You can now buy a HUG on our online shop. Pre-order now to be one of the first to receive a HUG when they become available. Sponsor a HUG and care home packs with training are also available.
HUG featured on BBC’s The One Show on Monday 15th February at 7pm. If you missed the live broadcast, watch the film below. You can pre-order a HUG via our online shop.
We are delighted to announce our official partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, to ensure HUGs get to the people living with dementia who really need them. We are one of three partners that will be helped via their Accelerator programme, which aims to foster innovative ideas to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. Thank you Alzheimer’s Society!
We have been crowdfunding to get the first batch of HUG into production. We have nearly reached our £20,000 target with over 200 supporters. You can visit our campaign and make pledge via the link below.
Hooray for HUG! Thanks to your support, HUG won both the People’s Award and the Winner of Winners Award for #Tech4Good 2020! The People’s Award was sponsored by Crowdfunder and was won due to the campaign and the overwhelming support from our Crowdfunder supporters. From all of the HUG team, a huge thank you for your support and lovely comments. We are thrilled!
As a big thank you, and in order for HUG to reach as many people as possible, Crowdfunder have allowed us to reopen the rewards from the campaign – so there’s still an opportunity to donate, be an Early Adopter and pre-order HUG at a discounted price! If you’ve already donated or bought a HUG, we would appreciate it if you could share and tell all your family, friends and colleagues to see if we can hit our new £20,000 stretch target.
HUG™ has been the feature of a short film, produced by the BBC. Reporter Colette Hume has been following the development of HUG over the last few months, from production of 40 HUGs by a self-reliant sewing group in Port Talbot, to the trial of 20 HUGs with residents at Sunrise of Cardiff. The film shares this journey and the story of Margaret, a resident of Sunrise of Cardiff, and her daughter Alison.
Developing HUG we've met some amazing people along the way. They have been so excited by the potential benefits of HUG that they gave us these kind words to share with you...
HUG is a comfort for Mum. Wherever Mum goes, HUG will go. There is a strong attachment and emotional bond.
Family carer & supporter of HUG
This sweet, simple and effective product touches the heart, very tactile and believable. What greater feeling is there than receiving a hug?
Judge's comments, Accelerator Award
The HUG, I don't know what it is, but it has kind of brought her (Mum) back again. The recognition, the smiles, the happiness seems to have come back.
Family Carer
HUG is a great companion for supporting the well-being of people affected by more advanced dementia, especially those with emotional needs for comfort and security.
Dementia Pal Ltd
Using the HUG has been an effective way of helping our residents feel secure and loved, it has been amazing to see the smiles that a HUG can bring.
Sunrise Senior Living
HUG can provide comfort and wellbeing to people living with advanced dementia and offers a way of reconnecting with loved ones when words are often hard to communicate.
Dementia Nurse Consultant, DUETcare
As a person affected by dementia, I fully endorse HUG. I really want a HUG..... everybody needs a HUG!
Alzheimer's Society Ambassador
HUG features in Advances Magazine, published by Welsh Government. Read the full article here.
HUG™ has been developed as a result of five years of academic research at Cardiff Metropolitan University, led by our Research Director, Cathy Treadaway. Knowledge gained from the LAUGH (2015-18) and LAUGH EMPOWERED (2018-20) projects have helped us to create, develop and evaluate HUG™.
HUG by LAUGH ltd. is a spin out company from Cardiff Metropolitan University. The founding members are researchers from the LAUGH project and the CARIAD research group. The company is founded on eight years of design research led by Prof Treadaway which is published internationally and is considered world leading in the field of design for advanced dementia. Our value is not only in the HUG™ product that we have developed, but also the underpinning research and Compassionate Design approach developed by Prof Treadaway.
Managing Director
Jac is a Product Designer and Researcher. She is a graduate of the Royal College of Art and gained real-world industry experience working in the R & D labs for Hewlett-Packard and Philips, and as a design consultant for IDEO and MIT MediaLab.
Research Director
Cathy is Professor at Cardiff Metropolitan University and lead investigator for the LAUGH research. Prior to her return to academia in 2003, she ran a successful design consultancy for 17 years selling work globally.
Techincal Director
Aidan has a background in creative practice and electronics, and has worked in product development, technical manufacturing and production at Model Electronics. He has a long affiliation with ‘Maker Movement’ and community arts initiatives.
