UK Youth welcomes the Government’s new initiative to give more support to young runaways.The Department for Children, Schools and Families has released the Young Runaways Action Plan. The Action Plandraws on recommendations made in the Children’s Society’s Stepping Up report. It claims:
- Around 100,000 young people under the age of 16 run away from home or care each year across the UK.
- 1 in 6 young runaways sleep rough.
- 1 in 12 young runaways are hurt or harmed while they are away.
The Action Plan highlights the importance of tackling this problem. The report identifies that young runaways are vulnerable and at risk. They face challenges such as:
- Health - drugs/alcohol misuse; mental health issues.
- Safety– sleeping rough; sexual exploitation; violence/assault.
- Development– impact on schooling/ attainment; absence and exclusions.
UK Youth are pleased to read that the Government’s Action Plan recognises that services need to be in place to respond to both triggers and incidents. It is important to address the root causes of running away and to seek to prevent these problems from escalating to prevent young people from coming to harm.
UK Youth supports over 750, 000 young people through our network of youth groups, clubs and projects. UK Youth works with many young people that face difficult challenges; problems ranging from family breakdown to drug and alcohol misuse. Through innovative, non-formal education programmes, UK Youth aims to help young people tackle some of these problems. Our work with young people can and does make a lastingpositive impact.UK Youth helps young people to take control of their lives and make better choices for their future.
Just like the work that UK Youth does, the Government’s Action Plan aims to target young people who are in a vulnerable position and offers guidance and support, so that they do not get into the position where they want to run away.
Young Devon, a member association within UK Youth’s network, currently runs 11 projects, supporting up to 200 young homeless people a night. In conjunction with this, Young Devon also offers various types of refuge, including 100 trained support workers across the county for young runaways. Young Devon focuses on preventing young people from becoming homeless and supporting those young people that are homeless.
The plan emphasis the importance of tackling the problem by targeting efforts and support to youth charities; like UK Youth and its members. The Government’s Action Plan states that it is essential that Government, local delivery agencies and the voluntary sector work together to put in place those services that will prevent young runaways coming to harm and provide them with the support they need.
