Barnardo's Safe4U Young Runaway Project

The Safe4U Young Runaway project

Barnardo’s Safe4U project aims to help young people aged 16 and under who are thinking about running away, have run away, or who have been forced out of home in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

We offer a free confidential telephone helpline which is staffed by friendly workers who are ready to listen, support and offer advice. We won’t be shocked and we will not judge. We can also meet with young people face to face, depending on the situation to give further support.

More than 77000 children and young people run away each year, and in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area up to 180 calls a month are received from children and young people wanting to talk about running away.

The most common age to run away is between 13 and 15 years, and running away is a particular problem for many gay, lesbian and bisexual young people. Although many young people stay in the local area and live with friends or relatives, many end up sleeping rough. The sad fact is that young people who run away for the first time are in the same amount of danger compared with those who run away repeatedly.

Running away is dangerous each year

- One in seven runaways are physically hurt or sexually assaulted.
- Approximately 5,000 children and young people who run away each year survive through stealing, drug dealing or prostitution.
- Runaways are more likely to truant from school, have problems with drugs/alcohol and be in trouble with the police.
- Many young people who run away are reported to experience problems in later life, including drug misuse .

The e-mail address for the site is: safe4u@barnardos.org.uk