It is important to have this talk with your child
Leading charity Railway Children is calling on parents to talk to their children about the issue of running away from home, after new research revealed that almost half of British parents have never discussed the subject of running away from home with their children.
The figures show that while the majority of parents (95 per cent) say that they would feel perfectly comfortable discussing this topic with their children, fewer than half have actually done so, and a fifth of parents stated that it had not even occurred to them to raise the issue of running away with their children.
With an estimated 100,000 under 16s – one every five minutes – running away from home each year in the UK, Railway Children bosses believe that it is imperative that every parent across the UK discusses this important issue with their children, to prevent it happening to them.
Andy McCullough, Head of Strategy & Policy at Railway Children, which supports vulnerable young people alone and at risk on Britain’s streets, said: “Many parents don’t consider that this could happen to them – until it’s too late. Children run away from home for all sorts of reasons, usually to escape things they find stressful such as problems at school or home.
The fact is, almost as many children run away from affluent homes as from low-income households. Running away is an issue that every parent needs to know about, and every parent needs to talk about
“Those who run away often decide to do so in the spur of the moment, as a last resort. They probably haven’t thought about where they’ll go, where they’ll sleep, how they’ll get access to money or how their running away might affect their family. Simply talking to your children about the topic of running away from home may be all it takes to prevent them considering it and to instead talk more openly or seek help with any worries they may have.”
Railway Children and their long-term partners Aviva have teamed up with Mumsnet to create a new, dedicated space online to help parents who are grappling with this issue talk to their children before it’s too late. Parents can visit mumsnet.com/runningaway to get expert guidance on how to broach this and other difficult issues with their children and to share ideas, experience and advice with others. For every interaction on the Mumsnet site focusing on this theme, Aviva will donate £2 to Railway Children to support their continued work in the UK, helping vulnerable young people alone and at risk on Britain’s streets.
Psychiatrist Dr Sandra Scott, a Railway Children supporter, said: “Given that one child runs away from home every five minutes, it is worrying that almost half of all parents have never discussed this topic with their children.
“The big question is why not, why are these conversations not happening? The research indicates that the majority of people would feel comfortable talking to their kids about it, so though a fifth say it just hasn’t occurred to them to do so, there must be other barriers preventing everyone else from actually talking about it.
“Some parents may be concerned that bringing up the topic could put the idea into their child’s mind, an understandable but largely unfounded concern. If your child has no intention of running away, having a conversation about it with them is not likely to make it a plausible possibility. More importantly, if they are thinking of doing so, talking to them about it gives you the opportunity to stop it before it happens.
“I think that the main barrier is likely to be that many parents just don’t think that this is something that could happen to them. Many have misconceptions about the ‘type’ of children who run away from home and the families who experience this, for example thinking that it only affects those with lower incomes.
“Misconceptions such as these can make parents blind to the risk factors. The fact is, almost as many children run away from affluent homes as from low-income households. Running away is an issue that every parent needs to know about, and every parent needs to talk about. I would advise all parents to ensure that they are well-informed about the topic.
"The right way to have this conversation will vary considerably depending upon various factors, such as your child’s age, their personality and your relationship with them, amongst others. There are many sources of information available to help you do this, such as the new mumsnet site at mumsnet.com/runningaway,” she added.
Mumsnet Co-Founder and mother of three Carrie Longton said: “The thought of a child running away from home every five minutes is a terrifying one. Mumsnet is delighted to be working with Railway Children and Aviva to provide help and advice for any parent who is concerned that their child is bottling up worries that could drive them to run away, and doesn't quite know how to broach it with them. For every interaction on the Mumsnet site focusing on this theme, such as posting on a thread or participating in a Q&A session, Aviva will donate £2 to Railway Children, allowing us all to take positive action to make a difference.”
Andy McCullough added: “The topic of running away from home is not new. Talking to others who have been through the same thing can help arm you with fresh tactics and a new perspective, and help you spot the warning signs. If you’re not sure how to raise the topic of running away from home with your kids, if you’re worried about their behaviour or need advice, try visiting mumsnet.com/runningaway. We must overcome the taboo that surrounds the issue of running away from home and get people talking openly to prevent this continuing to happen on our own doorsteps.”
FemaleFirst @FemaleFirst_UK
Shabana Adam