories and ideas. If they choose to write about their experiences, we help them process thoughts and feelings in a safe environment.

Jade Amoli-Jackson was born in Uganda. She trained as a journalist, and then went to work as a sports reporter on Uganda Television/Radio and local papers. She left Uganda after experiencing torture and persecution, and sought asylum in the UK in 2001. Jade is a member of the Freedom From Torture Write to Life group, and volunteers at The Refugee Council. She published her first book of poems “Moving a Country” in 2013.

Tanya Rupande was born in Zimbabwe where she was a primary school teacher for 15 years. Tanya and her family spoke out against their regime in 1999 as it became oppressive and violent. Some of her family were maimed and killed.. Tanya fled. She arrived in UK in 2013 and was put in touch with Freedom From Torture in 2017. She loves nature, gardening, and writing. (https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/what-we-do/survivor-activism/write-to-life)

04/09/2023

Still time to join us this Sunday!

Join us on 10th September 2023 for a beautiful coastal walk in the South Downs, raising awareness and funds for Freedom from Torture

15/08/2023

Let's make this another splendid occasion. Please do come along if you can, it would be great to see you

Join East Sussex supporters of the charity Freedom from Torture for a beautiful walk along the East Sussex coast ending with a delicious cream tea in East Dean to raise funds for the charity’s work.

21/07/2023

Dear Friends, National Poetry Day this year (October 5th). Its theme this year is “REFUGE”. National Poetry Day is celebrated across the country with activities in schools and local communities, as well as on the radio and TV.
For the past few years Eastbourne Poetry Café has put on a special event for National Poetry Day. This year it is teaming up with East Sussex Freedom From Torture Supporters Group to run the event and to run an associated poetry competition leading up to it.

Competition further detail
POETRY COMPETITION on the theme of “”Refuge””
This competition is to encourage people to reflect about Refuge and then explore that creatively in words. What does refuge mean generally and personally to you and what form might it take?
Although there will be “winners” we will undertake to display every entry in a public place and digitally.
There two entry categories a) under 18s b) over 18s.
There will be 3 joint winners in each category who will be announced and awarded a certificate. Additionally, winners will be invited to perform their poem at a special National Poetry Day event on the 5th October.

Competition Rules
Preferably submissions by a single email with subject heading of NPD Competition to [email protected] with poem or poems attached, and titles and category named in the body of the email along with contact details .
People wishing to submit by post should apply for the postal address by email or text to 07848026186 and enclose a covering letter
with their poem or poems confirming their age category and contact details
Competition Rules “Eastbourne and The Environment”

One person may enter up to a maximum of 3 poems. In either the under 18 or over 18 age category.
The total size of all the submitted poems should not exceed 350 words or 40 lines.
Each poem should be written on a separate sheet of paper. It should have a title but not identify the author.
Typed entries preferred but legible handwritten submissions will be acceptable

Deadline for submission 31st August

31/05/2023

Getting ready for June's fantastic 2023 Festival, in support of Hastings Supports Refugees and East Sussex Freedom from Torture Supporters Group and their specialist work helping refugees in the area. Can you spend a little time to volunteer as a steward on June 25?

STEWARDS NEEDED FOR SANCTUARY FESTIVAL

Can you spare a couple of hours on Sunday 25 June?
We're looking for a few more volunteers to steward at Sanctuary Festival, to help the day run smoothly. No experience necessary and training given. Respond here or email [email protected]

Thank you!

06/01/2023

Freedom from Torture's East Sussex Support Group is again delighted to present a piano recital by award winning musician Nancy Cooley at St. Anne’s Parish church in Lewes.

Nancy is a Royal College of Music singing coach, pianist, and the Artistic Director of Lewes Festival of Song. St Anne's is a beautiful Grade One listed Norman church much beloved by musicians, historians, artists, tourists & residents of Lewes.

Nancy’s programme includes pieces by Chopin, Debussy and Schubert, and three new works by John Hawkins, Barry Mills and Julian Broughton, inspired by Freedom from Torture and the courageous survivors the charity has helped over the years.

There will also be refreshments and a chance to bid for a unique piece of pottery generously donated by Sussex potter Jonathan Chiswell Jones.

A Piano Recital by Nancy Cooley
in support of the charity Freedom from Torture
Sunday, 5 February 2023
1.45 for 2.00pm
St Anne's Parish Church, Western Road, Lewes BN7 1RJ
Book online or pay on the door - £10.00

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-piano-recital-by-nancy-cooley-in-support-of-freedom-from-torture-tickets-507344831047