Missing People Limited
Analysis
Missing People Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in April 1993, 33 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under children and youth development. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02814202). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2026, Missing People Limited reported income of £4.2m and spending of £4.3m, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £3.6m to £4.2m (+15%), an average of +3.5% a year. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.
Among 5,641 England and Wales charities whose main cause is children and youth development and that reported income, Missing People Limited sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Lakshmi N Mittal Family Foundation (£4.2m), Adoption Matters (£4.3m) and Actis Acts CIO (£4.0m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 88% and charitable activities 11%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £87k. Charitable activities took 79% of spending and raising funds 20%. Reserves of £1.1m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 101 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 86%
- Legacies 2.1%
- Charitable activities 11%
- Investments 0.2%
In the charity's own words
Every 90 seconds in the UK, someone is reported missing. Missing People is an independent charity and is a lifeline to the 170,000 people who are reported missing each year, and to their families and friends left behind. The charity operates a free and confidential helpline daily from 10am to 10pm to provide non-judgemental advice and guidance to anybody affected by the issue of missing on 116000
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Lakshmi N Mittal Family Foundation | London | £4.2m |
| Adoption Matters | Chester | £4.3m |
| Actis Acts CIO | London | £4.0m |
| Shy Bairns Get Nowt | Newcastle Upon Tyne | £4.4m |