Verdi’s opera classic, La Traviata, will be performed by London’s City Music Services in the stunning surroundings of Denmans Garden in rural Sussex, UK, on 11 October 2025 to raise essential funds for Hostage International. Please buy your tickets HERE. The fund-raising event was the brainchild of Hostage...
A mum of three completed the Great Bristol Run on 11 May 2025 to raise funds for Hostage International. Georgia Ladbury was, until last year, a self-professed ‘non-runner’, more likely to be found singing than running…
Hostage International has launched a new pilot project to offer extra help for families and former hostages as they readjust to life together after release. This innovative mediation service offers a unique opportunity for families –…
Anoosheh Ashoori dreamt of running the London Marathon throughout the five years that he was arbitrarily detained in Evin prison, and in April 2025 – at the age of 71 – he completed it for the…
Three years, nearly to the day, of her release from arbitrary detention in Iran, Nazanin was in Salisbury Cathedral in conversation with The Rt Revd Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne. On International Women’s Day, Nazanin shared…
A labour of love saw Dave Muller spending ten years building a yacht from scratch and in 1990 he set off with his family to fulfil his dream of voyaging to the tropics. Despite years of…
An end of year message from our CEO, Lara Symons. As we come to the end of 2024, it offers a moment to reflect on our achievements while highlighting our priorities for next year and beyond…
Former hostages meet up for group support In September 2024, a unique group of individuals joined together for a day to share their experiences and provide mutual support around having been held hostage. Organised by Hostage…
David Haines, a humanitarian worker, was among 26 hostages captured in Syria by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2013, before being murdered in September 2014. His daughter, Bethany, was 16 at the…
Bernard, an Irish-French tourism consultant with a love of Iran, was working with a local friend and tourism operator researching a new potential tour of the country when he was picked up by police and taken…
In 2004 our charity was founded in a bid to support the families of hostages, and hostages after they return. As such, 20 years on, this September we held a virtual challenge to help raise funds…
Our CEO, Lara Symons, contributed to a panel event at the UN Human Rights Council on Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations: Building Global Solidarity Against Hostage Diplomacy on 26 June 2024. Speaking on the side event’s…
For this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week our mental health adviser trustee, Stephen Regel, answered some questions around the challenges for families with a loved one taken hostage and what they can do to strive for…
Philippa Grant, who is in her eighties, from Hertfordshire, and her son Craig Grant (43), have talked about their desire to help raise funds for Hostage International so are taking on the 20for20: Challenge for All….
Sam Barnes (25), finished an ultramarathon on 11 May 2024 and in the process raised more than £3,200 for Hostage International. Sponsor Sam here! Moved by the personal experience of his uncle’s death in the In…
Now 70 years old, and just over two years since his release from being wrongfully detained in Iran, Anoosheh Ashoori embarked on his third London Marathon in April– something he could only dream of when imprisoned….
More than 200 Hostage International supporters filled the halls of the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey in London on 7 March 2024 to help highlight the 20th anniversary of the charity. Sir Terry Waite, Judith Tebbutt…
Former hostages Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, John McCarthy CBE, Judith Tebbutt and Anoosheh Ashoori, will be joining together in conversation on 7 March 2024 at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey in London, UK, to…
President and co-founder of Hostage International, Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, celebrated his knighthood with friends, staff and volunteers from three charities close to his heart – Hostage International, Emmaus and Y-Care. Sir Terry was appointed…
Canadian Robert Hall cashed in his life savings, bought a boat and sailed her halfway across the world to be with the woman he loved. He was a devoted father, brother, grandfather, uncle and a talented…
Yoga is practiced by many across the world, and 21 June is the International Day of Yoga, as proclaimed by the United Nations. To highlight this day, we’ve been speaking with Catie, previously a lawyer, who…
Hostage International’s president and co-founder Sir Terry Waite and chair Phil Bigley OBE have both been included in the King’s Birthday Honours list announced on June 17 in the UK. Former hostage Sir Terry has been…
Since being wrongfully detained in Iran, Anoosheh Ashoori completed his second London Marathon on Sunday 23 April – this time accompanied by his two children Just over a year after his release from being held captive…
Former volunteer caseworker Adam Samuels has completed his hike of the arduous Pennine Way through the Great British weather and raised more than £5,200 in the process, but you can still support him here. Over 16…
This time last year Anoosheh Ashoori was released after nearly five years of captivity in Iran, alongside Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, to return home to the UK. He puts his survival, in part, down to running whilst in…
As part of our bid to increase awareness of Hostage International and the plight of those we assist, we are pleased to announce that Judith Tebbutt has agreed to be a patron for the charity. Jude…
