Relatives of Gaia Pope, who died last year, issue further appeal for information

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The family of a teenager whose disappearance from an English seaside town has led to concerns over care for young people with mental health issues have launched an art project in her memory a year after she vanished.

Relatives of Gaia Pope, whose body was found 11 days after she went missing in Swanage in Dorset, are also appealing for anyone with information about the case to come forward.

Gaia, 19, vanished on 7 November last year, leading to an extensive police search and a campaign by her family and friends to find her. Her body was discovered in undergrowth near a coastal path by police.

A postmortem revealed that Gaia, who had epilepsy, died from hypothermia but her family have raised concerns both about the police search and how officers dealt with an allegation of rape she made in December 2015.

A year on from her daughter’s disappearance, Gaia’s mother, Natasha Pope, said: “This year has been more painful than words can say. Sometimes I can’t believe I have survived it, but with my every breath I love and demand justice for my daughter.

“Since #MeToo, we have seen a rising movement for the rights of women and girls. Change is coming.”

Calling for further help, Gaia’s cousin Marienna Pope-Weidemann said: “When she was missing, it was the support and dedication from the public that kept us going. You gave us hope that we would find Gaia.

“A year after her death, we must call on you again to help us find justice for her. We can’t do this without you.

“If you know anything that might aid the investigation into Gaia’s rape case or the missing persons investigation and help us learn the truth, please come forward; not just for Gaia’s sake, but for the sake of anyone else who might be at risk.”

The family has launched a creative project called #ArtForGaia, hoping it will help make sure the teenager is not forgotten and create a forum for people affected by sexual violence and mental health issues to share their experiences through creative work.

They are calling for Gaia’s friends, anyone involved in the search and the wider public to think about submitting pieces of art.

Dorset police’s response to her disappearance is the subject of an inquiry by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The watchdog is also investigating a complaint from Gaia’s family over Dorset police’s decision to take no further action in relation to the allegation of rape. Her family said she developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder following that decision.

Deborah Coles, the director of campaign group Inquest, which is supporting the family, said: “It is important that her family see a prompt and robust investigation. There has never been greater disquiet about victims of sexual violence being failed by statutory agencies.

“There is a clear link between the trauma of rape and mental ill-health. The longer the delay in identifying any systemic failings, the greater the risk of more young women like Gaia dying.”

More details of the art project can be found at justiceforgaia.com/artforgaia