Hostage UK

Hostage UK
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:

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

  1. ↑ CASE STUDY REPORT, Hostage UK, CounterExtremism.Org, Last accessed 03/10/2014 https://www.counterextremism.org/resources/details/id/470/hostage-u.k.
  2. ↑ Honours for the best of Britain overseas, 30 December 2013, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/honours-for-the-best-of-britain-overseas
  3. ↑ Rachel Briggs Profile, “Hostage UK”, 10 March 2014, http://www.hostageuk.org/rachelbriggs.php
  4. ↑ Open Charities, HOSTAGE UK, last accesses 03/10/2014, http://opencharities.org/charities/1101851
  5. ↑ RAYMOND WHITAKER , When the life of a hostage lies in their hands, Sunday 06 July 2008, The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/when-the-life-of-a-hostage-lies-in-their-hands-860888.html
  6. ↑ https://rorypecktrust.org/freelance-assistance/partners/Partner-Organisations
  7. ↑ Charles Arthur, PM calls Facebook irresponsible for allowing beheading clips, Guardian, Tuesday 22 October 2013, http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/22/facebook-irresponsible-beheadings-david-cameron
  8. ↑ CASE STUDY REPORT, Hostage UK, CounterExtremism.Org, Last accessed 03/10/2014 https://www.counterextremism.org/resources/details/id/470/hostage-u.k.
  9. ↑ JAMIE BUCHAN, Memorial service for murdered hostage David Haines to be held in Perth, The Courier, 30 September 2014 http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/perth-kinross/memorial-service-for-murdered-hostage-david-haines-to-be-held-in-perth-1.604059
  10. ↑ JASON LEWIS, Terry Waite called in to help free Britons held hostage in Iraq, MAIL ON SUNDAY, 30 November 2008 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1090572/Terry-Waite-called-help-free-Britons-held-hostage-Iraq.html
  11. ↑ Perth memorial to be held for aid worker David Haines, BBC News, 30 September 2014, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-29427889
  12. ↑ Sally Hind, David Haines: Family of murdered aid worker ask wellwishers to donate to charity that supported them through his abduction, Daily Record, Sep 25, 2014, http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/david-haines-family-murdered-aid-4320596
  13. ↑ David Haines: Family of murdered aid worker ask wellwishers to donate to charity that supported them through his abduction, http://www.newsrt.co.uk/news/david-haines-family-of-murdered-aid-worker-ask-wellwishers-to-donate-to-charity-that-supported-them-through-his-abduction-2643087.html
  14. ↑ Colin Adwent, Ipswich: Brother of murdered hostage Ken Bigley speaks of distress over “inhumanity” of IS beheadings Wednesday, EADT24, September 17, 2014 http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ipswich_brother_of_murdered_hostage_ken_bigley_speaks_of_distress_over_inhumanity_of_is_beheadings_1_3773410
  15. ↑ Dan Damon, Judith Tebbutt: My six months held hostage by Somali pirates, 26 July 2013, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23453120
  16. ↑ Embassy hostages kidnapped in Ethiopia released, Guardian, Tuesday 13 March 2007, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/13/foreignpolicy.ethiopia
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