Young Runaways
Fiona Anderson
Evie Mcculloch
- Aberlour Young Runaways Service
Who we are.
• Aberlour Young Runaways Service
• Refuge, Outreach, PSE and RHWI
Aims:• To minimise the risks associated with young people
running away
• To link young people and families to appropriate support in order to improve outcomes
Who is a young runaway?
• Child or young person, under sixteen, absent without authority , needs service to find and return them, or to
• (a) keep them safe
• (b) ensure response to needs
• (c) meet statutory requirements
• Children between the ages of 16 and 18 : IF
• (a) history of running away which predates their 16th birthday
• (b) looked after, or looked after and accommodated.
Scottish Government 2008
Legislation and policy
• UNCRC (1991): overarching framework; includes right of children and young people to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation.
• Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Section 38(1): provision of safe place at child’s request
Scottish Legislation and Policy
• Guidance Pack on Vulnerable Children and Young People: Young Runaways (Scottish Executive, 2003):
‘enables local authorities to provide short-term refuge
- concern that not enough provision - Scoping Study 2007
(initiated by The Scottish Coalition for Young Runaways)
• Getting It Right for Every Child (2007) : integrated system of multi-agency provision for all Scotland’s young people
Challenges Faced
• The majority, 60-70 %, of young people who run away from home are not being reported to the police as missing while away
• In Scotland: 1 in 9 young people run away over night before the age of sixteen each year (Wade,2001)
• Only 1 in 5 asked for help on last occasion they ran away
• This increases the level of vulnerability and risk that young people will face.
Scottish Based Research
• The value for young people in a safe ‘refuge’, as an alternative to the streets; reduction of risk factors while running; supportive staff.
(Malloch, 2006)• Inadequate services – sometimes choice between going back home
or being accommodated. The worse case ‘solution’ can eventually be secure accommodation for own ‘safety’.
(Malloch & Burgess, 2007)
• Running- Other Choices Evaluation (Malloch, 2006); • A Scoping Study of Services for Young Runaways (Malloch & Burgess, 2007); • Grampian Police Return Home Welfare Interview Pilot for Young Runaways (Burgess et al, 2010) • Glasgow Refuge Report (Smeaton, 2011);
Reasons for Running.
•Difficulties at home 78% school 25% personal 41%
•Triggers for running: Family conflict 39% Child abuse and neglect 20% Parental problems 11%
•Cumulative complex problems•Difficulties within the family can often link to other issues, eg.
– School/ mental health/ peers/ additional need
• 1 in 7 of those away 2 or more nights resort to risk taking behaviours• 15% of all young runaways are physically assaulted• 6% sexually assaulted• Assaulted staying with friends 16%• Assaulted staying with relatives 5%• Online exploitation• Males more likely to sleep rough (national statistic)• Glasgow children less likely to sleep rough• Nearly 60% stay in same city or local authority area• Young Runaways Service’s experience is that mostly young people
remain in their local area.
Risks of Running
Aberlour Young Runaways Service
Refuge
• Section 38 Children's (Scotland) Act 2001• 3 bedded house for short term crisis accommodation • in a discreet location• 24 hour helpline for young people• Solution focussed approach• Collaborative working with multi agencies• Advocacy for young person
Aberlour Young Runaways Service
Outcomes :
• Safe - Immediate safe accommodation.
Prevents young people’s exposure to further risk
helps resolve issues leading to the crisis
• Healthy – health needs are reviewed and young
people are linked in with the relevant services
• Achieving – young people are encouraged to meet their potential and are provided with access to educational supports
• Nurtured – an environment that respects views and needs, promotes wellbeing
• Active – encouraged to join in activities. Provided with links in own communities
Outcomes (continued)
• Respected - young peoples views are listened to and they are supported in sharing these • Responsible – work in regard to their own actions and the implications on themselves and
others• Included - opportunity to reflect / consider options. Supported in making choices and
informed decisions about their next steps
IMPACT:• Prevention is crucial• Listening to the voice of the young person• Parents need support• Agencies communication/ better understanding
Outreach, PSE & Participation
• 2001 Service Community Based Outreach Service• 1:1 support, advice and advocacy• Can be accessed independently of Refuge, with outreach support
available also following period in Refuge. • P.S.E. lessons - 2900 young people received in 2011-2012 academic
year across 22 Glasgow and South Lanarkshire schools. • Young Peoples Participation Group• Aim to prevent further running
Partnership Working with Strathclyde PoliceReturn Home Welfare Interviews
• Grampian pilot 2010 recommended joint working between police and independent agencies in addressing runaways.
