Covid-19 update: A message to our friends and supporters from our Chief Executive, Lara Symons

Covid-19 update: A message to our friends and supporters from our Chief Executive, Lara Symons

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 dealing with a greater need than ever to support our beneficiaries, but we are also facing a significant curtailment in our funding.

The understandable measures imposed by governments exacerbate the great loneliness many of our beneficiaries already experience and the general anxiety created by the Coronavirus pandemic enhances their pre-existing worries; for former hostages this period of ‘isolation’ and restrictions may trigger post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Yet throughout this uncertain period, our normal funding streams, such as training, have dried up.

We are working hard to ensure that we continue to offer the best support possible to reduce loneliness and anxiety. We are fortunate that our caseworkers and beneficiaries are used to speaking to each other remotely, often on the phone and online, and we are still able to facilitate access to mental health support and advice on practical issues, such as legal and financial matters.

In these difficult circumstances we are focusing all our efforts on supporting our beneficiaries, but looking to the future, we are having to reach out to anyone who may be able to support us.

Your support makes a huge difference in helping those dealing with the unimaginable trauma of hostage-taking. Please continue to highlight our work to your colleagues, friends, family and wider networks to help us continue our mission.

If you feel that you can support us financially, please do so here.

 

 

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Covid-19 update: A message to our friends and supporters from our Chief Executive, Lara Symons
Covid-19 update: A message to our friends and supporters from our Chief Executive, Lara Symons