Missing and families

Research

From here you can download research publications, free of charge, in PDF format.

Below are also copies of Missing People's  survey reports, conference presentations and consultation submissions. Research reports are ordered by date, most recent first.

"All of us were broken" (2019)

This report explores the experiences of families whose children have been criminally exploited, including through county lines. It covers: Early warning signs of exploitation; the links between missing and exploitation; the impacts of the  escalation of exploitation; the support needs of families and children; and recommendations.

The report provides details of the harrowing experiences of the families, the lack of adequate support for children and families, and the need for a better response from all agencies involved in responding to exploitation.

 

Living in Limbo: 5 Years On (2013) 

A summary of work done to improve the support available to the family members of missing people, continuing the work of the ground-breaking Living in Limbo research. Click here or on the report title above to download the full report. (Steyne, R., Alves, H., Robinson, K., Towell, H. and Holmes, L. 2013).

 

 

Lessons from Australia: Developing a new counselling service for families when someone is missing (2011)

In 2011 Senior Services Manager, Helen Morell (now Alves) travelled to Australia on a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT) Fellowship to explore the provision of emotional support to families of missing people. This report describes Helen's trip and the lessons she learned. Click here or on the report title above to download the full report. (Morell, H. 2011).

 

 

Living in Limbo: The experiences of, and impacts on, the families of missing people (2008)

Living in Limbo provides an account of the devastating impact that going missing can have on family members left behind, including emotional, social, financial, legal and practical difficulties. The charity has launched a campaign to improve the rights of family members of missing people, as a direct result of the findings of the Living in Limbo research. Click on the report title above to download the full report. To download the summary report, please click  here. To download the technical report, please click here. (Holmes, L. 2008).