Telling the story of what we do at Hostage International isn’t always easy. We’re small, incredibly niche, and a lot of what we do has to stay below the radar for the safety and anonymity of…
16 January 2013 is a date that Nick Hitch was convinced he would not survive when militants linked to Al-Qaeda attacked the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria where he worked as a manager. A decade on,…
We are delighted to announce that former hostage John McCarthy CBE has joined Hostage International as our first patron. John has supported many of the charity’s events, so was asked by our co-founder and president,…
In the run up to Christmas 2018, Jocelyne’s daughter Edith was captured by an Islamic militant group when travelling with a friend in Burkina Faso. They were held for 450 days. Throughout those 15 months, even…
Hostage International wants to say a huge thank you to Anoosheh and Aryan Ashoori for their marathon efforts to not only raise funds for Hostage International but also help raise the profile of the charity. Anoosheh…
After nearly five years, Anoosheh Ashoori is now free from being held in arbitrary detention in Iran. Alongside his son, Aryan, he trained tirelessly to run the London Marathon in 2022 for Hostage International. Anoosheh spent…
More former hostages are now able to receive bespoke psychological treatment, following a new partnership we’ve forged with Trauma Treatment International (TTI). Thanks to funding from the MSN Family Trust, Hostage International is now able…
Hostage International is always delighted to hear of the release of hostages and we sincerely hope that families will be given privacy, space, and time to be with their loved ones. As a charity that…
This World Book Day we are highlighting books written by those who have experienced the trauma of being taken hostage or having had a loved one taken. Spanning many decades, there has been much research around…
Miles Hargrove’s father, Tom, was kidnapped in Colombia in 1994 when working as an agricultural scientist. During the 11 months of his captivity, his wife Susan encouraged their son Miles to pick up his Super-8 camera…
Once again many across the world are facing a Christmas when restrictions may have to be in force, as the latest Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads. Understandably many people will be disappointed and some will…
Ben Hockman, one of our most recent volunteer recruits explains why he wanted to join Hostage International. “Hostage-taking is the most heinous and traumatic of crimes because you can’t get over it. “If you…
“It doesn’t seem like thirty years, they’ve gone remarkably quickly,” explained Terry. “I still remember those days, but strangely enough, I don’t look back and deeply regret them; I wouldn’t want to go through that…
One woman’s brother was kidnapped in Latin-America a few years ago and every day she lives with the fact that he has never been found. She now lives in the UK with her family. Here, she…
To mark the 30th anniversary of our co-founder Terry Waite’s release from captivity, Hostage International embarked on its first ever challenge fundraising event in September 2021 to raise much-needed funds for the charity. More than £10,000…
Hostage International trustee and former hostage, Judith Tebbutt, reflects on the decade following her kidnap. Ten years ago, on 11 September 2011, I was abducted by Somali pirates whilst on holiday in Kenya with my husband…
Hostage International would like to pay tribute to the charity’s long-standing chair, John Smith, who has taken the decision to step down from his voluntary work with Hostage International after 12 years. John first joined the…
Shame is one of the most painful, toxic, and self-destructive emotions a person can have. It involves feelings of guilt, regret, embarrassment, or sadness surrounding the belief that you have done something wrong. Jessica Buchanan, who…
A potted history of Hostage International was shared this week as our co-founders Terry Waite and Carlo Laurenzi reminisced about setting up the charity, in front of an audience on Zoom. As part of our series…
To mark the 30th anniversary of our co-founder Terry Waite’s release from captivity Hostage International is inviting you to join its Beirut & Back – Challenge for All fundraising event. SIGN UP HERE The virtual event…
By Judith Tebbutt for International Widow’s Day It is almost ten years since I was taken hostage in Somalia and my husband was murdered on that same night, leaving me a widow. We had been on…
Join our co-founders of Hostage International Terry Waite CBE and Carlo Laurenzi OBE, with our CEO Lara Symons, for a chat on Tuesday 29 June at 7.30pm. So many people have so many questions about Hostage…
To celebrate #WorldBookDay on 4 March 2021, authors Terry Waite CBE and Colin Freeman donated a copy of their latest books to give away, each with the offer of a personalised message from the author. The…
Colin Freeman, journalist and former foreign correspondent at the Sunday Telegraph, highlights how Hostage International supported his loved ones when he was kidnapped in 2008 One November afternoon back in 2008, my Dad got a phone…
Thank you – from our Chief Executive, Lara Symons Hostage International has not been spared the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but reflecting on this extraordinary and difficult year, I want to say a heartfelt thank…
A note from Terry, co-founder and President of Hostage International: I am notoriously bad at remembering dates. Our twin daughters were born on 12 July and as my wife comes from Northern Ireland I could not…
BLOG: By Professor Gordon Turnbull, Hostage International Mental Health Adviser Horrific images of hostages and kidnap stories are often in the news. While Hostage International works to support former hostages and their families, I would urge…
