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

runaways@aberlour.org.uk

laura.irvine@aberlour.org.uk

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