The Independent's Christmas appeal, in partnership with the charity Missing People, has successfully reached its fundraising target of £165,000 to launch a vital new national service for missing young people across the United Kingdom.
A Lifeline for Vulnerable Young People
Thanks to an extraordinary public response, the SafeCall campaign can now establish a free, round-the-clock service designed to reach the estimated 72,000 children who disappear in the UK every year. With a young person reported missing roughly every two-and-a-half minutes, the service aims to tackle what is described as a national crisis, offering support, safety, and connection to vulnerable children when they need it most.
Jo Youle, chief executive of Missing People, expressed profound gratitude: "We want to say a heartfelt thank you to every reader, and the incredible team at The Independent, who supported the SafeCall Appeal. Your generosity, compassion, and willingness to stand alongside young people in crisis have brought us to this milestone moment."
She confirmed that the charity can now build and launch SafeCall in 2026, providing confidential support to young people who feel scared, isolated, or at risk. "We can be there no matter what the situation and for however long it takes," Youle added.
Families Endure Heartbreak at Christmas
The announcement coincides with The Independent highlighting, on its Christmas Day front page, the stories of individuals who vanished as children or teenagers, and whose families continue to search for them. Family members described the "horrific" experience of spending the festive season without a missing loved one.
Peter Boxell, whose 15-year-old son Lee disappeared in 1988, recalled the first Christmas without him: "I had hoped Lee might come home or we might hear from him – obviously I wanted him to come home for Christmas. We had an extra space at the table for him for Christmas dinner in case he came home. It was just heartbreaking."
Cross-Society Support for the Campaign
The campaign garnered widespread backing, from the general public to prominent figures. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer supported the initiative, stating that all young people "deserve safety". He was joined by several public figures including Missing People ambassador Kate McCann, actor and writer Sir Stephen Fry, campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, former England football captain Sir David Beckham, and presenter Lorraine Kelly.
Actor Amelia Bullmore, another backer, said: "I’m incredibly proud to have supported this campaign, and deeply grateful to The Independent and every reader who backed it. Your generosity and belief in SafeCall means vulnerable young people across the UK will now have a safe, confidential place to turn."
Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, thanked readers: "This Christmas, I want to thank our readers for something truly extraordinary. Together, you have helped us reach £165,000 for SafeCall – a lifeline for young people who are missing, frightened or in danger."
Teenagers aged 12 to 17 remain the most likely group to go missing, accounting for 61 per cent of all incidents. The new SafeCall service will ensure missing young people, or those at risk of disappearing, can reach out in a way that feels safest to them, with anonymity guaranteed and support available at any hour.
The free service will expand Missing People’s reach through a dedicated helpline, a WhatsApp channel, a 24-hour chatbot, and a redesigned website offering advice written for young people. Currently, the charity reaches about one in four of the children reported missing each year; SafeCall is poised to extend that support to many more.
The campaign has also focused on raising awareness for an issue that affects over 430,000 people each year through the disappearance of a child, yet remains under-prioritised.
