Funding to aid search for missing children

26th Jun 2008
£310k to Aid the Search for Missing Children
The London based charity Missing People today (26.06.2008) announced support from the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) for £310,000 over three years to fund a dedicated Missing Children and Young People team.

The funding will enable Missing People to enhance its existing national search services for children missing from home and care. In addition, the charity will be better able to support those affected and to liaise with other agencies involved.

Visiting the charity HQ in London yesterday, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Kevin Brennan MP said: “We want every child in this country to have a happy, healthy and enjoyable childhood. However, we need to be mindful that this is not the reality for every child, and that some are vulnerable and at risk.

“We want local agencies to work together to spot warning signs and make sure that young people get the help they need to resolve problems before they go missing. They should also develop services to keep them safe and off the streets. That is why we launched our young runaways action plan earlier this week. I congratulate Missing People for the excellent work they do in keeping young runaways safe and reuniting families.”

In the last year (2007/0 Missing People recorded nearly 13,000 enquiries on missing people under the age of 18. Over three-quarters of the cases that the charity made media appeals for were subsequently resolved.

Ruth Mulryne, Director of Services at Missing People, said: “The charity is delighted that the government recognises our role in realising their aim for every child to have the support they need to stay safe.

“This funding will enable a team at Missing People to focus solely on finding the thousands of children who go missing each year.”

The funding has been provided by the DCSF Children, Young People and Families Grant.

For more information on the charity Missing People visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/supportus . The DCSF website is www.dcsf.gov.uk .

That's great Tamsin, thanks for that!