Children on the Edge – Patterns of Running Away in the UK

This article reviews findings from a body of collaborative research undertaken over the past five years into young people who run away from home or substitute care before the age of 16. It will review evidence on the prevalence of running away, young people’s motivations for doing so, their experiences of being away, including the risks to which they may be exposed, and will consider messages for policy and practice that arise from these findings.