Keir Starmer backs The Independent’s SafeCall campaign to protect missing children as donations surge past £75,000
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer throws his support behind Independent’s The SafeCall campaign will help reach every missing child, saying all young people “deserve safety”.
The appeal, run in conjunction with the charity Missing People, has now received more than £75,000 in donations as efforts to launch a new 24-hour service for young people in crisis gain momentum.
In a strong call to action, Sir Keir praised the campaign and said: “Every child deserves safety and support, which is why this initiative, designed by young people thinking about young people, is so important. I commend everyone working to make this service a reality and urge those who can to consider supporting the cause.”
Independent‘s aim is to raise £165,000 to fund SafeCall, a free service for young people who are considering running away, are currently lost or don’t know where to turn.
The charity currently reaches around a quarter of the 70,000 children reported missing each year. With the support of readers, SafeCall aims to achieve much more by offering 24-hour communication through a special helpline, WhatsApp channel, chatbot and the website created for young people.
donate Here or donate £10 to Missing People, enough to get one child help, by texting SAFE to 70577.
Sir Keir joins actor and writer Sir Stephen Fry, campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, former England captain Sir David Beckham and crime writer Sir Ian Rankin among leading figures backing the call.
Jo Youle, CEO of Missing People, said: “Having the Prime Minister’s support sends a powerful message to every child who feels invisible: you matter. “Our new children and young people service will be a lifeline for at-risk young people, giving them a way to find someone who listens and safety when they need it most.
“We are so grateful for this recognition and for working with young people to help us shine a light on the urgent need for services designed for young people. Thank you for standing with us and Independent “To make sure no child faces danger alone.”
At a further increase, Independent It can reveal Royal Mail has donated £10,000 to the appeal. Corporate affairs director Greg Sage said the organization was “proud” to support Missing People. “This partnership is incredibly important to us because it helps reunite families and loved ones during what can be an extremely difficult time,” he said.
Jet2 also generously supported the campaign. Steve Heapy, the airline’s chief executive, said: “Thousands of children go missing in the UK every year, a fact that is both shocking and heartbreaking. At Jet2, we are proud to support efforts that help young people find their way back to safety and a loving home.”
Jonathan Quin, a fintech entrepreneur who is also backing the campaign, said: “It’s terrible to imagine what a child must be in the mood to decide to run away, and it’s awful to imagine a parent discovering they’ve decided to run away. We must try to stop more children going missing and try to reunite those who have already gone. So I’m happy to support this great initiative and encourage you to do the same.”
Booker Prize-nominated author Andrew O’Hagan also supported the campaign, writing poignantly in the publication about those who disappeared without anyone reporting them missing. Recalling his work on the case of serial killer Fred West, he described asking an officer why so few of West’s victims were reported missing. “That’s the question, isn’t it?” the officer told him. Mr O’Hagan said SafeCall would give vulnerable young people “somewhere to turn before their absence becomes a tragedy”.
BBC presenter Matty Price and broadcaster Anne Atkins are among others who have publicly urged readers to donate.
Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief IndependentHe said: “I’m incredibly proud to launch this campaign with Missing People. With the help of our readers and supporters we can make a real difference to tackling the missing children crisis in this country.”
It is reported that a child goes missing every two and a half minutes in the UK. 61 percent of missing cases reported to the police are young people between the ages of 12 and 17. While many return quickly, thousands remain exposed to exploitation, harm or trauma, and many families say there are no services available to meet their children’s needs.
SafeCall aims to change this by enabling missing young people to reach them in the safest way, with anonymity guaranteed and expert support available around the clock.
Please donate now to the SafeCall campaign launched by The Independent and the charity Missing People to help raise £165,000 to create a free service to help find new, safe futures for vulnerable children.
If you or a loved one is lost, text Missing People or call 116 000 for advice, support and options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. Or visit: misspeople.org.uk/get-help
