To safeguard and support people who are at higher risk of going missing – for example, due to mental health issues or financial worries – and those at high risk of being exploited, we need to reach those people. We also need help from the public to find missing people safely. To do all of this, we work with organisations across a wide variety of sectors, communicating directly with the audiences of those organisations.
As a relatively small national charity, we ensure that as much funding as possible goes to services for missing people and families. We have very modest amounts to spend on marketing, so it is important to get the word out there about our services in the most targeted and effective ways.
Partnerships with police, local authorities, voluntary sector support services and businesses including transport, retail, gaming, and betting, help us to reach people who need our support, and to reach those who can help with the search for missing people. Many statutory and private sector partners also provide vital funding to make our support services possible.
Within the sectors we work, Missing People is active in informing and influencing ways that they can improve their practice, and provide the best response for anyone affected by a disappearance. We are in these spaces as an independent charity.
We recognise that the independence and reputation of the charity, and the services we provide, is vital and we therefore have a clear process for ethical consideration. Sometimes this requires us to make finely balanced decisions, which we always do with our mission in mind – to be a lifeline when someone disappears – in accordance with the NCVO Charity Ethical Principles and following consultation with people with lived experience of missing.
By joining the community, you will help us to be there online and in your local community. You will be sent emails to safely share appeals for people who are missing. It is free to join and you can unsubscribe at any time.