A crucial parliamentary debate is being held tomorrow challenging the government’s decision to axe its charity funding. Missing People is urging as many people as possible to contact th
eir MP and request they attend this debate.
The charity has issued a statement saying:
“This is a critical time for missing persons. As it stands, government funding cuts mean that, in one blow, the entire national investment into missing persons could cease, and critical services lost. This includes the work of Missing People, which searches for and supports tens of thousands of people each and every year.
“With your help, we can ensure that Missing People can long continue to be a lifeline when someone disappears.”
Missing People provides a desperately needed lifeline when someone disappears by providing support to those affected by missing persons. Last year, its staff and volunteers took over 114,000 calls for help from runaway children, vulnerable adults and their families. It provided emotional support for more than 900 families, and helped to close almost 340 missing person cases. Sadly, however, more than 1,000 cases remain open.
Each year 250,000 people run away or go missing. For those left behind, the heartache is unbearable.
Where else can these can these people turn to if their worst nightmare becomes reality?
In memory of those who are still missing.
*I’ve just emailed my excellent MP James Paice asking if he can attend this important debate tomorrow and support Missing People.
I do hope the debate will result in a satisfactory outcome.
I think you will find that the Salvation Army still does this kind of work Ellee .
The Salvation Armys web address for missing persons is look4them.org.uk .
They do this work in 100 countries and I suspect are better at it than government.
The Salvation Army does an amazing job. However, they are not set up with a database of missing children as far as I know. When my son went missing he was 16 and I reacall he was too young to be looked for by Salvation Army services. Things may have changed, that was 14 years ago and we are still searching. The Missing People Charity have provided resources and platforms and support for families of the missing to get the word out about their missing loved one. They provided a personal case worker before funding was cut and still they have continued to support families of those left behind. NPIA (National Policing Improvement Agency) is another organization that is known at Missing Persons Bureau and the are the clearing house in the UK for all Missing Persons cases and hold DNA and information about unidentified people and work in conjunction with Missing People Charity as well as other charities and agencies internationally. NPIA are looking at having their service cut too. Salvation Army are wonderful, but they don’t offer all the services that are provided by other organizations.
I agree with Valerie on this. The Salvation Army does a fantastic job, however, it’s focus tends to be on providing a service in trying to trace people who’ve lost touch, not mysterious disappearances where foul play is suspected, abductions and runaway services. In fact, they promote Missing People of their own website to that end.
Currently, the NPIA Missing Persons Bureau is facing axing, now Missing People. There are smaller charities such as ourselves about, but we are totally cash strapped and have the resources only to be able to try and assist a fraction of the families in this country and for the most part can only offer assistance to longer term missing cases in trying to keep the missing persons face in the public domain hoping for information that leads to their recovery.
With the current government plans, the issue around missing person’s in the UK looks bleak, these cuts will have resounding affects on those families searching for a missing loved one. Currently we are steps behind the USA and Australia, if these cuts come about, I think the message that sends out will be devastating to left behind families.
Karen – Forever Searching.
One more thing Ellee as usual I loved the article!
Thanks for your article Ellee and raising this important issue, I can only echo the comments that have already been made. NPIA and Missing People offer a crucial service in the UK, the current situation with these organisations and CEOP recent news is worrying to say the least.
Talking as a small charity who raise awareness for missing children and offer technical support to families left behind, we could not do the work we do effectively without the co-ordination of NPIA Missing Persons Bureau.
The impact to families of a missing person should not be underestimated if these cuts go ahead. There is so much more that needs to be done for the missing in the UK, now is not the time to be stepping backwards and considering axing vital services.
Kerry – Help Find My Child
Missing people do an amazing job but they cannot survive without government funding.The salvation army will not help to look for under 18’s as they view it as a Police and government responsibility.
Back in May 2007 when Missing People was rebranded it seemed as though there was hope,suddenly the country took notice and people really cared.
Sadly for many families finding a loved one is more down to luck than judgment.
Thank you everyone for your comments on this very important issue. I wonder if there is a general misconception that, however great we all believe the Salvation Army to be, that they do the same work as Missing People, which is clearly not the case, and they are not resourced to do this work in the same depth. My heart goes out to all the families of missing people, and the agony they must endure.
This is an area which needs a heck of a lot more attention – just why are they disappearing?
‘@ James – There are a raft of reasons why people go missing, what generally never changes is that they are extremely vulnerable and at risk whilst missing.
Runaways – troubled kids who run away and become at risk of living on the streets, being targetted for trafficking and sex work, at general danger from living in an unprotected environment.
Abduction.
Grooming for trafficking or prostitution.
People suffering from depression, dementia or other illnesses which could affect their judgement and decision making.
Teenagers / young adults, after a night out, either meeting with mis-adventure or foul play. This is actually more common than is known about, contrary to popular belief, this is actually a high risk group and teens really need to be educated about this.
Each one has a story of their own, each and everyone deserves to be found, even if they choose not to return home, to be identified as being safe and getting the support they need.
Karen – Forever Searching
This is a press release from Missing People following the parliamentary debate:
UPDATE: Parliamentary debate on Missing Persons
Missing People would like to thank everyone who contacted their MP about the Parliamentary debate on Tuesday 26 October regarding the future of missing persons services.
Now is a particularly important time for missing persons services as planned Government funding cuts mean that, in one blow, the entire national investment into missing persons could cease, and critical services lost. The debate was a significant opportunity to show the Government just how vital services are for those who have been touched by the issue – and MPs who attended this debate as a result of contact from their constituents did a wonderful job in advancing the cause.
Ann Coffey MP, Chair of the APPG on Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, opened the debate with a powerful speech on the need for continued investment in this important area. This was responded to by James Brokenshire MP, Home Office Minister with responsibility for missing persons, who acknowledged the significance of the issue and stated the Government’s commitment to it. You can read the full text of the debate here.
Although the Minister was unable to commit to reinstating Missing People’s statutory funding, Brokenshire MP said he will listen to concerns stemming from the decision and will meet with the charity at a later time to discuss this further.
The charity would like to thank everyone who got involved with this important work. We will keep you updated as to how our campaign for funding progresses.
For more information, please contact Holly Towell at holly.towell@missingpeople.org.uk or on 020 8392 4566.