Independent merchants have joined the vital search for missing children across the UK as part of a partnership between The IPG and Missing People.
The IPG are a membership group for plumbing, heating and bathroom specialists. Through their network of local, independent businesses they have a presence in over 200 locations across the country so are well-placed to support with Missing People’s ongoing battle locating missing children.
The recently launched partnership has seen The IPG members give an initial donation to the charity, they then receive a collection tin for their store and van stickers which they can give out to customers who contribute. As their customers drive around the local area, the aim is that they will raise awareness of the charity’s great work. The IPG members are also able to download and print a Missing People poster, showing a child that has gone missing from their local area, alongside contact details for the charity. The hope is that by making customers aware of any local missing children when coming into a member’s store, they can become extra eyes and ears in the search to find them.
With more fundraising activities planned for later this year and well into 2019, The IPG are devoted to being a key support arm to Missing People’s relentless work to help search, locate and turn around the lives of displaced children. 
Robin Beal, Managing Director and Founder of The IPG, said; “I was shocked to learn that 80,000 children go missing each year in the UK, many more than once. Every child is vulnerable, and every child deserves to get home or to have a safe place to turn for help. The IPG’s aim is to work closely with our members, local tradespeople and the charity, to make local communities aware of children who have gone missing in their area, reinforcing the great work that the Missing People charity does and their vision of bringing missing children to a place of safety or back together with their families”.
“The IPG is delighted to support Missing People, a national charity that delivers support locally throughout the UK. As a national group of local independent plumbing, bathroom and heating specialists, we are dedicated to helping our members support their local communities through our CSR programme. We’re hopeful that they can help raise awareness of missing children in their local area, as they are passionate about giving back to the local communities in which they live and work. We have a lot of exciting plans in place for the coming year so watch this space!”
Amy Sweeting, Head of Major Gifts at Missing People, added; “Someone goes missing every 90 seconds in the UK. We offer a lifeline to the 1 million people affected each year by a disappearance. The help of the IPG’s members to put the children we’re trying to find in front of the local communities who might be able to find them will be invaluable. We are thrilled to be on-board with The IPG and are looking forward to the plans for the year ahead.”
www.the-ipg.co.uk
www.missingpeople.org.uk
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