About Missing People

Missing People provides support for missing children, vulnerable adults and families left in limbo. The charity offers families of the missing specialist advice and practical support and also searches - securing publicity that could end years of heartache.

A child is reported missing in the UK every five minutes

Missing children face many dangers from physical and sexual abuse to sleeping rough. Through Runaway Helpline we can provide these young people with a lifeline of hope.

Nearly 80 percent of the cases Missing People publicised in 2007/08 were resolved

And it’s not just children in desperate situations we help; Missing People enables vulnerable adults to pass a Message Home. Through this service, the charity gives adults the opportunity to take the first step to making contact, while reassuring those left behind that they are safe.

Our history

Two sisters, Janet Newman and Mary Asprey, founded the National Missing Persons Helpline from a bedroom at their home in early 1990. This followed the high profile disappearance of estate agent, and family friend, Suzy Lamplugh in 1986. They set up the Freefone number 0500 700 700, which is still used today, offering telephone support for the families of missing people. Through the years the helpline has developed its services to include Message Home and Runaway Helpline, and now not only supports families over the telephone but also via the web, email and most recently through its text service for vulnerable young runaways. The history of the charity Missing People is as varied as its work and is a true testament to the energy and passion of all those that have worked and volunteered there, steering it from its humble origins to the much-respected organisation it is today.