Guest post: "In the search for missing children, this is a game-changer"

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When you turn around and your child is not where you expect to see them, panic descends. Thankfully, almost always, they appear immediately - just out of your frame of vision; they've stooped down to tie a shoelace or got distracted by a friend on the walk home from school. As the mother of two young children, I've experienced this - many mothers probably have. Fortunately for most of us though, that feeling has only ever lasted a moment.

As the Chief Executive of the charity Missing People I have met many families for whom that feeling has lasted for days, weeks, months or decades. When a child disappears and their life is at risk, families are devastated and entire communities torn apart.

We launched the Child Rescue Alert System in May 2014 with the aim of uniting the public to form a network when a child is known to be abducted or their life is believed to be at immediate risk. This week, we’re delighted that Facebook have come on board as our newest partner, and will now automatically be showing Child Rescue Alerts in the newsfeeds of those in the local area.

This, we believe, is a game-changer. Families with missing children want the world to stop and everyone to listen. With Facebook on board, we are a step closer to making that happen.

When a child goes missing, every minute after their disappearance is critical to bringing them home safely. For the police, getting information out to the public as quickly as possible to get as many eyes and ears as possible on the streets is vital. With over half the UK population now registered to Facebook, our new partnership will massively expand how many people can be informed when a child's life is believed to be at risk. And we'll be showing alerts to those who are most likely to be able to help - those directly within the designated area of search.

We've all witnessed the power of online communities when it comes to spreading information. Mumsnetters themselves, in instances when children have gone missing, have used the site to share important details and amplify the message. People can't help but imagine how they would feel if this was their child, and they do what they can, online, to try and help and spread the word.

Over 300,000 people have already pledged to be the eyes and ears when the worst happens in their local area, by registering for free text or email alerts or downloading the free Child Rescue Alert app. With Facebook on board, we can reach even further, and we're thrilled that one of the most recognisable brands in the world has seen the value in the Child Rescue Alert system.

Recently someone compared the system to a fire extinguisher - you hope you'll never need to use it, but, should the worst happen, you will need to use it at a moment's notice.

We also hope that this will be a catalyst for other individuals and businesses to commit to supporting it. The Child Rescue Alert system is only as strong as the number of people who receive the alerts. So even if you're an avid Facebook user, do consider registering for free text or email alerts at childrescuealert.org.uk so you're notified directly when an alert is issued.

For parents of very young children, the agony of a missing child is particularly acute and does not end until their child is found. Our vision is that every missing person is found safe - and Child Rescue Alert is a vital tool in making that happen.