More help for young runaways
YOUNG runaways are set for more help from Government, thanks to an initiative led by a Warrington MP and a local charity.
The Warrington-based Relationship Centre, which runs the Talk…Don’t Walk campaign, together with MP for Warrington South, Helen Southworth, (pictured) have spearheaded a campaign to get more help for young runaways.
A decision was taken in Parliament to approve some of the ideas drawn up by the Warrington pair and to introduce vital measures to help young runaways.
Minister for Children, Kevin Brennan, introduced the measures which include those affected by sexual exploitation and child trafficking.
Points introduced by the minister include assessment and support for each young runaway, review and development of the emergency accommodation provision, and, new resources to educate young people of the dangers of running away.
Alison McCausland, project manager for the Talk…Don’t Walk campaign, said: “Based on research conducted by The Children’s Society, in 2007, only 12 per cent of local agencies said they had services in place for young runaways, leaving far too many children at risk of abuse and exploitation.”
Mrs Southworth, who is chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for runaway and missing children, commented: “I am very pleased the Government is taking such positive steps to help children and young people who go missing. These children are very vulnerable, and some have terrible experiences to deal with, and are hurt very badly. We now have a good action plan, and we will be watching carefully to make sure children actually get the help they need from police and local children’s services.”
Warrington is fortunate enough to meet some of the new criteria thanks to the work of the Talk…Don’t Walk campaign, which has seen a 76 per cent reduction in the number of young runaways since its formation in 2004.
