A TV documentary based on the work of the acclaimed Warrington-based project “Talk…Don’t Walk” is to be screened on Friday, August 1.
The programme, Granada Edition, will be shown on ITV1 at 8pm.
Three months in the making, it features interviews with young people and families who have benefited from the project which aims to discourage youngsters from running away from home.
There are also interviews with Cheshire’s Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan and Helen Southworth, MP for Warrington South.
Filming also took place at
Penketh High School which shows the work being done with schools through the curriculum-based Talk..Don’t Walk into Schools packs.
These teach children as young as eight of the dangers of running away.
Talk…Don’t Walk is run by Warrington-based charity The Relationships Centre.
Spokeswoman Marissa Hankinson said: “It is great that the issue of running away is gaining more and more attention both at a local, regional and national level.
“We have recently seen the launch of the Young Runaways Action Plan at a national-level which was the combined efforts of The Coalition of English Runaways which was led by Helen Southworth.
“Talk..Don’t Walk has won a number of awards for its approach and the work that we do and is held up as best practice for helping young people and their families. This documentary helps to raise awareness of the work we do but also helps to raise awareness that help is available to young people, as the dangers of running away can result in involvement in crime, drugs, alcohol, homelessness and even child prostitution.”
To find out more about Talk..Don’t Walk or to give a donation to help the project continue its work visit the website www.talkdontwalk.org.uk or if affected by any of the issues it deals with, call the helpline on 0800 085 2136.
