Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, has issued over 100 million tickets in support of UK charity Missing People since December 2022 as part of their ongoing partnership.
The inclusion of Missing People’s free-phone number on Stagecoach tickets across the country encourages people in crisis to call the free and confidential helpline before they think of disappearing.
The preventative campaign launched December 2022 in response to first-hand accounts of Missing People’s Helpline teams. These accounts recognised increased financial hardships such as unpaid debt and food insecurity were driving people to consider going missing.
With 100,000 adults and 70,000 children reported missing each year in the UK, the charity has confirmed that calls from people in crisis have increased since the campaign began.
Each ticket issued now includes the message “If you feel like disappearing or know someone who has gone missing, find ‘Missing People’ for support. Call the free helpline on 116 000 which is confidential and non-judgemental”.
Ray O’Toole, Chief Executive for Stagecoach said: “We at Stagecoach are proud of the continued partnership with Missing People as it provides our drivers with a vital tool to help vulnerable members of their community on our buses. Our transport network can be a pivotal point for those in crisis, so the inclusion of Missing People’s helpline on our tickets is an important preventative measure for those who may need support.”
Jo Youle, Chief Executive of Missing People said: “We are particularly pleased with this important partnership and continued support from Stagecoach who are playing an instrumental role in our drive to prevent people in crisis from disappearing. The printing of helpline number on Stagecoach bus tickets is our hope that someone in crisis sees it and we can be the support they need before they leave.”
Stagecoach is committed to donate 0.5% of pre-tax profits every year to charitable causes as part of its ‘Giving for Good’ community initiative. It also has national partnerships with Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, the Trussel Trust and Happy Days. Stagecoach assists these charities wherever possible, for example through financial donations, providing buses, and helping raise funds for each charity.
Missing People is the only UK charity dedicated to reconnecting missing people and their loved ones. They provide services which include family support, counselling, and specialist services for issues related to missing such as exploitation and County Lines.
If you have been affected, Missing People’s Helpline is 116 000 by phone or text. The free and confidential Helpline is available from 9 am-11 pm, 7 days a week, thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. As a charity, these vital services are made possible through the generosity of donors.
