An incredible £300,000 was raised for Missing People’s vital services at its annual gala event, with the support of The Independent as the charity’s partner.
Funds raised at the charity’s Night of Light Gala on Thursday, which auctioned custom shoes worn by Claudia Winkleman in The Traitors, lunch with the charity’s patron Sir Stephen Fry, and two paintings by Team GB artist Ben Mosley.
The huge sum will go towards services helping those in crisis, including SafeCall, which was launched in January with the help of The Independent’s readers through our Christmas fundraising campaign.
The event hosted the families of missing loved ones, and the partners and supporters of the charity, who came together to back Missing People’s aim of supporting those living with the heartache of an empty chair.
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Ross Miller, the interim chief executive of Missing People, said: “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.
“We were delighted to shine a spotlight on the transformational difference readers of The Independent have made, and to continue our partnership. We are especially grateful to Catherine O’Sullivan for sharing her story, and how the charity has supported her families search for Jack.”
Donate here or text SAFE to 70577 to give £10 to Missing People – enough for one child to get help.
Ms O’Sullivan, whose son Jack has been missing since March 2024, spoke about the heartbreak of having a loved one disappear.
She said: “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.
“It’s the last thing I think of at night and the first thing that enters my mind as I wake in the morning. My thoughts continually play over and over – where are you, Jack?
“People ask me what is this like? How do you cope? The truth is, it is a living nightmare, the roller coaster from Hell that you are on and just can’t get off.”
She added: “Missing People has been there at the worst time in our lives. Not just as a charity, but as an important lifeline. They support families when the world moves on, but the nightmare does not. They provide practical guidance, emotional support, publicity, and importantly, advocacy.”
Earlier this year, The Independent and Missing People announced the launch of SafeCall, a free and confidential support service designed to keep children and young people safe.
With the support of our readers and the backing of Sir Keir Starmer, Kate McCann, Sir David Beckham, Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen, and others, The Independent’s SafeCall campaign raised more than £165,000 to launch the lifeline.
Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, also spoke at the event. He said: “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."
Please donate now to The Independent and Missing People’s SafeCall campaign, which has raised £165,000 to create a free, nationwide service helping vulnerable children find safety and support
For advice, support and options if you or someone you love goes missing, contact SafeCall.org.uk
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