Trauma Aid UK was formerly known as Humanitarian Assistance Programmes (HAP) UK and Ireland.
EMDR humanitarian programmes are part of a worldwide movement that began in 1995 in response to the Oklahoma City bombing in the United States. One hundred volunteer clinicians who were trained in EMDR therapy provided pro bono treatment for the bombing victims and front-line responders, of whom 80% benefitted within three treatment sessions. They went on to provide free trainings in EMDR therapy for clinicians. The feedback was so positive that a not-for-profit organisation was soon established, which is now called Trauma Recovery, EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs. This organisation has coordinated projects throughout the U.S. (such as 9/11 and hurricane Katrina) and internationally in more than 30 countries.
Under the umbrella organisation, HAP Europe, organisations providing EMDR humanitarian assistance programmes developed in various countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Holland and the UK.
These HAP organisations have taken EMDR to communities affected by the consequences of psychological trauma, with projects in China, Indonesia, Ukraine, India, Palestine, Pakistan, South America and Cuba and led to EMDR becoming increasingly well-known across several continents.
One of the goals of EMDR HAP programmes is to promote the development of EMDR in the countries we are helping. The aim is for the provision of EMDR to become locally sustainable, with the provision of EMDR training sessions, professional accreditation and professional development.
EMDR Asia is an international professional organisation which was launched in July 2010 in Bali. EMDR Asia is the culmination of HAP projects in India, Pakistan, Indonesia and China.
Another major goal was achieved last year through the founding of EMDR Africa Association in 2020, comprising 11 African countries. Meanwhile Trauma Aid UK co-ordinators in the Middle East have founded EMDR Egypt and EMDR Jordan in preparation for the founding of EMDR Regional Association in the Middle East, expected in this year.
In 2016, HAP Europe changed its name to Trauma Aid Europe and we became known as Trauma Aid UK.
As an independent organisation, Trauma Aid UK began its first overseas project in Bosnia-Hercegovina in 2009 which is an ongoing project. In 2013, Trauma Aid UK expanded to run a project in the Middle East, in response to the ongoing conflict in the region.
In 2019, Trauma Aid UK celebrated its 10th year of being an independent charitable organisation. We continue to expand our work where the need is greatest and for the moment this is focussed on the Middle East.
Following the Manchester and London bombings in 2017, Trauma Aid UK engaged in early response training. Many EMDR clinicians have been trained in Early Response EMDR Interventions that can be used to good effect in such circumstances as natural disasters or acts of mass violence or terrorism.
Our ongoing commitment and growth to assisting the relief from suffering that mass trauma brings relies on the support of our members, supporters and the EMDR UK Community and collaboration with the EMDR Community worldwide.