Today is International Women’s Day. We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight just some of the amazing women that work for, support, and are helped by Missing People, across all areas of the charity.
We celebrate the remarkable Jo Youle, a leader, advocate, and force for change. As the CEO of Missing People, Jo has dedicated her career to ensuring that every missing person and their loved ones receive the support, visibility, and justice they deserve. Under her leadership, Missing People has reached new heights, driving forward groundbreaking research, strengthening advocacy, and amplifying the voices of those too often unheard.
Before dedicating herself to charity work, Jo’s journey began in the 90s as a pop star, performing and connecting with audiences through music. Her career took a profound turn when she chose to focus on making a real difference in people’s lives. This transition from the stage to leading a national charity speaks to her adaptability, passion, and deep sense of purpose.
In 2022, Jo was awarded an OBE in recognition of her extraordinary contributions. However, she accepted this honour on behalf of everyone at Missing People, recognising that this achievement belongs to the entire team who work tirelessly to support missing people and their families. This celebration of Jo is also a recognition from all the staff at Missing People, who deeply appreciate her leadership, dedication, and the impact she has made in driving the charity forward.
Through her leadership, Jo has empowered her team to make a lasting difference, providing hope and support to thousands of families in crisis. Her unwavering dedication has transformed the way we understand and respond to the issue of missing people, ensuring that no one is left to face the pain of a missing loved one alone.
Today, we honour Jo’s incredible impact, her relentless fight for change, and the inspiration she provides to so many. Thank you, Jo, for your leadership and for making the world a better place—one person, one family, and one voice at a time.
Jo will soon be undertaking the Metro Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge in support of Missing People, learn more and donate to her fundraiser here.
We recognise Josie for her unwavering commitment to improving the response to missing people and their families. As Head of Policy & Partnerships at Missing People, Josie works at the forefront of policy change, advocacy, and collaboration, ensuring that those affected by disappearance are not just supported but truly heard.
Her work spans a wide range of issues, reflecting the complex reasons why people go missing and the challenges they face while away. Josie has been instrumental in achieving meaningful legislative and policy change, working alongside families and professionals to ensure that missing people receive the protection and recognition they deserve.
Some of her key achievements include leading the successful campaign for the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act, allowing families to manage their missing loved one’s financial and legal affairs. She was also a driving force in bringing county lines exploitation to political attention, facilitating a parliamentary event in 2017 when the issue had little public awareness. Thanks to her work, the connection between missing episodes and criminal exploitation is now widely recognised. Additionally, Josie led the drafting of a national framework for the response to adults who go missing from hospitals, a crucial initiative now endorsed by the Home Office.
Josie’s expertise, strategic thinking, and commitment to ensuring missing people and their families are prioritised in policy and practice make her a leading voice in the sector. Her work continues to influence how police, government, and frontline services respond to those in crisis, ensuring that the right protections and interventions are in place.
Her impact is far-reaching, and her drive for change is making a real difference. Today, we celebrate Josie’s dedication to creating a system that recognises missing as a crisis, not just a statistic—a system that truly listens, responds, and supports.
Lida has been with Missing People for 18 years, starting as a volunteer and then taking on a full-time role as a Helpline Supervisor. She has been with the charity as it has developed and evolved; including some darker times of restructure and the uncertainty that brings. Lida has been steadfast throughout the years, unfailing and unflinching, remaining with Missing People, facing all the challenges. She has gently embraced new aspects of her role, including developments in our systems and technology. Despite any mayhem caused by implementation of change, Lida was staunch, unwavering, and always put the callers first. Leading the team in these new situations, bringing composure and professionalism. Lida is the living, breathing epitome of the word ‘dedicated’.
She has been that extraordinary influence that has cemented the Helpline team, freely passing on her substantial expertise in supporting vulnerable people. Without question, Lida is an expert in all things missing; from mental health to guardianship. Her calm reassurance inspires us all, and her exemplary approach to supporting those who contact our Helpline is both exceptional and heart-warming. Lida is that safe pair of hands, holding up our callers and our team. Lida is humble and stoic, and hates to bring attention to herself, however much she deserves praise. With her humour, kindness and encyclopaedic knowledge of tea, she is a constant morale booster.
We asked Lida what she liked about her job. She explained that she loves her colleagues and team, and that every day on the Helpline is different. In addition, Lida has found it really satisfying being able to be a continual support to families, some of whom Lida has supported for over 10 years. We have not sung her praises enough. Let us correct that now and celebrate the wonderful Lida. Supporting people one call at a time – every time.
We celebrate the power of reconnection and the incredible work of women supporting others. At Missing People, Kirsty and her amazing volunteer, Melanie, run the Lost Contact Tracing Service. Their aim is to open conversations between family members who have lost touch and are open to rebuilding their relationship. They hold strong boundaries, maintain confidentiality, and put safeguarding at the heart of everything they do.
