PRODUCTS & SERVICES
THE IPG NETWORK JOINS THE
VITAL SEARCH FOR MISSING
CHILDREN
IPG ENQUIRY NUMBER 926
Independent merchants across the country have joined the vital search
for missing children across the UK as part of a
partnership between The IPG and Missing People.
The IPG is a membership group for plumbing,
heating and bathroom specialists. Through its
network of local, independent businesses it has a
presence in over 200 locations across the country
so is well-placed to support 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 is devoted to being a key support arm to Missing People’s
relentless work to help search and locate missing 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
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 one 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.”
The partnership coincides with the launch of the IPG’s new ‘#nicevanman’
campaign, which is aimed at turning the stereotype of the ‘white van man’
on its head.
Nike Lovell, marketing manager at the IPG said: “We want to highlight
the fact that van men and women across the country support their local
communities in many ways, alongside completing high-quality jobs for their
clients.
“Through our new #nicevanman campaign we are hoping to show the many
ways that tradespeople across the country are doing their bit to give back,
starting with our Missing People partnership.”
To launch #nicevanman, the IPG is encouraging its members’ customers
and other tradespeople to get involved with the Missing People initiative.
Those who visit the IPG plumbing, heating and bathroom specialists who
have got behind the campaign can receive their stickers straight away,
otherwise they can visit the IPG site and request one to be delivered to
them.”
As an extra incentive, tradespeople who post a picture on any social media
channel of the sticker on their van will be in for the chance of winning a new
toolkit from Monument Tools worth £650. To enter the competition, the
caption needs to include the hashtag #nicevanman and tag the IPG social
handle. www.the-ipg.co.uk/nicevanman
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 its 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,
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