PRESS RELEASE

---

We are delighted to welcome Nick Prettejohn to our team at Prisoners Abroad. 

Pauline Crowe, Chief Executive, on Nick's appointment:

Nick Prettejohn takes over from Richard Price who steps down after a magnificent seven years as our Chair of Trustees, during which time we have supported thousands of people. Now is an exciting time for Nick to take on the leadership mantle as we move into 2021 after what has been a tumultuous year for all of us. Yet with the resilience and agility that my colleagues in the Prisoners Abroad team have shown over the past 12 months we have continued to provide our life saving services around the world despite the pandemic. We hope this will stand us in good stead and Nick will help to lead us to achieve more for the people we are here to support and who sadly often have nowhere else to turn. 

Nick’s support for the work of Prisoners Abroad over the past few years and his commitment is rooted in his experience of mentoring one of our former service users. We are now delighted to be able to use his extensive experience to further our mission to protect the human rights and dignity of British prisoners overseas as well as supporting their families and resettlement of those returning to the UK.

Nick currently balances his chairmanship of Reach PLC and Scottish Widows as well as being a board member and trustee of other commercial and charitable organisations. We look forward to working alongside him to continue supporting the thousands of people who need our help every year.

Nick is joining us and bringing his formidable leadership skills at a time of great challenges for everybody and not least prisoners detained in very poor conditions; families unable to communicate with their loved one; and when our programme of fundraising events is cancelled which affects the income that pays for the life-saving and life-changing services we provide.

In anticipation of taking on the role on 7th December, Nick told us:

I am honoured to become Chair of Prisoners Abroad. I have seen at first hand the enormous positive impact that the team’s work can have on individuals, families and society. In today’s circumstances it’s more important than ever to respect the human rights of everyone, and to show compassion to all.