Sanctuary Comedy Special 2024
ROHAN JAYASEKERA
The untold experiences of refugees who seek safety in England are many. The darkest, most hidden ones are the experiences of torture. Hundreds, maybe thousands of our newest arrivals bear the physical and mental scars of brutal abuse at the hands of others, acting with impunity, outside the law, let alone decent human behaviour.
Jessica Fostekew
Hastings Community of Sanctuary (HCoS) is a local volunteer-run charity committed to building a culture of welcome for people seeking sanctuary in our town. Freedom from Torture (FFT) stands with survivors, providing therapy and support and fighting for change together. Natural partners in care, the two are joining forces again for another joint charity fundraiser this month.
Hastings Museum in Bohemia Road is the venue for a fundraising comedy night for HCoS and the East Sussex FFT Support Group, in partnership with Hastings’ comedy kings Kamikaze Komedy. Expect lots of laughs and an auction of fantastic promises, all under the expert eye of MC Tim B’vard, from the legendary Bavard Bar, on Friday 22 November from 7.00pm.
Tickets are available online for £16.96, which includes the Eventbrite booking fee. The acts include Alvin Liu, who has wowed audiences with his cheeky humour and cultural observations from Shanghai to London; William Stone, BBC New Comedy Award finalist; and Jessica Fostekew, from hit sitcom Motherland and star of BBC Radio 4’s Sturdy Girl Club.
Torture causes long-lasting mental and physical pain. It can take many years for someone to recover from it. Freedom from Torture’s aim is to help people come to terms with their experiences and enjoy lives that are as full and happy as possible. Their specialists offer one-to-one therapy, group activities and other support including treatment for lasting physical pain.
FFT supporters – and crucially, the survivors themselves – are activists for change as well. As part of their recovery, survivors can share and use their stories to fight for change. Like HCoS, FFT supports a wide range of activist and creative groups, led by survivors and refugees, that raise public awareness and influence decision-makers about torture and its impact.
Both groups are supporting a campaign led by Detention Action to end the UK’s practice of allowing indefinite immigration detention, the only country in Europe to do so. Thousands are detained indefinitely in prison-like conditions while their immigration or asylum claim is processed, sometimes for years at a time.
Local activists will be sharing information about the campaign between Friday’s acts at Hastings Museum, and asking supporters to write to East Sussex MPs, including Hastings’ new MP, Helena Dollimore, to express their concerns over this ongoing situation and to call for a more humane system. Please join them, on the night and on the campaign.
For tickets go to: eventbrite.co.uk/e/sanctuary-comedy -special-2024-tickets-1016262276827 also bit.ly/3NI6e65
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply