Jo Youle, Chief Executive of the local charity, Missing People, writes that however difficult the path ahead, we will find a way to move forward
I was out for a run at the weekend for my daily exercise. The sun was out. Blue skies. I ran past The Missing People ‘memory tree’ in Palewell Park, planted to remember people who are missing, swaying on a easterly wind. And it was good to see. I felt privileged to be out, to be near a park and counting my lucky stars.
When I came to this bridge I felt compelled to take a photo, reflecting on how reassuring bridges are. A clear way from one side to the other. Over a stream or a river, over a motorway, or a ravine. A path. A simple way through.
And yet we find ourselves now on a road where we can’t see the end, where it’s hard to even imagine an end, with no road signs or sat nav. And we know some people have run right out of road too. The saddest and starkest and darkest thing. One minute bumbling or mooching or powering along, and the next felled by a virus that’s travelled the world over and met us on our high streets, in our schools and coffee shops and workplaces.
When we hear ‘good news’ about the number of deaths falling, and yet were talking about so many people dying in a single day, how that could ever be framed as good is beyond me. People writing news scripts must be having a tough time, but language is important in capturing the meaning in all of this – of human loss and struggling.
I’m proud that the charity I lead Missing People is open around the clock. We all know how hard it is not to see the people we love. Imagine never knowing if you’ll see them again. We are there supporting missing children and adults and families desperately missing loved ones. We moved our 24/7 Helpline from our HQ above Waitrose on the Upper Richmond Road, to people’s home, at breath-taking speed in just a few days. Never have I been more inspired by a team so focused making sure we are able to a lifeline when someone disappears.
There’s lots to get us through all of this. The value of community. Of looking out for your neighbours. Of kindness. Of clapping like fury on a Thursday for all our frontline workers and struggling to hold back the emotion. These shared values are my church. Like the values of a charity. Kindness to one another is the best of us. That’s the bridge we have right now.
Jo Youle
Chief Executive, Missing People
missingpeople.org.uk
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