The father-of-two was last seen, aged 31, on Sunday, 30 March, 2003 in the Rowardennan area of Loch Lomond. His car, a black Ford Focus, was found near where he was last seen.

Despite a significant investigation and desperate appeals from his family, David’s whereabouts remain a mystery.

David is deeply missed by his family.

Throughout the 22 years that he has been missing, we have been there for them: from support to help them weather the emotional toll of David’s disappearance, to publicity support to keep David’s face in the public eye, maintaining hope that the siblings will be reunited someday.

We will continue to be there until David is found.

“On your birthday, you would have turned 54. It’s hard to believe it’s been 22 years without your cheeky grin, your quick wit, and that spark only you had. Though life has carried on, the space you left is still felt deeply by us all. We hold onto the laughter, the love, and the hope — always.

Miss you every day, our forever cheeky chappy.”

-David’s sister Susan

Appeal for David

Read more about David’s appeal, and share his poster online and in your area.

The post David McCallum – age progression release appeared first on Missing People.

For over four decades, Marty and Steve Thorpe lived worlds apart—separated not just by oceans, but by the spirals of life that had taken them down vastly different paths. But in early 2024, a powerful reconnection unfolded, thanks to a quiet, determined effort by the team at our Lost Contact service.

The brothers, originally from London but separated in childhood when their family emigrated to Australia, had drifted into silence. For Steve, life became increasingly unstable—marked by periods of homelessness, time in prison, and a complete detachment from digital life. For Marty, the void left by his brother’s absence never truly closed.

Then, almost on a whim, Marty reached out to the Lost Contact service—a free, confidential search initiative designed to reconnect relatives separated for years, even decades. Despite submitting little more than a name and fragmentary memories, within months he received the message he never expected:

“Your brother has been found—and he wants to reconnect.”

Steve had recently been allocated council housing in South London, which landed him on the electoral roll. That one breadcrumb was enough for Lost Contact to trace him. The brothers met this summer in London, 40 years after last seeing each other. The joy was raw and unmistakable.

Steve, with his thick London accent and tough exterior, summed it up best:

“This is the best thing that’s ever happened in my life.”

Thank you to LexisNexis Risk Solutions, without their ongoing support with this service, this reconnection would not have been possible.

The Observer made a podcast episode around reconnections with a family member, including Marty and Steve’s story, which can be found here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Lost Contact Service

If you or someone you know is searching for a lost family member, make an application to our service. It’s free, compassionate, and may just give you the second chance you never thought possible.

Don’t wait. Reconnection might be closer than you think.

Please note, your search must fit our strict criteria, outlined here.

The post Reunited After 40 Years appeared first on Missing People.

The was made possible thanks to Betting and Gaming Council members, Flutter (Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Bet), Entain (Ladbrokes, Coral), Evoke (888 William Hill), Kindred (Unibet), Betway, Rank Group (Grosvenor Sport), Virgin Bet, LivescoreBet, Star Sports and QuinnBet, along with the support of Tote and Bet with Ascot.

For Missing People, our share of the total raised will ensure that vital information, guidance and support will be available to missing people and their loved ones when it is needed most, and for however long it takes.

We’d like to thank everyone who helped make this possible. Their generosity ensures we can continue to providing a lifeline to people affected by a disappearance, no matter what.

Jo Youle OBE, Chief Executive of Missing People said:

“Thank you to the Betting and Gaming Council, and its members, for the incredible generosity extended to Missing People via the Britannia Stakes.

Someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK. Your support means the charity can be there for people in crisis who are missing, and for families still searching.

No matter what the situation, this donation will mean that vital information, guidance and support will be available when it is needed most.”

The post Missing People Charity Benefits from Britannia Stakes appeared first on Missing People.

A BIG SHOUTOUT goes to everyone who took part to support Missing People!

We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who took part in the Isle of Wight Challenge for Missing People. We would also like to say a huge thank you to the Metro for their support with this challenge through their lifeline campaign.

The entire team smashed it and raised over £35,000 for Missing People (including gift aid). The team included people with lived experience of missing, staff members, long term supporters of the charity and a team from the Metro. We are so grateful for everyone’s support!

You can read more about the challenge and donate by clicking the buttons below.

Would you like to fundraise for Missing People? 

We have places in a number of different challenge events, including BMW Berlin-Marathon and the Yorkshire Marathon. You can find out more here.

