We are an independent, national charity funded by donations, and the only lifeline for missing people and their families in the UK.

Founded in 1986 by sisters Mary Asprey OBE and Janet Newman OBE, and registered as a charity in 1993, Missing People is the only UK charity that provides specialist support to people who are missing or at risk of going missing, and the families and friends left behind.

Our vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect.

A disappearance could impact us all. Regardless of age, gender, geography, income, social status, or race. From rescuing a child groomed into County Lines; helping an adult who has left home due to a mental health crisis; to being there for a family whose son has been missing for ten years; we are there to provide free, confidential support through our helpline and online chat 365 days a year. 

Our services give adults and children the opportunity to talk through how to stay safe, connect them with a place of safety, and signpost them to additional support services. For families missing a loved one, we offer emotional and practical support, counselling and peer support to help them through all the difficult times. 

Crucially, we are also part of the search, coordinating publicity so that we can reconnect missing people with their loved ones and potentially end years of heartache.

Our work and services

A free and confidential helpline is available seven days a week, 365 days a year for missing people and their families.

Family support, including telephone counselling.

Runaway Helpline, supporting children and young people who are away or thinking of leaving.

Supporting missing people with returning and reconnection.

Receiving anonymous sightings and passing to police.

Case publicity to help families and police appeal and search for a missing person.

Specialist ‘SafeCall’ service for children and young people, and their families, experiencing exploitation.

Our award-winning TextSafe® service and Suicide Risk TextSafe® service mean that at a police request we can issue a text message directly to the missing person's phone.

Services, consultancy and training for professionals working with missing people and their families.

Research into links between missing and specific issues.

Campaigning and lobbying on behalf of missing people and their families.

Key statistics

Every 90 seconds someone is reported missing in the UK

170,000 people are reported missing each year, including more than 70,000 children.

There are 350,000 reported missing incidents every year.

One million families, friends and loved ones are affected each year.

Up to 80% of adults reported missing are facing a mental health crisis.

Up to 3 in 4 adults experience harm while they are missing.

More than half of missing children have experienced conflict, abuse or neglect.

Almost half of exploited children who are living in care have been reported missing.

7 in 10 young people who have been sexually exploited have also been reported missing.

85% of adults and 90% of children are found within 2 days.

We make your donations go further

We make your donations go further by securing free office space, free advertising, and free legal help. We also could not be a lifeline without our amazing volunteers who give their time for free.

Find out more about Missing People, our vital work, and how you can support at Our Website.