Tag: Missing People

Scottish Government funding to raise awareness of the risks of running away

Two leading charities are joining forces to develop materials to educate children and young people about the dangers of going missing and encourage them to access support. Continue reading Scottish Government funding to raise awareness of the risks of running away

Lifeline for missing people

The national charity which helps missing people reconnect with their loved ones has received Scottish Government funding to increase the help available to missing people in Scotland.

There are more than 30,000 reports of missing people in Scotland each year, with nearly two-thirds of incidents involving a child or young person. Missing People runs a helpline which provides free, confidential advice to missing adults and children, and their families, connecting them with the support that they desperately need.

The charity has received more than £90,000 over two years to connect with more children and young people in Scotland and help them find safety and support. The funding will also help make sure the right support agencies and professionals are linked into the helpline.

At the same time the government is working with partners including Police Scotland, local councils, Shelter, Barnardo’s and Missing People to develop a National Missing Persons Framework, to reduce the harm related to people going missing and raise awareness of the many causes of going missing and the associated dangers.

Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Annabelle Ewing, said:

“There are many reasons why people go missing and we know they can be particularly vulnerable when missing, potentially finding themselves in situations of real risk. We want to improve access to the support available for those who go missing  in Scotland which is why we are supporting Missing People to expand on their vital helpline.

“It is particularly important that our children and young people who go missing or are at risk of going missing know how to find the help they need to ensure safety and address the reasons behind why they went or want to go missing.

“When someone goes missing it is also a terrible experience for their loved ones and Missing People also provides much-needed support to the families of those who are missing.

“As we work with partners to try and prevent people going missing, and reduce the harm when they do, we will not forget the real impact that going missing has on people and their loved ones.”

Susannah Drury, Director of Services and Advocacy at the charity Missing People, said:

“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has renewed its commitment to supporting vulnerable missing children and young people with this funding.

“By building key partnerships with Police Scotland, other charities and local councils, the charity is committed to finding and supporting more missing children and young people across Scotland.

“When a child goes missing it is nearly always a sign that something is very wrong. These funds from the Scottish Government will help ensure that we can be here for free, 24/7 without judgement at the end of the phone when a missing child needs to talk through their options or get help to stay safe.”

Heartbreaking: a child reported missing every TWO MINUTES

250,000 children are reported missing in the European Union every year: the equivalent of A CHILD every TWO MINUTES (European Commission)

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Events were held around the world to mark International Missing Children’s Day yesterday (25 May). The day offers an opportunity to raise awareness of young people who have disappeared and also encourages people to think about those who have previously vanished and returned home – and those who have been victims of crime.

UK Home Office Minister Karen Bradley visited the Missing People charity ahead of yesterday’s International Missing Children’s Day and learnt about the Child Rescue Alert System, a crucial tool in helping locate missing people.

The minister met the charity’s Chief Executive Jo Youle and heard from staff how the charity’s helpline provides vital support for missing people and their families.

There was also a demonstration of the Child Rescue Alert System, which is designed to alert the public to an abduction or other high risk child disappearance.

Touring the office, the Minister learnt about plans for this year’s#TheBigTweet, which the Home Office will again be supporting this year. Since last year’s social media campaign, ten of the children and young people featured in #TheBigTweet appeals have been found.

Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation, Karen Bradley, said: “This government recognises that missing children are particularly vulnerable to harm and exploitation, and that they, and their families, deserve the best possible support and protection.

“International Missing Children’s Day is an opportunity to raise vital awareness of these children and young people. I look forward to working closely with Missing People and other partners and am delighted to offer my support to ‘The Big Tweet’. I encourage everyone to get involved.”

Chief Executive of Missing People, Jo Youle, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to Missing People today and to introduce her to the work of the charity within the first fortnight of her new role.

“We discussed priorities for improving services and support for missing people and their families including the need for guardianship legislation to enable families to protect their missing loved one’s finances and property, and the need for better support for children and adults who return from being missing.

“I really look forward to working closely with the Minister and welcome her keen interest in the work of the charity and the needs of vulnerable missing people and their families.”

Sign up to receive Child Rescue Alerts. For more information about#TheBigTweet visit www.missingpeople.org.uk

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MISSING CHILDREN: Facts and Figures

  • 250,000 children are reported missing in the European Union every year, the equivalent of around 1 child every 2 minutes (European Commission)
  • Missing children include several categories of child disappearances, including parental abductions, runaways*, missing unaccompanied migrant minors and criminal abductions
  • Two to five percent of missing children cases reported involve third party criminal abductions (Missing Children Europe Annual Report 2014)
  • Runaways make up 50% of missing children cases reported through hot-lines (Missing Children Europe Annual Report 2014)
  • 1 in 6 runaways are assumed to sleep rough, 1 in 8 resort to stealing to survive and 1 in 12 children are at serious risk of some form of abuse (The Children’s Society)
  • It’s estimated that around 140,000 cases of missing children are reported annually in the UK, the equivalent of around 380 per day (missingchildreneurope.eu)
  • Missing Children Europe’s Belgian member “Child Focus” opens an average of 4 new cases a day

https://youtu.be/oho8xaMsfsc