On the anniversary of the disappearance of Isle of Wight teenager, Damien Nettles, the Missing People Charity say they remain as determined as ever to assist Damien’s family and friends in getting the answers they deserve.
16-year-old Damien went missing on 2nd November 1996 after a night out in Cowes. Tragically, he has never been found.
Since his disappearance, Damien’s mother, Valerie, has worked tirelessly with family and friends to keep search efforts for her son alive.
Advocate for other families of missing children
In more recent years, she has used her heartbreak to advocate for other families of missing children and young people.
In 2019, Val published the book The Boy Who Disappeared in which she tells her account of Damien’s disappearance. Reflecting on her motivation behind writing her story, Valerie told Missing People,
“It’s about standing up for my missing son and much more.”
The Boy Who Disappeared is available to purchase via Amazon and other book retailers.
Turning Adversity into Positivity
Earlier this year, Val published a blog named Turning Adversity into Positivity, sharing details of her advocacy for families impacted by missing.
Through her membership of the Missing People Charity Advisory Board and work with Missing People, police professionals and universities, Val aims to equip families with the resources that she lacked when Damien first went missing.
Damien’s short life has been given a purpose
Closing her post, Val wrote,
“[I]f being pro-active in the issue that took our son helps another family, then Damien’s short life has been given a purpose.”
‘Missing on a Night Out’ campaign
Most recently, Val and Damien’s sister, Sarah, were the driving force behind Missing People’s preventative ‘Missing on a Night Out’ campaign, launched in September this year.
The online campaign, targeted towards new university students anticipating Freshers’ Week, was created in response to Damien’s disappearance on a night out and the resulting effect on his family, friends, and wider community.
Ambiguous loss
Explaining the lasting impact of Damien’s missing, Val said,
“So many people in our family and his friends and wider community are affected by the ripple effect of his going missing.
“There is a name for this – it is ambiguous loss. If only he understood the dangers. If only we all had.”
Alongside their lived experiences of missing Damien, Val and Sarah shared their tips and advice for staying safe on a night out. They hope to raise awareness of the potential risks and to help keep young people safe.
Learn more about the campaign on the Missing People Website.
Valerie: “We have not given up”
Val shares this message to the public,
“We have not given up on finding out what happened to Damien. We encourage anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
To help the search, the public can visit Damien’s Web Appeal from where they can report a sighting, download his Missing appeal as a poster, and share it as widely as possible, via Facebook or Twitter.
Senghore: Non-judgmental, confidential service
Missing People’s Publicity Officer, Ndella Senghore, said,
“If anyone has any information about Damien’s disappearance, they can contact Missing People’s helpline. Damien, if you are reading this, please get in touch. You can call us on 116 000 or email [email protected].
“Our service is non-judgmental, confidential, and free thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. We just want to provide you with the support you need and help you to be safe.
“Our helpline is here to support people who are missing, thinking of going missing, and for loved ones who are left behind. The helpline is free and confidential and is operated by trained staff and volunteers.
“Sightings and information about any missing person can also be given anonymously through the Missing People Website.”
Find out more
A Website dedicated to Damien, created by his family, shares more information.
Read News OnTheWight’s archive about Damien Nettles to find out about more.
