Every week we meet for an hour. 

Location to be confirmed via Whatsapp chat. Before Covid-19, we used to meet at Gascoine Children Center but since Covid-19, we are doing our sessions in parks (weather allowing) or via Zoom. However, we are working hard to find a place where we can meet safely again. We will keep you updated.

Every week we meet for an hour. Everybody is welcome. Just like you would do when you haven’t seen a friend for a while, the chat stars by seeing how everybody is and checking if anybody needs to share something, ask important questions that have come up through the week or get something out of their chest. Sometimes, those conversations take the whole hour and other times if the participants are interested, we suggest topics, ideas and interesting issues about us and our children.

Originally from the 4th October to 6pm on the 4th November 2020, but still available to view!  

The free exhibition can be accessed through the artist’s website here: 

The Hug is working with British-Nigerian artist Latifat Obanigba to present an exhibition titled: Her Story - celebrating black women breaking barriers and making history. Through the exhibition, Obanigba will take the viewer on a journey celebrating and paying tribute to black women breaking the mode and creating history despite all barriers, telling their story of strength, resilience, and growth through adversity, and reclaiming their queendom in modern society. 

The free exhibition takes place in October, Black History Month in the UK, and will display hand and digitally painted pieces centred around positive black culture and women creating history in modern times. The exhibition responds to the fact that BAME communities has been underrepresented for decades. By celebrating black culture and including the whole community into a significant event Obanigba and The Hug Support Group aim to promote a positive image of the black community, and women in particular. 

Funding for the exhibition was successfully awarded to The Hug from Barking and Dagenham Council’s Equality and Diversity Community Fund.

The Guide is currently in production and will be launched later this year. Our plan is then to produce an updated print version of the guide annually. 

The Guide will be distributed throughout Barking and Dagenham and will be available online.

Barking and Dagenham have some amazing services and initiatives. Unfortunately, though, it is sometimes difficult for residents to know about them. Especially concerning new parents, there is so much going on in their lives (and the sleep deprivation!), and with the current situation, it might be difficult to understand where and how to look for help. 

We are making a guide with all the most relevant information about children (family services, GP, vaccination, health and safety, nurseries, weight clinics, parents’ wellbeing, mental health and so on...). 

This project has been funded by BD Giving.