• Recommended return home and welfare interviews
• Aberlour Young Runaway Service facilitates this in partnership with Strathclyde Police
Partnership Working
Responding to Runaways Needs
Improved recognition of risk factors •Physical well-being•Mental health and wellbeing•Detachment from family/community•Educational/employment opportunities•Experiencing traumatic events – longer term impact•Development of on-going negative coping mechanisms
- we need to be proactive in preventing young people running away.
•Improved response needed: (universal, police) ; more specialist emergency provision. better information . (The Children’s Society, 2011)
• The link between running away and future homelessness: 84 per cent ran away before the age of 16.
• Young people who are persistent runaways at greater risk of homelessness in later life. (Shelter Scotland 2011)
• Many young people do not seek help while away; some actively avoid contact with services. Response must be supportive & flexible.
• Crisis response services should be embedded within a network of responses
(Rees et al, 2009)
Responding to Runaways Needs
Young Runaways Service
Link –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6H2gJj8P8&feature=share&list=UUIfMZZMK3wCjWE8IISET-3Q
CONTACT US
Aberlour Young Runaways Service 2 Green Wynd
Glasgow, G40 2TD.
Tel: 0141 551 3824
http://www.aberlour.org.uk/runaways.aspx
REFUGE
08702 40 38 24
Scottish Coalition For Young Runaways - www.scyr.org.uk
Policy across Scotland
•Briefing paper: Scottish Coalition for Young Runaways. Aberlour Child Care trust. http://www.aberlour.org.uk/1in9.aspx •Make Runaways Safe Launch Report (2001) The Children’s Society-www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/.../make_runaways_safe_report.pd...
•Wade, J. (2001) Missing Out: Young Runaways in Scotland. Aberlour Child Care Trust. •Malloch, M. (2006) Evaluation of the Aberlour Running Other Choices Refuge-http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/pubs/Running--Other-Choices-An-Evaluation-of-the-ROC-Refuge/127 •Malloch, M. and Burgess, C. (2007) A Scoping Study of Service for Young Runaways, Stirling: Scottish Coalition for Young Runaways.•http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/pubs/A-Scoping-Study-of-Services-for-Young-Runaways-for-1-in-9-Scottish-Coalition-for-Young-Runaways/30•Burgess,C., Malloch,M., Mitchell,F., Chan,V., Eunson, J. and Murray, L. (2010) Grampian Police Return Home Welfare Interview Pilot for Young Runaways. Edinburgh, Scottish Government.-www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/317710/0101168.pdf
•Malloch, M and Burgess, C. (2011) Responding to Young Runaways: Problems of Risk and Responsibility . Youth Justice 2011(1) 61–76 •Rees, G. (2011) Still Running 3: early findings -www.childrenssociety.org.uk/research•Rees, G. , Franks, M., Medforth,R and Wade,J.(2009) Commissioning, Delivery and Perceptions of Emergency Accommodation for Young Runaways. DCSF-www.dcsf.gov.uk/research DCSF-RR181•Running Away and Future Homelessness – the missing link? (2011) - www.scotland.shelter.org.uk/.../running_away_and_future_homelessness_-...
•Smeaton, E. (2009) Off the Radar: children and young people on the streets in the UK. Sandbach, Railway Children.- h
ttp://www.railwaychildren.org.uk/wcore/showdoc.asp?id=1168 •Smeaton, E. (2011) Best Practice in the Commissioning of and Delivery of Emergency Accommodation in Scotland for Children and Young People Who Run Away.
Edinburgh, Scottish Government.- www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/01/28091200/11 •Vulnerable Children and Young People Guidance Pack (2003) Scottish Executive (now Government)•www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People/children.../10257