Or you can create your own fundraising event to raise money for Missing People. You can find some ideas here.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any of your fundraising ideas. Our dedicated fundraising team would love to help.

Would you like to be a Fundraiser of the Month?  

You can – all you need you to do is raise money for Missing People!

We are always looking to celebrate the achievements of our exceptional fundraisers.

There are so many different ways you can fundraise for us:

• Participate in one of our Challenge Events, full list of events here

• Dedicate your birthday to Missing People by setting up a special birthday fundraising page on Facebook.

• You could dance, sing, bake cakes – the options are endless. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss some ideas.

So, if you have a fundraising idea that will help raise vital funds for people affected by disappearance, go for it and you may be our next Fundraiser of the Month!

The post May 2025’s Fundraiser of the Month appeared first on Missing People.

A BIG shoutout to our amazing TCS London Marathon team who collectively raised over £45,000 for Missing People. They all smashed the marathon on the 27th April, even in the heat!  

We also loved celebrating the team after the event at our post-race reception. 

Thank you so much and we are so grateful for your ongoing support.  

You can still donate to our team by clicking the button below.  

Would you like to run the 2026 TCS London Marathon for Missing People?  

Applications for 2026 TCS London Marathon are now open! You can find out more and request an application form by clicking the button below.  

We would love to have you as part of #TeamMissingPeople!   

The post Congratulations to our incredible London Marathon team! appeared first on Missing People.

Generously hosted by corporate supporters Skadden LLP at their prestigious London offices, 31 supporters from 19 companies enjoyed breakfast against the backdrop of stunning London views in the heart of the City.

The early morning start didn’t deter attendees, who arrived promptly at 8:30am, eager to hear more about the opportunities technology can provide to support Missing People, and to connect with fellow companies and the Missing People team. 

Attendees were welcomed by CEO Jo Youle, who spoke powerfully about how the charity supports those affected by missing and took the opportunity to thank the attendees for their incredible efforts in supporting Missing People. 

We then heard from Steve Gooder, VP Product at Trainline, about their innovative partnership with Missing People, using technology for good, to reunite families, but also to raise awareness about the prevalence of missing in the UK.  Trainline delivers real-time, geo-targeted alerts to the public through their app, enabling their customers to access up-to-date information about missing persons in their area. This multi-award-winning partnership has been recognised industry-wide for creating real-world change using their technology. 

Before a short Q&A with the panel, Head of Helpline Services, Paul Joseph followed up by speaking about how our helpline services has evolved over the years, embracing technology to support people in their hour of need, and how we anticipate that changing in the future, in particular with more difficult to reach groups.

The morning was not only an opportunity for networking and learning but also a chance to learn about the impact of their support for the charity and how they can make a difference to families affected by missing. 

As they left these beautiful offices, it was clear that the event left a lasting impression on those who attended, with feedback full of appreciation and enthusiasm. 

One attendee said: “I found it very informative, in particular, I found it interesting about Missing People removing people’s digital footprint once found. Never thought about this before, but it is very important.”

Another said: “I thought all three speakers were excellent. So interesting to see the two-way benefit of the Trainline partnership.”

And for another, their favourite part was: “Hearing from the speakers and how we could work collaboratively with other industries.”

If you would like to hear more about how your company can support Missing People, or if you would like to attend our next event, then please get in touch using the button below.

The post Inspiring ‘Tech for Good’ Impact Breakfast for Missing People appeared first on Missing People.

A BIG SHOUTOUT goes to everyone who organised a Light the Way walk to support Missing People!  

We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone for Lighting the Way for Missing People between March 27th and 30th. 

We are so grateful for your amazing fundraising and wanted to shout out some of our top fundraisers:  

• Stella Harding has raised over £1,600 to honour and remember her son Owen who went missing 5 years ago. Dozens joined Stella on a walk along the Saltdean coast to Light the Way for Missing People. You can find out more about Stella’s walk here.  
• Greater Anglia, c2c, Trainline and Southeastern came together to raise £1,618 and complete a Light the Way walk covering the railway stations on the Monopoly board.  
• Walk for the Missing Support Network Team who raised £522. Members of the ‘Walk for the Missing’ and ‘MISSING: Prevention, Help and Wellbeing Group’ Facebook groups took on a Light the Way walks around the country, including a walk in Rochdale. One member even dressed up as a bumble bee and danced through the streets and another got her child’s school to agree to a dance session wearing glow stick bracelets.  

