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, Terry Waite...
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, rarely a...
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…
