Kieran joined the Prisoner & Family Support team in September 2025 as a casework intern, while on a placement year as part of his university degree. He shares some of his day-to-day responsibilities, some highlights, and the benefits of undertaking the role. Find more information on internships and student placements at Prisoners Abroad here.

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The opportunity to work at Prisoners Abroad has been an eye-opening and incredibly fulfilling experience. Since September 2025, I have been assisting the Casework team during my placement year as part of my Criminology degree at the University of Bath. The role has been both fascinating and rewarding, providing me with valuable insight and practical knowledge that will greatly benefit both my degree and my future career.

A key part of the role involves responding to letters from detainees overseas, providing information and support to individuals who are experiencing profound isolation.

Reading firsthand accounts of the difficulties people face while navigating foreign prison systems is incredibly meaningful to know that providing a response, reassurance, or helpful information can make a real difference to someone who may feel completely lost or forgotten.

Other daily roles include liaising with consular staff (whether that be at the initial point of arrest or deeper into the sentence), sending information packs and reading materials, and discussing complex cases in meetings.

The responsibility that I have found the most fulfilling has been attending the monthly Family Support Group meetings. These events provide a space family members can discuss their experiences and any potential solutions to issues that they have found. It is extremely heartening to see that these events have managed to foster such a strong sense of community among those affected by the detention of a loved one abroad.  Each event deepens my perspective of the importance of the work that Prisoners Abroad does and helps to align the widespread effects that a punitive justice system can have, something that has always been of keen interest to me. I have also had the opportunity to write about these meetings in my contributions to the Prisoners Abroad Newsletter, which is sent to family members and clients that we support.

I feel very privileged to have experienced some of the Prisoners Abroad events, especially when we held our annual supporter dinner. This event provided a valuable opportunity to speak with people who are deeply passionate about the organisation’s work, as well as individuals who have previously received support from Prisoners Abroad and have since returned to life in the UK. Hearing their stories and perspectives made the impact of the charity’s work even more tangible.

A particular highlight of the evening was listening to the speech given by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Richard Ratcliffe. Their reflections on the incredibly difficult circumstances they endured were both moving and thought-provoking, touching on themes such as resilience, injustice, and the gendered challenges.

It was a powerful reminder of the human impact behind the work carried out by Prisoners Abroad and a memory that will always stick with me.

Working at Prisoners Abroad has been an exceptional opportunity for me to learn and develop myself. The small team is always very welcoming and have consistently shown complete support and faith in me, especially when I’ve taken on independent projects. This trust has really helped build my confidence and professional skills. I’ve also gained valuable insight into how government operations function, particularly through exposure to the work of the FCDO, as well as a better understanding of the realities of office working life. This has included developing my professional communication, time management, and ability to adapt to a structured working environment.

I cannot recommend this opportunity highly enough.

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Make a real difference with an internship or student placement

At Prisoners Abroad, we believe that internships and student placements are more than just work experience - they’re a chance to change lives. Every year, we welcome a small number of students who bring fresh ideas, energy, and commitment to our mission: protecting the health, wellbeing, and human rights of British citizens detained overseas and supporting their families at home. 

Learn more