Reflections on Covid-19 lockdown from a former hostage
This pandemic has taken the world by surprise, resulting in millions of us having to be in lockdown for weeks on end. Having survived being a hostage where I was in solitary confinement for six…
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 a private online event to thank the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants...
This pandemic has taken the world by surprise, resulting in millions of us having to be in lockdown for weeks on end. Having survived being a hostage where I was in solitary confinement for six…
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…
Hostage International is hosting a unique event at the Old Bailey bringing together former hostages Terry Waite CBE, Judith Tebbutt, and John McCarthy CBE in conversation. The ‘Finding Solace in Survival’ event – postponed to Wednesday…
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…