Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
EVery two and a half minutes, there is a child reported missing In Britain. Circumstances vary but in every case there is danger and potential for harm.
There have been several high-profile cases that have captured public attention and may give the impression that this phenomenon is rare. However, this is not so. The reality is that approximately 70,000 children and youth go missing every year. most return At the appropriate time, but many people do not, and for their families, guardians and friends, the pain of not knowing whether they are even alive is unbearable.
Thus approximately five lakh people are affected. Anything that can reduce such trauma for children and their loved ones can only be a good thing; And for some it can be lifesaving, just like the stories Independent Pleased to report the display.
This is why Independent Also happy to announce this year’s target christmas appeal The charity has reached out on behalf of Missing People. Thanks to the generosity of readers and the support of leading figures, almost £165,000 has been raised to launch SafeCall. This is a new free service operating on a variety of platforms that will provide confidential help and advice to children and young people, and give them the opportunity to communicate with their parents and others.
Missing People is an ambitious and innovative group of individuals who do invaluable work to fill some of the gaps left by the authorities. Some children find it much easier to deal with trained volunteers at a charity rather than the authorities, for example, if they think they are in trouble. Missing People provides confidential support to young people who feel scared, isolated or at risk. Remarkably, Missing People reaches almost one in four missing children each year – and SafeCall will help reach even more
Madeleine’s mother Kate McCann made a particularly strong contribution to the campaign, writing this week How, for families of missing children, the burden of not knowing “is outweighed by uncertainty, silence and the constant question of whether your child is safe”.
The Appeal is also particularly grateful for the support given by Dame Esther Rantzen. She is a pioneer in the field, having founded the Childline counseling service almost 40 years ago, and is renowned as a champion of children’s rights. For him, the value of this new security is clear: “Many young people who have been exploited do not feel they can ask for help and be listened to, at a time when they are scared, alone and vulnerable. This new service means there is finally a way to enable them to seek help with confidence and hope. Missing people are a crisis – this is a vital moment to intervene and help young people on their terms.”
The SafeCall project has received really wide support from philanthropists ranging from Sir Keir Starmer to Cyrus Vandrewala to Sir Stephen Fry, Iain Rankin, Sir David Beckham and many more. To all of them, and to all readers, our thanks and Merry Christmas.
Please Donate Now To Independent and the Missing People’s SafeCall campaign, which has raised £165,000 to create a free, nationwide service to help vulnerable children find safety and support.
If you or a loved one is missing, text or call the charity Missing People on 116000 for advice, support and options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. or visit missingpeople.org.uk/get-help