Thank you so much to everyone who took on a Light the Way Walk for Missing People. So far, we have raised £6,200, we really appreciate your support!  

Would you like to fundraise for Missing People? 

We have places in a number of different challenge events, including The Big Half Marathon and Great North Run. You can find out more here.  

Or you can create your own fundraising event to raise money for Missing People. You can find some ideas here.  

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any of your fundraising ideas. Our dedicated fundraising team would love to help.  

Would you like to be a Fundraiser of the Month?  

You can – all you need you to do is raise money for Missing People!  

We are always looking to celebrate the achievements of our exceptional fundraisers.  

There are so many different ways you can fundraise for us:  

• Participate in one of our Challenge Events, full list of events here  

• Dedicate your birthday to Missing People by setting up a special birthday fundraising page on Facebook.  

• You could dance, sing, bake cakes – the options are endless. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss some ideas.  

So, if you have a fundraising idea that will help raise vital funds for people affected by disappearance, go for it and you may be our next Fundraiser of the Month! 

The post April 2025’s Fundraiser of the Month appeared first on Missing People.

A BIG SHOUTOUT goes to our amazing fundraising of the month – Alice!  

Alice ran the Rome Marathon on the 16th March in a fantastic time of 4 hours and 12 minutes. Alice chose to use her Rome Marathon place to fundraise for Missing People and has raised over £2,800 so far! This will make a huge difference, £2,940 could help us find 30 missing people in crisis. 

We would like to say a massive thank you to Alice – we are so grateful for your support!  

Would you like to fundraise for Missing People through a challenge event?  

We have places in a number of different events, including The Big Half Marathon, Great North Run and Yorkshire Marathon. 

If you have your own place in a challenge event why not use it to fundraise for Missing People? You will be part of #TeamMissingPeople and receive the same support.  

Would you like to be a Fundraiser of the Month? 

You can – all you need you to do is raise money for Missing People! 

We are always looking to celebrate the achievements of our exceptional fundraisers. 

There are so many different ways you can fundraise for us: 

• Participate in one of our Challenge Events, full list of events here 

• Dedicate your birthday to Missing People by setting up a special birthday fundraising page on Facebook. 

• You could dance, sing, bake cakes – the options are endless. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss some ideas. 

So, if you have a fundraising idea that will help raise vital funds for people affected by disappearance, go for it and you may be our next Fundraiser of the Month! 

The post March 2025’s Fundraiser of the Month appeared first on Missing People.

Since 2009, players have generously backed our cause, allowing us to be a lifeline for thousands of children and adults in crisis. You’ve been a huge part of our journey to deliver vital services to people at risk of being missing, those currently missing, and the loved ones left behind. As of 2024, players have raised £11,925,778, but how did we get there? 

Let’s look back at the last the last 15 years:  

2009: The beginning of your support 

In 2009, we launched TextSafe®, a service letting us reach out (via text) to people who are reported missing to the police. The text lets missing people know that our staff are waiting to talk to them via our free, confidential Helpline.  Since its launch, we have sent more than 200,000 TextSafe® messages to missing children, young people and adults. 

2010: Launch of Missing Rights Advocacy 

In 2010, the backing of players allowed us to take our impact to the next level: using our voice to bring about legislative change for families of missing people. In addition to missing their loved one, families face the added stress of struggling to manage their affairs, whether it be their banking, mortgages, or utilities. Peter Lawrence, father of missing woman Claudia Lawrence, was at the forefront of this campaign, having personally experienced this issue. 

2013: Players achieve £2m milestone 

2013 marked a new milestone in players’ support: you raised £2m for Missing People’s vital services! With your generosity, we worked with the Metropolitan Police to design a new missing person policy. Over 4,000 police professionals received training to improve responses to missing person cases, including support for unaccompanied children and those at risk of exploitation. 

2014: Several successes illuminate fifth year of support 

The achievements continued to roll in. To mark this milestone, here’s what you achieved: 

• Launch of the Child Rescue Alert system thanks to the Dream Fund 

• Our face-to-face support for children who have returned home from missing. 

• Our Missing Rights advocacy came to fruition – the Presumption of Death Act 2013 was formally passed. This gave all UK families access to a clearer and useable system, allowing them to mark their own form of closure for their missing loved one. 

