The Trainline app still displays urgent missing cases by geographical area. So far as I know Trainline aims to continue the scheme long-term.
Needless to say, I am delighted that Trainline will continue to help in this way.
Some of you may recall that I spoke in a video released by Missing People in November 2023 in support of their initiative with Trainline to helping missing people. This pioneering initiative had the potential to reach millions of members of the public via the Trainline app and worked by displaying images of people who have gone missing in the vicinity, as well as information on the steps to take if you suspect you have seen a missing person or have information on their whereabouts. Andrew’s case featured as part of the video (video shown below) I have just received information from Missing People on the success of the campaign, together with their thanks for participating. During the campaign period (November 2023 and March 2024) it received four PR/Marketing awards. The campaign produced outstanding results, with 77 appeals displayed and 11 individuals reported found safe and well. These appeals reached a wide audience, totalling an impressive 84,023,224 impressions.
The Trainline app still displays urgent missing cases by geographical area. So far as I know Trainline aims to continue the scheme long-term. Needless to say, I am delighted that Trainline will continue to help in this way.
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or follow this link below: Every 90 Seconds: The Silent Epidemic of The Missing IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK FOR THESE ARTICLES PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] HELP URGENTLY NEEDED In my blog for Andrew’s 30th birthday this year, I wrote about the acorns he planted becoming mature trees and bearing their first acorns: >>>> Andrew’s Oak Tree Blog I had not realised at the time, that the charity Missing People had started in a spare bedroom and is also 30 this year. I was asked to speak at the Christmas Service as a result. I reflected upon the huge personal debt we as a family owe them, and for the vast amount of support they have given us over the past 16 years. Also on the fact that this year’s preventative campaign, marks yet another stride forwards in the help they offer to so many people and their families. This is also very important to us. To mark the 30th anniversary, I carved oak leaves into a small piece of a huge oak tree that fell a year ago in the Woodland project I attend and volunteer at. I felt very privileged to be able to present it to Jo Youle, the charity CEO and to personally thank the charity trustees, patrons, staff and volunteers. The acorn planted in a spare bedroom 30 years ago has become to many, many people a mighty oak tree. What I said can be viewed here (starting at 12mins): If you would like to help support this amazing charity, you can do so by donating on their website. There are also many opportunities to help in other ways, by sharing appeals on social media for example. Thank you for anything you can do to help. As a family, we wish you a Happy Christmas and New Year. On the 16th anniversary of Andrew's disappearance, we think of all those with missing loved ones and remind you of Kevin's most recent blog. Thank you for continuing to share appeals for missing children & young people. http://helpustofindandrew.weebly.com/blog/andrews-oak-tree Andrew, missing but not forgotten
This year marks Andrew’s 30th birthday and 16 years since he went missing in 2007. I think he was 10 when he read somewhere that an oak tree kept in a tub would become a fully mature tree, but in miniature because the roots were constrained from growing fully. At the time, I picked up a few acorns and we planted these in a tub to test this theory. Half a dozen grew and I gradually replanted them over the years, keeping one for our own back garden. Last year, it produced its first acorns, showing that, while still only about 6 feet/2 metres tall, it has matured as Andrew predicted. Almost every day since he disappeared, I have struggled with crippling anxiety and depression, to the extent that it is barely possible to function. No matter how many years pass by without him, those feelings never change and are often intensified by seemingly small things that would not have been a problem before he vanished. After all the searching, appealing, praying and hoping, we all still miss him intensely every single day; it never seems to become easier. In the Missing People offices, there is a “tree”, pictured here: one of the leaves is inscribed with his name and our message to him. There are too many inscribed leaves on this tree, too many loved ones missed each and every day. There are too many families left bewildered, wondering, searching, hoping and praying; longing for an answer, any answer, no matter how difficult that answer could be. Missing People have tirelessly supported us through these years, as they do with so many families. In addition, every month sees appeals that help find missing children and adults and the helpline (116000) is available to those thinking of going missing or that have gone missing and find themselves in difficulty. As Andrew’s oak tree bears the fruit of the acorn, we hope that awareness of his case bears the fruit that others are helped to find positive solutions in their lives and that other families are spared the pain that too many of us live with every day.
If you feel able to help with a donation, no matter how small, know that you will be part of a lifeline to many families by giving here: Missing People Thank you. Please, if you have any information that could help the police in their search for Andrew please report here
South Yorkshire Police 101 Missing People 116000 Crimestoppers (anonymously) 0800 555 111 Lose your way, lose your marbles, lose the battle, lose out. Lose the car keys, lose your specs, lose your purse. Lose a friend, lose a loved one, lose your mind, lose your faith. Everyone loses in life, in some way. Some losses are trivial and others can be the most painful thing we will ever experience. Because we all experience loss, we have some understanding that it may hurt, for a long time, but that the pain of loss will ease. With significant loss, we often need the help and support of family, friends and others to see us through the pain. But the ambiguous loss of a missing family member is very different: without the knowledge of what happened to our loved one, we are unable to heal. It is like that for my family and I. Andrew is still missing. As we reach his 29th birthday, we realise that he has been gone for longer than he was here. The intensity of his not being here with us continues every day, a huge hole in our lives and our family. How to deal with this is something to which no-one has answers. For me, I think the one thing we cannot lose is hope. Hope of re-union, hope of news, hope of an answer of any kind. This year I shall be placing some flowers in my church along with this candle, which is made and sold to support Missing People. It will be lit as a sign that we have not lost hope for Andrew. I hope that it is also a sign for all those struggling with loss of any kind, be it physical, financial, psychological or spiritual. Perhaps you would join us in lighting a candle for the lost and the missing? A small light of hope that they find their way home. Thank you.