Recently, they were able to bring together a mother and daughter who had lost contact due to very sad circumstances. Their mother shared: ‘My daughter and I want to say a big thank you for the work you did. There are not enough words to express our happiness in being reunited. We speak on the phone a few hours a week, and Laura is coming over soon to see me… we are both so grateful for being in contact again. The best gift of a mother and daughter being reunited.’
At Missing People, we are proud to help reconnect those who are missing to one another and to offer support to those who have nowhere else to turn.
We proudly celebrate Susannah, a leader whose dedication and expertise have shaped the way Missing People supports those affected by disappearance.
As Director of Policy and Development, Susannah has played a pivotal role in shaping the charity’s impact, and overseeing our ground-breaking research
She established and now oversees the Business Development team, ensuring that every commissioned service and project is built with the needs of missing people and their families at its heart. With over 10 years of experience, she has been instrumental in building the charity’s expertise in delivering consultancy and training, to ensure joined up, person-centred responses to missing people are in place across the UK.
Susannah also leads the Policy and Partnerships teams, heading up a successful and influential team that is driving real change in government policy. Under her leadership, the team is at the forefront of making policymakers recognise that going missing is a crisis. By working closely with police, local and national governments, and partner organisations, she ensures that the voices of missing people and their families are heard at the highest levels, pushing for better policies, increased resources, and a more compassionate response to those in crisis. Her proudest moment is working alongside families, parliamentarians, businesses and colleagues to successfully campaign for the Guardianship Act, which enables families to step in and protect a missing loved one’s finances and property until they return.
Her deep understanding of policy and best practice, alongside her ability to influence decision-makers, makes her a powerful advocate for improving the way missing people and their families are supported. A regular speaker at national conferences, Government meetings, and in the media, Susannah is tireless in her efforts to create meaningful change.
Beyond her work at Missing People, Susannah’s background includes roles at the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee and the crime reduction charity Nacro, giving her a broad perspective on justice, safety, and community engagement.
Today, we celebrate Susannah’s unwavering commitment to making missing people a national priority. Her leadership, insight, and passion continue to drive the sector forward, ensuring that missing people and their families are no longer overlooked, but recognised, supported, and heard.
We honour the remarkable Tina, who is dedicated, professional and truly compassionate.
Tina began her journey as a social worker, supporting children, young people, and families in statutory child protection before moving into frontline roles within the voluntary sector. Her deep commitment to safeguarding and social justice led her to specialise in charity governance, ensuring that organisations uphold best practices to create meaningful impact. In 2019, she earned the Chartered Governance Institute’s Charity Law and Governance qualification, and today, she serves as Senior Governance Manager at the General Dental Council, championing excellence in the sector.
Beyond her professional achievements, Tina’s dedication is deeply personal. Having experienced the repeated disappearance of a close family member, she brings invaluable insight into the reality of ‘missing.’ Her lived experience and willingness to share her perspective offer both strength and hope to others facing similar challenges.
Now, as a Trustee at Missing People, Tina continues to use her expertise and personal experience to drive meaningful change, ensuring that families affected by missing receive the support they need.
Tina’s resilience, expertise, and compassion make a profound difference. Today, we celebrate her for her unwavering commitment to advocacy, governance, and the families impacted by missing loved ones.
We honour the incredible strength, resilience, and unwavering advocacy of Evidence Joel. As a mother, she has endured an unimaginable loss—her beloved son, Richard Okorogheye, went missing in 2021 and was tragically found deceased 10 days later. In her search for Richard, she faced dismissal and felt that race played a role in the response she received, highlighting the urgent need for change.
Despite her profound grief, Evidence has transformed her pain into power. She has courageously partnered with Missing People, Missing Black People, and Listen Up to advocate for better police responses to missing ethnic minorities. Her voice has become a force for justice, ensuring that no other family experiences the same heartbreak without the support and urgency they deserve.
Evidence’s strength as a mother and a changemaker is nothing short of extraordinary. Today, we celebrate her resilience, her courage, and her unwavering commitment to creating a future where every missing person is seen, heard, and valued. She is an inspiration to us all.
We honour the incredible work of Jahnine, a trailblazer in children’s rights and safeguarding. With over 20 years of experience, she has been a powerful advocate for Black children, leading the charge against adultification bias in child protection.
As the founder and CEO of Listen Up, Jahnine has created a national platform that amplifies the voices and lived experiences of Black and racialised children, ensuring their needs are recognised and addressed. Her dedication and leadership have transformed the way we understand and respond to the challenges faced by these communities.
We are privileged to have collaborated with Listen Up in publishing ground-breaking research into the Ethnicity of Missing People and the experiences of Black missing children. Through this partnership, Jahnine’s insight and expertise have deepened our understanding of the risks and barriers Black communities face when a loved one goes missing.
Today, and every day, we celebrate Jahnine’s unwavering commitment, fearless advocacy, and the lasting impact of her work. She is a true force for change, inspiring us all to build a more just and inclusive society.
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