At the core of our work is our vision, mission and purpose.

Vision:

That people survive imprisonment overseas with dignity and hope.

Mission:

Prisoners Abroad works to protect the health, wellbeing and basic human rights of British citizens detained abroad.

We strive to ease the isolation and deprivation experienced by prisoners abroad and their families at home.

On their return to the UK, we prevent their homelessness and destitution and support people to rebuild their lives and have a future free of crime.

Purpose:

To safeguard the welfare and human rights of British citizens detained overseas.

To reduce the isolation and deprivation experienced by both prisoners overseas and their families.

To prevent destitution and street homelessness among British citizens returning from overseas and give them a second chance to rebuild their lives.

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Values

Prisoners Abroad has over 40 years of experience working with prisoners detained overseas and their families in the UK and draws on the know-how and support of a wide range of volunteers, individuals, trustees, patrons and other organisations.  We seek to blend this broad base of knowledge and support with best practice to provide life-changing services to prisoners and their families. 

Prisoners Abroad helps people convicted and unconvicted, guilty or innocent, solely on the basis of need.

Prisoners Abroad believes no one should be subject to torture, inhumane or degrading treatment.

Prisoners Abroad works positively against unfair discrimination and inhuman treatment: we seek to exert influence to achieve equal treatment for prisoners, families and returnees, irrespective of sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, disability, sexual orientation, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

Prisoners Abroad listens to service users’ voices: we strive to empower our service users and to tailor our services to the needs of each individual.  Our partnership also involves our service users throughout the organisation including governance and strategic thinking.

Prisoners Abroad supports and values its staff to the maximum: we recognise that we can only deliver our mission with a dedicated and well-motivated staff. 

Prisoners Abroad works in partnership: we work in collaborative partnerships with statutory and voluntary organisations to achieve the best results for prisoners and their families. 

Prisoners Abroad ensures its resources are used responsibly: we spend our funds responsibly to achieve maximum impact and value for money. 

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Our Approach

Non-judgemental: we see beyond the conviction, we see the human and what they should have access to no matter what their situation. We believe no one should be subject to torture, inhumane or degrading treatment.

Optimistic: we strive to empower our service users and to tailor our services to the needs of each individual.

Motivated: we recognise that we can only deliver our mission with dedicated and well-motivated staff.

Effective: we work positively against unfair discrimination and inhuman treatment. We seek to exert influence to achieve equal treatment for prisoners, families and returnees, irrespective of sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, disability, sexual orientation or other status.  

Responsible: we spend our funds and use our resources responsibly to achieve maximum impact and value for money.

Practical: Prisoners Abroad translates human rights law into practical life-saving actions.