Youth Voice Journal

An International Multi-disciplinary Journal of Evidence-based

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ISSN:2056-2969 Online Journal Platform: http://www.youthvoicejournal.com

Relationship journeys of young people

who run away
Jane Thompson & Dan Moxon
To cite this article: Thompson & Moxon (2017): Relationship journeys of young people who run
away, Youth Voice Journal

To link to this article: https://www.youthvoicejournal.com/2017/10/24/jane-thompson-dan-

moxon-2017-relationship-journeys-of-young-people-who-run-away/

Published Online: 24 October

2017
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Relationship journeys of young people who run away Thompson & Moxon

Relationship journeys of young people who run away

Published in the Youth Voice Journal, October 2017

http://youthvoicejournal.com/
IARS 2017
Submission date: 17/08/2017
ISSN(online): 2056 2969

Jane Thompson & Dan Moxon

Abstract

This research aimed to build a stronger understanding of the journeys young people go on

when they run away, and what constitutes a safe place. We sought to understand this from

the perspective of young people themselves, and a peer led research methodology was used

and young people with experience of running away and/or homelessness were an active part

of the research team. In doing so heard the way in which these journeys are experienced and

defined as moves through a series of relationships as much as moves through physical space

and locations. We describe a model for understanding two different types of journey young

people go in , both defined by the relationship maintained at different stages of the journey

and the resultant impact this has on the level of risk young people who run away are exposed

to. We finish by arguing for the need for interventions designed to support young people

runaway to focus more on the role that relationships play in young people's lives , and how

changing or improving relationship can reduce risk.

Keywords: Runaways, young people, missing, peer led research, relationships

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Relationship journeys of young people who run away Thompson & Moxon

____________________________________________________________

Corresponding Authors:

Jane Thompson is the UK Research and Policy Manager at Railway Children, an international
charity that works with children at risk on the streets. She joined in 2012 to develop and deliver their
UK research programme, but has over 20 years previous experience in the voluntary sector in
operational management, policy and research roles. In recent years, she has focused on policy and
practice responses to children who run away, go missing or are forced out.

Dan Moxon is an independent consultant and researcher in the field of youth participation.
He supports organisations in the academic, public and voluntary sectors to develop their
approach to listening to children and young people. He is an Associate director at UClans
Centre for Children and Young Peoples Participation where he leads an number of
participatory research programmes.

Funding Sources

This work was funded by Railway Children using a grant from Aviva

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Relationship journeys of young people who run away Thompson & Moxon

Introduction

Understanding the shifting relationships that young people who run away from home or care

have with those around them is crucial to understanding how we can provide better support.

Rather than understanding running away as running from place to place, we need to see it

also as running from relationship to relationship: a position we came to after conducting peer

led research with young people who had run away and/or been homeless. This paper aims to

explore and chart the journeys of young people who run away and show how these are

characterised by changing relationships. Using the perspectives of young people with direct

experience, we draw exclusively on the peer research element of a wider piece of work

conducted by Railway Children (Thompson, 2014). We conclude by arguing that the current

emphasis on short term interventions hinders the development of long term stable

relationships and protective networks that can be critical to achieving lasting change.

Defining and Understanding Running Away

Running away refers to situations where a young person has chosen to leave, or been

forced out of home or care, including those incidents that happen during the day and are of

short duration. Although running implies an active decision it can also evolve gradually from

having an unstructured lifestyle, being absent from school and spending an increasing amount

of time with a vulnerable peer group or exploitative adults (Scott & Skidmore, 2006). There

is some overlap with the term missing. However, since only a third of young runaways are

believed to be reported missing (Rees, 2011), this term does not reflect the experiences of the

majority and indeed going missing is better understood as a continuum (Bielhal, Mitchell &

Wade, 2003). We use the term running away as it focuses on the experiences and intentions

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