About us
Our mission, story and people
Our Vision
How do we acheive our vision?
Our Mission
Hagar are world leaders in Trauma Informed Care. For those affected by trauma and those who support them, Hagar’s experience and holistic care is there to help them heal and recover.
We believe that when healing happens, the cycle of trauma stops.
Our Values
Integrity: We commit to act ethically and honestly, striving to do the right thing in all times and in all circumstances.
Compassion: We want compassion and kindness to be evident in our attitude, communication and in active, practical ways.
Excellence: We hold ourselves to high standards, listening and learning from those we support, our partners and each other, to continuously improve all that we do.
Our History
Hagar was founded in 1994 in response to the prevalence of extreme domestic and community violence affecting women and children in post-civil war Cambodia. In 2009, HAGAR established an office in Vietnam to care for women who were affected by the growing magnitude of exploitation and abuse. More recently, Hagar began delivering programmes for women through our support office in Singapore, and we are partnering with organisations in Myanmar & the Solomon Islands to increase their capacity to provide trauma-informed care.
Now, with more than 25 years of experience, Hagar is an internationally renowned leader in recovery services for survivors of human trafficking, slavery and abuse and voice for change.
The Hagar Story
The Hebrew name Hagar means “one who flees” or “one who seeks refuge.” The story of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, is the story of millions of exploited, abused, and trafficked women and children.
In around 2000 BC, Hagar worked in a foreign land as a domestic servant for a rich man called Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Sarah was unable to bear children and, following a common practice of the time, Sarah offered her servant to Abraham. When Hagar became pregnant, Sarah grew jealous and threw her out of their home. An angel found Hagar alone in the desert. He promised a blessing on her child, naming him Ishmael, which means “God hears.” In response Hagar declared: “You are the One who sees me.” The story of Hagar is known to many faiths including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Hagar is committed to providing sanctuary and hope to women and children like Hagar and Ishmael, walking the whole journey with each one.
OUR STAFF
Shelagh Paterson
Executive Director
With over 35 years in fundraising, marketing and communication, Shelagh has a deep knowledge of all fundraising streams, and the UK giving arena. She has held senior roles in the commercial and not for profit sector, raising funds for charities working in health, the elderly, disability, children, heritage and conservation. She has personally secured multimillion pound partnerships and built high performing teams, to deliver new fundraising streams which deliver the highest returns, with strong focus on partnerships and high quality supporter stewardship.
Shelagh has volunteered for numerous charities, giving guidance and strategic direction to new and struggling organisations. She also helps raise funds for disadvantaged children to access the arts in her local community. In her last role she launched a new UK charity, which now generates just under US$2 million a year.
Having been made aware of the incredible work Hagar International does, in transforming the lives of survivors of trafficking, slavery and abuse, working with the Hagar UK trustees, Shelagh will establish a team in the UK, informing grant makers, corporates and individuals of the life changing impact their support will have in in helping some of the most disadvantaged in society.
Shelagh Paterson
Executive Director
With over 35 years in fundraising, marketing and communication, Shelagh has a deep knowledge of all fundraising streams, and the UK giving arena. She has held senior roles in the commercial and not for profit sector, raising funds for charities working in health, the elderly, disability, children, heritage and conservation. She has personally secured multimillion pound partnerships and built high performing teams, to deliver new fundraising streams which deliver the highest returns, with strong focus on partnerships and high quality supporter stewardship.
Shelagh has volunteered for numerous charities, giving guidance and strategic direction to new and struggling organisations. She also helps raise funds for disadvantaged children to access the arts in her local community. In her last role she launched a new UK charity, which now generates just under US$2 million a year.
Having been made aware of the incredible work Hagar International does, in transforming the lives of survivors of trafficking, slavery and abuse, working with the Hagar UK trustees, Shelagh will establish a team in the UK, informing grant makers, corporates and individuals of the life changing impact their support will have in in helping some of the most disadvantaged in society.
