Andy McCullough

Head of policy and public affairs

andy.mccullough@railwaychildren.org.uk

•Involved in Social care for over 27years.•( including managing drugs services, mental health, youth work)•~Expert witness Victoria Climbie enquiry. CSE ENQUIRY (other SCRs)•~Head of policy and public affairs Railway Children.•~Lecturer post grad Social work.•~Founder member of international org Safer children, safer families.•~Involved in work with runaways for a number of years.•~Founder and chair English Coalition runaway children. • Have worked in a number of countries ( Tanzania, Mexico, Mongolia, Guatemala, South Africa ) around children at risk•~ General Bagger.•ALL OF THE ABOVE LEARN’T IN CARE

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

•Fight for children living on the streets for nearly 20 years•In East Africa, India and the UK•3 Step change agenda, Projects, Communities, Government•Works with Corporate, LA’s and NGO,s•Carried out research in 2009, 2010, 2011 and launching new research in 2012.

England’s street children

Running away not a new phenomena.

Many large charities built on “saving street children. ( EG.TCS)

Street Arabs, Urchins, Orphans.

Josephine Butler- Contagious diseases act.

Not just “Over there”.

Some numbers

•Still around 100,000, of which 84,000 are in England alone #•Family conflict\ changes in family biggest issue#•Fewer than 30% reported as missing#•Only 5% seek help#•One third runaway before 13#•Girls more likely than boys#•Children with learning difficulties more likely to runaway#•Children living outside the family more likely to runaway ( around 50%)#•In Off the radar- 100% used drugs or alcohol *•Two thirds were victims of violence on the streets*•Over half reported domestic violence as an issue*•Over representation in prison, mental health system and homeless shelters.(#still running 3 TCS)(off the radar RC)

Why

•Family problems (particularly re-constituted)•Bullying•Issues at school•Drug and alcohol issues•Peer pressure•Out of area placements•Abuse (physical, sexual and emotional abuse)•Being thrown out ( one quarter)•A sense of freedom•Ups the stakes

Links with sexual exploitationNumbers are not very clear (OCC report will clarify)Recent cases in Derby and Manchester highlighted high numbers of children had gone missingThematic review- 2083 cyp reported to CEOP vast majority young women, most common age 14/15:For most cases in the dataset information about whether the victim had gone missing was not known, but out of the1,014 cases where information on this was recorded, 842 children were known to have been reported missing on atleast one occasion. Unfortunately, the data does not show whether these missing incidents fell before, during, or afterthe period of exploitation. Of the 896 children in the dataset whose living situation was known, 311 were already in careintervention.

Current landscape

•Made huge progress with issue during 2009•Guidance issued•A national indicator•Ministerial steer.• A promised training programme2012•Guidance on runaways and missing ( no teeth)•No measurement or indicator.•Lack of reliable data•Big society destroying big society•No room for PSHE•Funding cuts•Little services out on the street

A chance to engage

•Made huge progress with issue during 2009•Guidance issued•A national indicator•Ministerial steer.• A promised training programme2012•Guidance on runaways and missing ( no teeth)•No measurement or indicator.•Lack of reliable data•Big society destroying big society•No room for PSHE•Funding cuts•Little services out on the street

A chance to engage

•Sexual exploitation plan (cse enquiry cco)•Education select committee (cp inquiry) •Review of current guidance (D of E)•CEOP ( lead role for missing children)•Enquiry with regards to children in care and missing•Corporate engagement•Missing persons strategy•APPG•Moves to engage Ofsted•OCC reports recommendations that comes out today

Our solution

Reach Project

Policy

Communities

Local Helpline

Family S

upport/M

ediation

Detached Streetwork

Missing Person (Misper)

Scheme

1 to 1Outreach

Refuge

/

Safepla

ce

Preventative Education

A chance to engage