The Children's Society launches new resource to support young runaways
01 March 2010
The Children's Society has today launched a lively online source of information to help prevent young people in the UK from running away. The Young Runaways Education Resource, developed by The Children's Society in collaboration with the DCSF, will provide a tool for schools to help intervene when children show signs of being ‘at risk’.
This free online resource, hosted on The Children's Society’s MyLife 4 Schools website, aims to help teachers and youth workers to warn young people about the dangers of running away and looks at the support networks available to those contemplating it. This project is part of the delivery of the Young Runaways Action Plan published by DCSF in 2008.
The resource offers lesson plans for teaching National Curriculum PSHE Key Stage 2, allowing teachers to teach the basics of this subject matter: to develop children’s awareness of the issue of running away, to help the children develop a strong awareness of the potential risks and dangers faced by young runaways and to identify the range of support that is available to help young people dealing with feelings and problems that may cause them to run away. Activity sheets are also available to accompany each lesson plan.
This new resource is online, so as to eliminate the high production costs of traditional paper-based school resource packs. An online resource can be constantly updated to ensure that the latest materials are available.
The Children's Society’s Still Running II survey found that more than a quarter (30%) of young people who run away overnight had first done so before the age of 13. 11% had run away before their 11th birthday. Those who first run away before the age of 11 are particularly at risk of running again. That is why this resource is aimed at children and young people in Key Stage 2, Years 5-6. Pupils taught in Pupil Referral Units and other groups such as Youth Groups, Faith Based Schools and Voluntary Sector projects will also be targeted with this resource.
Clare Hubberstey, Training & Consultancy Manager, The Children's Society, commented: “The current economic climate will make life harder for many families, possibly resulting in a rise in numbers of young runaways. We want to make sure young people get the help they need to resolve their problems before they decide to run away. 9-11 year olds are at an age when young people seriously consider running away if they are having problems, so it is imperative to warn them about the risks they face if they do run away and how they can get help.”
Children’s Minister Delyth Morgan said: “Young people who run away need all the help they can get. We have asked The Children’s Society to develop a new free online resource for schools and youth clubs to help teachers and the children’s workforce to raise awareness amongst children and young people about the dangers and risks they face if they run away.
Importantly the pack explores who they can speak to and where they can turn to for help if they feel like running. We want to help teachers identify those young people most at risk so they can prevent problems escalating before young people feel they have no options left.”
Martin Houghton-Brown, CEO, Missing People, commented: “Many of the people who called our helpline last year had already run away, and were facing homelessness, suicidal feelings and the risk of serious abuse. We are all too aware of the dangers young people face when they decide to run away. This free online schools pack is an essential tool in helping to prevent young people from running away and another important step in safeguarding children nationwide.”
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For more information, please contact Rafi Cooper, The Children's Society media team, tel: 020 7841 4422. Out of hours contact: 07810 796 508. Email: rafi.cooper@childsoc.org.uk.
Notes to Editors:The Children’s Society is a leading children’s charity committed to making childhood better for all children in the UK; www.childrenssociety.org.uk
