![]()
Travel and consular services
A blog from FCDO's Consular team
20th September 2019
Beirut, Lebanon
This time last year was one of the highlights of my career – presenting Queen Elizabeth’s letter to President Aoun that nominated me as Ambassador. The anniversary has allowed reflection on the year: for Lebanon, and for the UK. My first 12 months in Lebanon has been remarkable. Rolls Royce and MEA signed our largest […]
Read more on 12 months in Lebanon: ‘It can sometimes be hard to stay optimistic … but here’s why I do’ | Reply
17th May 2016
Colombo, Sri Lanka
“It’s Mental Health Awareness week this week, and we’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on a recent mental health consular case the team has been supporting. A few weeks ago, a British National came for a holiday of a lifetime to the Maldives. This person had a pre-existing mental health condition, but did not inform […]
Read more on Minding mental health | Reply (3)
5th November 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Take a top global airline. Add a top national tourist board. Result: an innovative global marketing partnership to attract more international visitors to Britain. On 20 October, VisitBritain and Turkish Airlines announced a new partnership. The partnership will focus at the UK end on Turkish Airline’s five regional gateways – including Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh […]
Read more on A Match Made In Heaven? Turkish Airlines and VisitBritain | Reply
10th October 2015
Colombo, Sri Lanka
This year, World Mental Health Day is focusing on dignity. We all have mental health. Treating people with mental health problems with dignity helps everyone take steps to safeguard their wellbeing. Failing to do so can lead to self-stigma, low confidence, low self-esteem, withdrawal and social isolation. Providing effective support to people experiencing mental health […]
Read more on World Mental Health Day | Reply (1)
29th April 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
There can be few more enjoyable occupations on a Saturday morning than strolling along Grand Turk’s Front Street, past some of the exquisite old buildings like the wonderfully named “Ebenezer” 7th Day Adventist Church and the 19th century home which now houses the national museum. These great reminders of Grand Turk’s history are all set […]
Read more on RAISING THE FAMILY ISLANDS’ PROFILE | Reply
26th January 2015
London, UK
Written by Marie Jenkinson – a caseworker in the Forced Marriage Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Forced Marriage Unit Helpline: 0207 008 0151 Forced marriage is an appalling and indefensible practice and is recognised in the UK as a form of violence against women and men, domestic and child abuse, and a serious […]
Read more on A Day in the Forced Marriage Unit | Reply
10th October 2014
Budapest, Hungary
Guest blog by Police Sergeant Natalie RANAHAN and Police Constable Steve WARDLE, British Bobbies visiting the Sziget Festival, organised by the Hungarian Police and the British Embassy. As police officers, both of us have a number of years experience within the Operations Department and in particular Support Group. This involves a variety of duties including the policing […]
Read more on British Bobbies on the beat at Sziget Festival | Reply
4th July 2014
London, UK
Guest blog by Preet, who is a survivor of a Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse. Here is her story. I was born a British Citizen into a very strict and orthodox Sikh family, outside of the UK. My upbringing was very oppressive and the family culture was also suppressive towards the women in the […]
Read more on Surviving a forced marriage | Reply
4th July 2014
London, UK
Sophie Lott is a case worker in the Forced Marriage Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The first thing I do when I get into work is check for my case updates on the computer – hoping that Nina* did attend the British High Commission overseas where my colleagues could check she was ok […]
Read more on A Day in The Forced Marriage Unit | Reply
4th July 2014
London, UK
Neelam Farooq: senior Consular Assistance, British High Commission Islamabad. It’s Monday morning and I walk into the office with yesterday’s rescue still echoing in my mind, which was in essence a cry for help from a teenage girl Yasmeen*, who is a potential victim of forced marriage. We deal with over 100 cases of Forced […]
Read more on Assisting forced marriage victims: the overseas perspective | Reply
