On Mother’s Day, observed on the 30th of March, The Mirror initiated the Missed campaign to advocate for improved support and care for the 170,000 individuals, including 75,000 children, who go missing annually in the UK. The campaign, in collaboration with the national charity Missing People, aims to enhance awareness and facilitate the safe return of at least one missing person by 2025 by sharing their poignant narratives.
In a notable success story in May, the story of 17-year-old Deante James, who had disappeared from his residence in London, was covered by The Mirror. Following the publication, he was located safe a few weeks later, prompting heartfelt gratitude from his mother, Vandana, who expressed immense joy upon receiving the news of his safe return.
The Mirror’s Missed campaign, which has spotlighted numerous missing person cases, featured emotional accounts from four mothers on Mother’s Day. Julie Davis, Christine Durand, Nerissa Tivy, and Sharon Lee shared their experiences in the hope that the campaign would aid in locating their missing children after years of searching.
As Father’s Day approached in June, bereaved children, including Dottie (5), April (8), Chanel (18), Dougie (21), and Tessa (41), expressed their longing to embrace their absent fathers. They lent their voices in support of The Mirror’s Missed campaign, urging their fathers to come home.
The Mirror has introduced an interactive map that allows individuals to report sightings of missing persons confidentially and share them easily on social media. Users can zoom in on their chosen area to view the number of missing individuals in that vicinity, with the option to view photos, names, ages, and duration of disappearance of the missing persons.
The Missed campaign has been nominated for the 2025 Making a Difference Award, organized by the News Media Association during Journalism Matters Week, highlighting the positive impact of journalism on society. With someone going missing every 90 seconds in the UK, the campaign emphasizes the necessity for a new missing children and adults strategy to ensure the involvement of law enforcement, healthcare, and social services in the process. The campaign also calls for investment in prevention for those at high risk of going missing and support for all missing individuals upon their return.
Readers are encouraged to participate in the Missed campaign by voting before the deadline on Thursday, November 6, to make a meaningful contribution. To cast your vote, visit the provided link and follow the instructions to support The Mirror’s Missed campaign.
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