Helen Russell
Fundraiser
Helen has 15 years’ experience in education, which has seen her enjoy teaching roles in the UK, Egypt and Australia. She believes that every child should have access to an education and in Egypt this led her to work in partnership with schools who were supporting disadvantaged children in local communities.
Helen’s interest in fundraising began in the heritage sector, where she has successfully developed key areas including high value donors, legacies, and corporate partners. With a flair for writing, she brings strong persuasive and passionate communication skills to engage a wide range of donor audiences.
After spending many years overseas with her New Zealand born husband, they now reside in Shropshire, England with their two children and three beagles.
Helen Russell
Fundraiser
Helen has 15 years’ experience in education, which has seen her enjoy teaching roles in the UK, Egypt and Australia. She believes that every child should have access to an education and in Egypt this led her to work in partnership with schools who were supporting disadvantaged children in local communities.
Helen’s interest in fundraising began in the heritage sector, where she has successfully developed key areas including high value donors, legacies, and corporate partners. With a flair for writing, she brings strong persuasive and passionate communication skills to engage a wide range of donor audiences.
After spending many years overseas with her New Zealand born husband, they now reside in Shropshire, England with their two children and three beagles.
OUR TRUSTEES
Suzanne Wilson-Higgins Chair
Trustee
Suzanne Wilson-Higgins
Chair of Board of Trustees
Suzanne has over 30 years’ experience as a company director in international book publishing, bookselling and printing. She is a trustee for several Christian non-profit organisations in the UK and has been a trustee for Hagar International UK for the past six years. She is based in Oxford, England and has three children and two grandchildren. She is passionate about Hagar’s work to support survivors through trauma-informed care and to strengthen prevention efforts to reduce human trafficking, slavery and abuse. Together with the other UK trustees, Suzanne hopes to build-up the UK support office to effectively fundraise for Hagar’s programmes.
Caroline Heyward
Trustee
Tom Simkiss
Trustee
Tom is a Senior Lawyer at the Government Legal Department, with a background in both private and public law litigation. He is also qualified as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand and previously worked as a Judge’s Clerk at the New Zealand High Court. He lives with his wife in West Yorkshire, where he loves getting out into the dales and onto the moors and getting involved with his local community.
Caroline Heyward
Trustee
Carrie found a passion for supporting trafficked people after witnessing trafficking happening in the apartments on the opposite side of the road to where she lived In Reading, England. Having moved to this town to support her husband in church leadership, she also found herself supporting and befriending many vulnerable women – particularly those that had suffered abuse, ex-offenders and ex-addicts. An invitation to join the UK Board of Hagar brought together these passions with her 20 years of experience in youth work. Carrie has been a youth pastor, mentor, coach, and manager. She has experience in the charitable sector holding two other trusteeships, and having experience of setting up and running UK charities. She has lectured in theology and youth work and shares in the leadership ministry of a local church at her current home in Oxford, England, where she encourages local community transformation. She is a general all-rounder, and is a practical, energetic, and an optimistic driver for change.
Anna Nileshwar
Trustee
Anna Nileshwar is a water & environment advisor in the Research of the FCDO. She has worked in FCDO (previously DFID) for 18 years across policy, research and country programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Before joining DFID’s Research Division, Anna was based in Vietnam managing DFID water and sanitation, livelihoods and climate change programmes across south east Asia. Her background is in water resource management, catchment planning and water quality – prior to DFID she worked for the National Rivers Authority, Environment Agency in the UK and a large engineering consultancy
Anna Nileshwar
Trustee
Anna Nileshwar is a water & environment advisor in the Research of the FCDO. She has worked in FCDO (previously DFID) for 18 years across policy, research and country programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Before joining DFID’s Research Division, Anna was based in Vietnam managing DFID water and sanitation, livelihoods and climate change programmes across south east Asia. Her background is in water resource management, catchment planning and water quality – prior to DFID she worked for the National Rivers Authority, Environment Agency in the UK and a large engineering consultancy
For more information about our global team members please refer to our other country sites.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
