The Children’s Society’s Runaways Consultancy project works with local authorities to help coordinate responses to young runaways. The project has worked in partnership to establish protocols and responses is the following local authorities:

The Runaways Consultancy explores the social and legal context to running away and develops working agreements and staff training, all of which are all essential components for the safe and effective operation of protocols for young people who run away from home or care. The Runaways Consultancy offers the following services:

• consultancy and training to help local authorities respond to young runaways
  
  
• working with clients to establish protocols for young runaways that tailor Department of Health guidelines to meet local demands
  
  
• review of services already in place to suggest cost-effective adaptation of practice to meet the needs of young runaways.

The Children’s Society’s Runaways Consultancy combines a child-centered approach with an understanding of the requirements of local authorities to operate cost-effectively and provide best value.

The Runaways Consultancy brings together agencies to develop protocols and procedures and to help adapt current practice so that services can be tailored to safeguard the needs of young runaways at minimum extra cost.

Andy McCullough is former manager of The Children’s Society’s Safe in the City project for young runaways in Manchester. The Children’s Society has established itself as the leading authority on young runaways in the country by:

• developing definitive research into the issue of young runaways in the UK
  
  
• developing practice guides for projects working with young runaways
  
  
• working with the Social Exclusion Unit on its consultation on young runaways
  
  
• evaluating best practice in the voluntary and statutory sector
  
  
• working in partnership with with local authorities to draw up protocols
  
  
• pioneering practice with young runaways through its streetwork projects and refuge work.