Young people reveal why they run away

23 May 2006

Young people in care have spoken out about the different reasons for running away from children's homes, foster placements or schools.

They revealed harrowing details of what they experienced when they ran away, in a series of discussions with the Children's Rights Director, Dr Roger Morgan.

Overall, the young people spoke about three different reasons for running away:

  1. to enjoy themselves for a while before returning
  2. to be somewhere or with someone they wanted to be
  3. because they couldn't cope or did not feel protected.

Read the young people's views in a report, called Running away, by the Children's Rights Director.

Click on the link below to download the report.

Find out how to order free printed publications.

More about the report

The dangers the young people faced while on the run ranged from stealing for their survival to life-threatening activities.

Dr Roger Morgan said: “Staff and professionals need to be mindful of the clear messages in the report.

"Listening and talking to solve problems is essential. And as the young people told me – some young people who run away never come back.”

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Created: 5/22/2006 Last updated: 5/23/2006