STOCKPORT, U.K. -- Action for Sick Children chairman Pamela Barnes has welcomed a move by Children’s Minister Edward Timpson to give young runaways the opportunity to talk to someone about their reasons for absconding.

“We all know there may be something amiss when a child runs away from a family home or a care home and it seems perfectly sensible to give returning youngsters the opportunity to explain why they felt they had to run away,” said Mrs Barnes, speaking from her home in Disley, Cheshire.

“Such interviews could throw up vital information or at the very least give carers an insight into whether the child is suffering from an underlying problem.”

After announcing the new rules, the minister said that support for children who run away had been “patchy” for too long.

“Our new rules mean that every child will now have the chance to talk to a sympathetic, independent person,” he said. “Only then will we find out why they ran away and if they came to harm, and help to make sure they don’t run away again. Councils must now rise to the challenge.”

“Within the next six months, I expect all to have made dramatic improvements to the support they provide to missing children, and for all to offer return interviews to every child who has been missing from home or care.”

The Children's Society estimates that 100,000 children a year run away from their family or care home.

For further information click onto: www.actionforsickchildren.org.uk

ENDS


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