Missing People Charity Gala Raises £300,000 for Vital Services
The Missing People charity has successfully raised an impressive £300,000 at its annual Night of Light Gala, held on Thursday. This significant sum will directly support the charity's crucial services, including the recently launched SafeCall lifeline, designed to assist individuals in crisis, particularly children and young people.
Event Highlights and Fundraising Success
The gala, which brought together families of missing loved ones, charity partners, and dedicated supporters, featured a series of high-value auction items. Notable lots included custom shoes worn by Claudia Winkleman in The Traitors, a lunch with the charity's patron Sir Stephen Fry, and two paintings by Team GB artist Ben Mosley. The paintings alone contributed £42,000 to the total, with one piece created live during the event.
Ross Miller, the interim chief executive of Missing People, expressed his gratitude, stating: "The evening was filled with warmth, compassion, and a shared determination to support missing people, and the people important to them. This is a cause of our times." He highlighted the transformative impact of The Independent's readers, who have been instrumental in the charity's efforts through their ongoing partnership.
Personal Stories and Emotional Impact
Catherine O'Sullivan, whose son Jack has been missing since March 2024, shared her heart-wrenching experience at the gala. She described the ongoing turmoil of having a loved one disappear, saying: "In life when someone dies, there is grief. When someone goes missing there is grief, fear, hope, confusion and thousands of unanswered questions that go around your head continually. It's totally incomprehensible." She emphasized that Missing People has been a vital lifeline, providing practical guidance, emotional support, and advocacy during her family's darkest times.
Launch of SafeCall and Independent's Campaign
Earlier this year, The Independent and Missing People announced the launch of SafeCall, a free and confidential support service aimed at keeping children and young people safe. With backing from high-profile figures such as Sir Keir Starmer, Kate McCann, Sir David Beckham, and Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen, The Independent's SafeCall campaign raised over £165,000 to establish this essential service.
Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, spoke at the event, noting: "We're delighted to have supported Missing People's Night of Light Gala, where a phenomenal amount of money was raised. The launch of the groundbreaking new service SafeCall just a few weeks ago through our campaign means young people thinking about going missing now have a lifeline to receive immediate help, something which has been desperately needed for so long."
The funds from the gala will bolster these initiatives, ensuring continued support for those affected by disappearances. For advice or to donate, individuals can contact SafeCall.org.uk or text SAFE to 70577 to contribute £10, which covers the cost of helping one child.
