About Us

Hostage International exists to support the families of hostages, and former hostages around the world.

Kidnappings and arbitrary detentions are frightening and often lonely experiences, impacting not only the hostage but their family, friends, community, colleagues and employer. As an independent charity, we strive to make sure that people affected are supported throughout their ordeal – and beyond.

We do this through:

  • Delivering direct and tailored support, guidance and information, and access to specialist services to those affected by hostage-taking and arbitrary detention outside their home country.
  • Offering access to free professional services and bespoke advice, to include legal, media, trauma therapy, medical and dental care, and we aim to lessen the strain around administrative tasks, and financial or employment worries, for those affected.
  • Providing bespoke training to organisations, government departments and NGOs, around best practice in family support and hostage reintegration.
  • Working discreetly to encourage governments and employers to adopt policies and practices in family and post-release which take into account the family and former hostage perspectives.

We are not involved in the resolution of these incidents, but we fill a much-needed gap in helping people understand how these incidents are resolved and by whom, as well as helping to make sense of the challenges along the way.

Since our founding in 2004, we have helped more than 500 individuals – including families and loved-ones who have had someone taken hostage, and former hostages after their release.

Our work continues to grow, and at any one time we are usually supporting around 70 people.

Our History

Hostage International was founded in 2004 – initially as Hostage UK – by former hostage Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, and Carlo Laurenzi OBE, in response to a gap they saw in support for families and former hostages.

They were soon joined by a handful of likeminded individuals who had been personally affected by kidnapping or worked in kidnap and crisis management roles. Based in the UK, we became the go-to organisation for independent and open-ended support for families affected by a hostage incident, regardless of their nationality or place of residence.

Hostage International continues to offer essential support and expertise to those in need of our services.

Our sister charities, Hostage US and Hostage Italia are unique organisations set up to support those in the United States and Italy respectively. The three existing Hostage organisations, while separate legal entities, share the same aims, operating principles and ethos.

Our constitution.

Our impact

We constantly strive to do the best for those we support and thank you to everyone who helps make our work possible.

Please read our impact report, highlighting our work from April 2022 to March 2023:

Impact Report 2022-23

Our Staff

Lara Symons

Chief Executive

[email protected]

Georgina Cooper

Communications & Engagement Manager

[email protected]

Jim Collins OBE

Case Manager

[email protected]

Our President and Trustees

Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE

Co-Founder & President

Carlo Laurenzi OBE

Vice-President and Co-Founder

Phil Bigley OBE

Trustee & Chair of the Board of Trustees

Libby Bassett

Trustee & Treasurer

Mike Millward

Trustee & Honorary Secretary

Peter Rudge

Trustee

Claire Browne

Trustee

Pulina Whitaker

Trustee

Stephen Regel OBE

Trustee and mental health lead

Our Mental Health Panel

Dr Leslie Perman-Kerr

Mental Health Adviser, England, UK.

Professor Neil Greenberg

Mental Health Adviser, England, UK.

Professor Gordon Turnbull

Mental Health Adviser, England, UK.

Dr. Anthony Feinstein

Mental Health Adviser, Canada.

Arlene Healey

Mental Health Adviser, Northern Ireland, UK.

Professor Lynne McCormack

Mental Health Adviser, Australia.

Dr Alastair M Hull

Mental Health Adviser, Scotland, UK.