Hostage UK

Hostage UK

Hostage UK logo
Founded	April 25, 2004 (2004-04-25)

Hostage UK is a charity which aims to support hostages and their families by providing specialist and pastoral care, both during and after kidnap.^[1] Hostage UK was founded by former Hostage Terry Waite CBE. In 2014 Hostage UK’s work was recognised by the UK government when Hostage UK’s director Rachel Briggs was awarded an OBE in recognition of the work that Hostage UK do.^[2]

Origins

Hostage UK was established in 2004 by Terry Waite, the humanitarian author and former hostage of the Islamic Jihad Organisation in partnership with Rachel Briggs. Both founders had personal experience with hostage situations; while Briggs was studying in University her uncle was kidnapped.^[3] Struck by the lack of support her family received Briggs was inspired to establish the charity Hostage UK to provide families of those taken hostage with support and guidance.

Goals and Aims

Hostage UK has three primary aims:

• To provide specialist services and pastoral support to hostages and their families, both during and after the case.
• To provide specialist education and independent advice to organisations with employees facing a kidnap risk to help them improve family support;
• To campaign and advocate for improved government and organisational policy and practice around kidnapping incidents.^[4]

While the organisation does not endorse the payment of ransoms,^[5] it takes a non-judgemental approach to those families that do chose to take this option. In addition to the production of reports and guides,^[6] Hostage UK occasionally makes public statements regarding issues which effect hostages and their families, such as their 2013 criticism of Facebook for allowing beheading videos on the social network. A Hostage UK statement said: "The public are well aware of the brutalities committed, and a public showing … adds nothing other than to cause further unimaginable suffering." ^[7]

High Profile Cases

In operation since 2004,^[8] Hostage UK has dealt with some high profile cases including those of David Haines ^[9] and Peter Moore.^[10] David Haines’ Family asked well-wishers to donate to the charity instead of sending flowers.^[11][12][13]

Many former hostages and family members of hostages work with the charity. These include Phil Bigley, the brother of murdered former hostage Kenneth Bigley,^[14] former hostage Judith Tebbutt ^[15] and former hostage Peter Rudge ^[16]

References