You can support Missing People by purchasing these candles here: https://therecycledcandlecompany.co.uk/pages/missing-people Recent Developments in Andrew's Case Firstly, please accept our apologies for not responding more individually, but we are overwhelmed with messages at the moment.
DI Andy Knowles made us aware of the arrests made in London on December 8th 2021, but we have not shared this because we have no factual information in addition to the Police statement and would not wish to prejudice the investigations being carried out in any way. We understand that Police investigations will take several months to complete, so until that is the case, we do not know what to think and do not wish to speculate on any possible outcome. We cannot add to the information in the public domain, but would like to thank the media, general public and the charity Missing People for their support at this time and over the past years of our search for answers about what happened to Andrew. We have carried the burden of not knowing for many years and recent potential developments represent a more intensified period of this emotional journey for us, so we hope that you understand how difficult this time is for us as a family and wish to thank you for your support and prayers. Kevin It is very much in our minds this year that Andrew has been missing from our lives for 14 years, the same amount of time that we loved having him with us. I have been reflecting on the difference between those two periods of time and wondering if it is true that “time heals all wounds”. Does it bring any sense of balance to life? For 14 years, we enjoyed a bright, smiling, thoughtful, intelligent, polite boy at the heart of our family life. He was a deep thinker, sparklingly witty, with a wide range of interests he shared with us. It was difficult to fall out with Andrew, even if we agreed to disagree on a topic, as he was so gentle and likeable. And then he vanished. For the past 14 years, we have dealt with mental health issues as a result. We have thought of him and prayed for him daily. We have distributed thousands of leaflets and posters, searched at length in various places, engaged with hundreds of journalists across every type of media to try and find out what has become of our son. For us, time does not heal all wounds. Without any resolution to his whereabouts or fate, it feels as though we can never truly rest, never really move on with our lives in the same way. But we will always be glad to have all those years of happy memories. I recently sat with a cup of coffee on the back door step and was joined by my little Grandson (aged 2) who brought his drink and settled down right beside me. For me, that was a lovely moment, a simple, everyday, comfortable moment of companionship and love. It reminded me of this photo taken in Egypt in 2004. It is, oddly enough, of our backs, but our daughter Charlotte commented that it was a “mini-me” photo as we happened to be similarly dressed that day. I have always liked it as it makes me think of all the times we were together, not even doing much necessarily, or saying much, but just comfortable in our companionship. I miss it. We all miss it. We all miss Andrew, still. There is no equilibrium to be gained as yet at least and we still love him and want to know the answers all this time on. Thinking about all this, the thing I want to ask you to think about is this: if you have young people in your family, are they aware of the charity Missing People? Do they know there is a free, confidential helpline available on 116000 – and various online methods of making contact too? Going missing is an issue we never thought about with our children, we thought of the rare abduction case that makes the news. It can happen in any family, all the more so if a young person is struggling with issues they perceive at home or school but feel embarrassed to talk about. Whatever a young person is thinking or feeling, no-one will judge them if they need to call. They are there to support you and that is all. Please have that conversation, put the number in phones, just in case. Please.
On November 18th 2020 I turn 55. I can no longer claim to be in my early 50’s and must accept that I have reached my mid 50’s! What really bothers me though is that I was approaching 42 when Andrew went missing and that I have had so many birthdays without him. My wife Glenys and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary in August. Andrew’s Grandparents celebrated their Diamond (60th) Anniversary in July. And if we look back over the years, these milestones and special days always seem incomplete without Andrew. Of course, every day is incomplete without him, but these occasions seem to make it more poignant. We do our best to celebrate of course despite these feelings and this year I am pleased to have been purchased a very special pair of socks. Every man needs socks amongst his Christmas or Birthday gifts and this year Missing People have teamed up with The London Sock Company to produce a limited edition of bespoke socks with the profits helping Missing People. So, thanks guys at the London Sock Company. Here I am wearing my new socks, feeling pleased to have something in common with the uniquely talented Stephen Fry who as a patron of Missing People has recently blogged about his own pair of Missing People socks. Andrew always enjoyed watching or reading anything involving Stephen Fry, appreciating his knowledge and humour and we are grateful to him for his ongoing support of the only UK charity to support missing people and their families. 2020 has been a tough year for the charitable sector overall and Missing People are no exception. So perhaps if you read this you may consider purchasing your own socks as a Christmas Gift for someone. Or making a donation to Missing People, however large or small. Or making a point of sharing some appeals for missing people from their website or those posted on Andrew’s social media accounts. If you can do anything to help, please do. Missing People are literally a lifeline to so many people and I can testify to their unwavering support and help over the past 13 years. Thank you Find the link for The London Sock Company below, just click image |
AuthorKevin Gosden, Archives
May 2024
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