If you feel like running away, even if it's only for a few hours just to 'get away from it all' then this could be a sign that you might need help sorting out your feelings about things, and the situation at home which is making you feel so bad.

In this section we will try and give you a rounded view of the experiences that young people have gone through when they have runaway from home. 

• What it was that made them leave;
• what it was like for them while they were away;
•  if and why they returned home
• and, what it was like for them once they were back home - had running away helped them?

As well as this, this section will give you advice on how to overcome your problems before you reach the point when you feel running away is your only option.

• Why do people run away?
• Experiences of running away
• Going home
• Your rights

Why do people run away?

There are many reasons why people runaway from home.  A lot of young people runaway because of family conflict.  It could be that your parents have just seperated or got a divorce.  You could be suffering violence or abuse.  Or, you could be going through some personal problems like feeling depressed, having problems with drugs or alcohol, or you could be having problems at school.  If this is what you are experiencing then you can click on the highlighted words which will take you to the other sections of this website which will talk about these problems individually.

Experiences of running away

People have had both positive and negative experiences of running away from home.

It can be a freeing and exciting experience which can help you clear your head and help you gain back some control in your life.  Nevertheless, running away rarely makes things better.  It can be a very unpleasant and dangerous experience.

"Once you run away, you're like watching over your shoulder...
Every time I ran away I used to feel, oh, what's going to happen?
Where am I going to stay tonight?"

Going Home

There are different reasons why people return home after running away.  Some people go back home because they were hungry, cold and lonely.  Others go home because they miss their parents, or because they realised how worried their parents must be about them.

Some people are found and taken home by the police, social workers, teachers or by members of their families or friends.  Very few people who runaway never return home.

When you go back home it is important that you talk over the problems you had that made you run away with your parents or guardian.  You want to make sure that if things are better since you've come home that they stay that way long term.

Your Rights

If you run away from home when you are under the age of 16 then you no real means of supporting yourself.

By this we mean:

• You have no entitlement to benefits
• You have limited ability to work
• You can't enter into a legal contract for accommodation.

All these things mean that you are at a greater risk of been taken advantage of by people.