Andy McCullough Head of policy and public affairs andy.mccullough@railwaychildren.uk

1. Andy McCullough Head of policy and public affairs andy.mccullough@railwaychildren.org.uk

2. INTRODUCTION • 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

3. 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.

4. 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”.

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Links with sexual exploitation • Numbers are not very clear (OCC report will clarify) • Recent cases in Derby and Manchester highlighted high numbers of children had gone missing • Thematic review- 2083 cyp reported toCEOP 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 the • 1,014 cases where information on this was recorded, 842 children were known to have been reported missing on at • least one occasion. Unfortunately, the data does not show whether these missing incidents fell before, during, or after • the period of exploitation. Of the 896 children in the dataset whose living situation was known, 311 were already in care • intervention.

8. Current landscape • Made huge progress with issue during 2009 • Guidance issued • A national indicator • Ministerial steer. • A promised training programme • 2012 • 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

9. A chance to engage • Made huge progress with issue during 2009 • Guidance issued • A national indicator • Ministerial steer. • A promised training programme • 2012 • 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

10. 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

11. Policy Missing Person (Misper) Scheme Refuge/ Safeplace Communities Detached Streetwork Local Helpline Reach Project Preventative Education 1 to 1 Outreach Family Support/ Mediation Our solution

12. A chance to engage