IF YOU ARE UNDER 16
The law says you must have an adult responsible for you and that you cannot live alone. A lot of help described in the Guide will be of no use - for example you cannot use hostels or Nightstop, you cannot claim benefits or work full time. If things are bad at home it is usually better (and safer) to try and sort things out, rather than running away. Your main options are:
- Get help sorting things out with your parents; if no one in the family can help you do this, contact Children's Services and ask them for help, or ask your school to refer you to a Connexions PA.
- Living with someone else - e.g. another family member or friend's parents. They should be able to claim Child Benefit for you instead of your parent(s), and perhaps other benefits too if they are on benefits or a low wage themselves. You may not have to have your parents agreement to do this, but it will depend on your age and circumstances.
- The Local Authority have a duty to look after you if you are kicked out, or if things are too bad for you to live at home. You can ask Castlegate, or a teacher, youth worker or Connexions PA to refer you to Children's Services, or go to Customer Advice Centre and ask them to refer you. If you need help they will put you in touch with a social worker. You can also ask a worker at Castlegate to phone for you, or to go with you if you'd like.
- Your options change when you are 16, so you may decide to stick it out until then, and in the meantime, find out all you can for the future. Some options also change when you officially leave school (on the last Friday in June in the school year when you reach 16). Contact Castlegate, or your Connexions PA to talk things through.
Running away is a big risk to take
Try and sort things out before it gets that bad. However, if you do run away, contact Castlegate for support.
You can also phone the Runaway Helpline a confidential helpline which can give help and advice, help you find a place to stay, or can pass on a message to your family to let them know you are safe, without telling them where you are. They can also put you in touch with your local police or social services if you want.
If you have left home or care and are picked up by the police they will try and return you back there. If you have left because of violence or abuse, for example, they should not return you until they have checked out your circumstances and decided whether it is safe for you to return or not. If it isn't safe, they should find somewhere for you to stay until things are sorted out.
The organisations mentioned here have different 'confidentiality policies'. If you are worried about them telling other people (parents, police etc), ask them first what their policy is. If you are not ready to talk you may still get some help from places that give out food and other practical help.