Working to support children at risk on the streets
You are cold, alone and you can't go home....
"The violence just got too much for me. I packed a bag and started running. I had no idea where to go, or what to do." These are the words of Jennie, who ran away from home in when she was 15 after 10 year of abuse by her father.
Each year, 100,000 children aged under 16 run away from family conflict, abuse or neglect in the UK, and end up on the streets with no-one to turn to.
Many are forced to sleep rough, or stay with strangers. Some resort to begging or stealing to survive. All are at risk of becoming victims of violence, substance abuse or sexual exploitation.
What are we doing?
During the campaign we have called on the Government and local authorities to ensure that young runaways receive the assistance and support they need, including adequate emergency accommodation.
To establish what support was available for children and young people who run away in their communities, thousands of supporters and local campaigners wrote to their MPs and the Directors of local services to highlight the issue.
We also asked MPs to pledge their support to our work in this area. In just over a week, nearly 100 MPs signed the virtual Early Day Motion 'running shoe' we presented to Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls this January. This proves an emphatic statement of support for young runaways.
We’re pleased to say that your hard work has really paid off. We’ve helped over thirty local authorities directly through our runaway training and consultancy unit and the Government has recently committed to a new duty for all local authorities to improve the support young runaways receive in their local area.
In response to our "Stepping Up" report, 2007 which included 39 recommendations on how best to safeguard runaways, the Government has also set up a cross-departmental Working Group. This group includes The Children's Society, along with other members of the English Coalition for Runaway Children.
Findings gathered by the Working Group will be reported in the launch of the Government's Action Plan, due in June 2008.
