'Milestone moment' for the families of missing children

Generous response from our readers sees The Independent hit its Christmas appeal target to set up a SafeCall hotline

- TARA COBHAM

The Independent is proud to announce that the SafeCall campaign has hit its target of £165,000 to launch a new national lifeline for missing young people across the UK.

Thanks to an incredible outpouring of public support for this publication's Christmas appeal, alongside charity Missing People, the free, round-the-clock service can now be set up to reach the 72,000 children who disappear in the UK every year.

With a young person reported missing roughly every two-and-a-half minutes, this is a national crisis that SafeCall can now tackle, offering support, safety and connection to vulnerable children when they need it most.

Jo Youle, chief executive of Missing People, said: "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.

"Thanks to you, Missing People 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. The new service will exist thanks to your generosity.

“You have helped create something that will make a real and lasting difference to young lives across the UK. We hope you will stay by our side throughout 2026. We couldn't have done this without you.”