A pound;3 million “national safety net” has been unveiled by the Government’s Social Exclusion Unit in a bid to tackle the growing number of runaway children. The money will be spent on 25 projects across the country. Aims include improving co-ordination between local agencies, better access to foster care, and “guaranteed” follow-up support and advice for the most vulnerable youths. Some 77,000 young people run away from home each year, including 20,000 under the age of 11.