Books have been key for many throughout lockdown and with September upon us, and the long-awaited return to school following months of disruption caused by Covid-19, we’re looking at literature to support children. We hope the…
As lockdown eases, our President and Co-Founder Terry Waite CBE has highlighted the increased need for Hostage International as more former hostages and their families have reached out for support during the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking at…
At the start of 2021, the work of Hostage International continues apace as we remain in the midst of this global Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen a rise in the number of former hostages reaching to…
The importance of ‘living in the moment’ and ‘be kind to ourselves and each other’ as we navigate through this complicated and sometimes isolated world of Covid-19, were among nuggets of advice from our President…
It is five years since Chris returned to the UK, after a terrifying ordeal when he was kidnapped when working as a mineral products expert in Nigeria. Hostage International helped him through the difficult time adjusting…
Since 2004, when Terry Waite CBE co-founded our charity, we have been providing crucial emotional and practical support to families affected by kidnaps as well as to returning hostages. Against the backdrop of Covid-19, we are…
As people across the world make adjustments needed to deal with the complexities around Covid-19, for some it may be the first time they are discovering what it means to lose their freedom and experience some…
Listen to Terry Waite’s interview on Virgin Radio around his experiences in captivity and how to cope with corona virus isolation. Words of comfort from Terry: As we come to terms with Covid-19, right across the world…
To highlight International Women’s Day 2020 Hostage International shines a spotlight on its director, Lara Symons, who throughout her career has forged her way through the male-dominated world of kidnap-for-ransom response. Lara is a mother of…
Chris Conrad has raised nearly £500 to support the work of Hostage International after taking on the infamous Yellow Brick Road assault course in the USA. Chris, a chief inspector with the Metropolitan Police, finished the…
Having a family member kidnapped is a deeply frightening and upsetting experience for anyone affected, but particularly for children. As such, to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Week, Hostage International has launched a new guide to…
After months of uncertainty, we are disappointed to announce that we will no longer be holding our Finding Solace in Survival fundraising event at the Old Bailey this year. Lara Symons, Director of Hostage International, said: “It is…
David Alexander: A life committed to supporting others Emeritus Professor David Alexander was an instrumental figure at Hostage International, where from its founding days he was a key volunteer advisor and member of the charity’s…
Christmas is a special time of year for me. In captivity I made three resolutions to myself to support me: no regrets, no false sentimentality, no self-pity. But I won’t ever forget how relieved I was…
The FBI National Academy’s training assault course in Quantico is not for the faint-hearted, but Hostage International supporter Chris Conrad is taking it on to fundraise for the charity. Chris, a Chief Inspector at the Metropolitan…
For most people the thought of having a loved one go missing or kidnapped is confined to chilling plot lines, novels or nightmares, but for those we help at Hostage International this nightmare is one that…
The din of Trafalgar Square’s rush hour seemed to fade for a few minutes on Monday 18 November as the bells of St Martins in the Fields rang in honour of the anniversary of Terry Waite’s…
The bells of St-Martin-in-the-Fields will ring out across Trafalgar Square on the evening of Monday 18 November as former hostage Terry Waite CBE shares his story to help raise valuable funds for Hostage International. The bells…
Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt has been presented with a lifetime award to honour her commitment in the field of humanitarian work, at an event hosted by EdmissionUK in association with Hostage International. United at the event…
Hostage International can boost every £1 donation by 25p, through the UK Gift Aid Scheme. If you are a UK taxpayer, we can reclaim the tax you pay on your donation to us, or on those…
Join us on Tuesday 14 May 2019 for an Evening with Terry Waite CBE to raise funds for Hostage International and neuroendocrine research at the Royal Marsden Hospital. The event is to honour the memory of…
Families affected by the kidnap of a loved one often suffer extreme loneliness, not only because their loved one is absent, but also because they may not be able to discuss what has happened with anyone…
Hostage International supports families when a loved one is kidnapped (usually for financial gain or political/ ideological ends) and also assists hostages after they return home. Our support is entirely confidential, which means that we do…
‘‘Don’t add to the hatred, and the division, and the fear’’ Justine Merton-Scott, a victim of the terror attack in the Bataclan, Paris. On 25th September 2018, the Global Coalition against Daesh launched the #WordsMatter campaign…
Michael Scott Moore is a member of Hostage US’s Board of Directors and was kidnapped by a Somali criminal gang for 977 days. You can listen to the UN Dispatch interview with him here. In the…
We are pleased to announce that an Evening with Terry Waite CBE was a success in commemorating our past Honorary Secretary David Wilkinson. The event brought together over 200 people, most of whom were friends and…