2016: Being a safe space for young people 

This year marked a continued focus on safeguarding vulnerable young people, whether they were at risk of exploitation or escaping a difficult home situation. From the launch of our Runaway Helpline website to the launch of our 1-2-1 Online Chat, players’ funds were committed to providing a safe space to the UK’s most vulnerable young people. What’s more, Runaway Helpline was accessed over 100,000 times.  

2017: TextSafe® milestone 

This year highlighted the necessity of our TextSafe® service. In 2017, we reached an incredible milestone having sent 500,000 TextSafe messages to those in crisis, since the service was launched in 2009. Whilst we’re glad to have supported so many people, this milestone brought into sharp focus the numbers of people facing crisis daily. Players’ support is much needed in times like this. 

2018: Search Dog Heroes  

Thanks to players’ generosity, we received £1 million from the Dream Fund for the second time. With their support, we launched the Search Dog Heroes initiative, using specially trained dogs to find people with learning difficulties and dementia, who are most at risk of going missing. 

2019: Missing Rights recognised 

Following years of campaigning by families and Missing People, the government finally enacted the Guardianship law in 2019. Peter Lawrence, father of missing woman Claudia Lawrence, worked tirelessly to make this happen, and his efforts were recognised with an OBE in 2018. 

2020 – 2024:  Above and beyond! 

In the past year alone, Missing People has made significant strides: 

Reaching More Missing People: Nearly 45,000 missing individuals received SMS messages offering confidential helpline support. 

Public Appeals and Searches: The charity launched 575 public appeals and conducted numerous behind-the-scenes searches through its network of partner organisations. 

Professional Training: Over 4,000 professionals received training to improve responses to missing person cases, including support for unaccompanied children and those at risk of exploitation. 

Family Support: Directly helped over 8,000 people, with nearly 1,500 family members, friends, and colleagues receiving support. 

Launched Prevention Campaigns: Proactively reaching out to individuals before they go missing, offering support and resources to prevent disappearances. 

13 Principles for Police Response to Missing People and Their Families: Working with both families with a missing loved one and Police, we have created clear guidance in the form of 13 key principles so that families know what level of support and communication they should expect from the police when their loved one is reported missing. Police forces are encouraged to follow these Principles, ensuring a compassionate and consistent response in every missing person investigation.

Media Guidance: Following the unprecedented media coverage of Nicola Bulley’s disappearance, and in various high profile disappearances thereafter, we created best practice guidelines to help journalists working with families to report on missing persons, respectfully. These guidelines aim to provide clear and supportive direction, minimising distress for families and communities affected by missing, ensuring quality journalism.

As we mark this milestone, we invite everyone to continue supporting Missing People. Together, we can ensure that no one faces the trauma of a disappearance alone. 

The post Celebrating 15 years of impact with People’s Postcode Lottery appeared first on Missing People.

Last week we were able to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our partnership with Trainline at The House of Commons, shining a light on the amazing work they do to use technology for good. Over the past year, this partnership has not only raised awareness about the unfortunate prevalence of missing in the UK, but also brought hope to families across the country, reuniting 46 missing people with their loved ones.  

Following long-term corporate supporter, Hope & Glory PR, introducing Missing People to Trainline last November, Trainline has been using its technology for good. They deliver real-time, geo-targeted alerts to the public through their app, enabling their customers to access up-to-date information about missing persons in their area. 

A Campaign with a Real Impact 

The positive impact of this collaboration has been recognized industry-wide, earning the campaign media attention and an amazing 16 awards within its first year, including two at this week’s PRCA Awards. These accolades celebrate the dedication of Missing People and Trainline to creating real-world change using technology to reunite families and bring missing loved ones home. 

Reuniting Families, Restoring Hope 

We are incredibly proud of this collaboration. The story of each person found is a reminder of why this partnership matters, and for every person found, countless family members and friends are spared a moment of fear and uncertainty. As we continue into our second year, we remain committed to finding even more people, reuniting more families, and expanding our reach in communities nationwide. 

Looking Forward 

With each milestone, we are reminded of the incredible support from the public and the generosity of Trainline in helping make this vision a reality. This partnership is a powerful example of how, together, we can make a difference, one person at a time.  

The post Trainline and Missing People celebrate award-winning partnership at a Parliamentary event appeared first on Missing People.