BURT PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR YOUNG RUNAWAYS

3.28.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Oct 2007

Local MP Lorely Burt has backed moves by a coalition of 30 different charities in their efforts to form a national policy on young runaways.

During a series of events in Westminster that mark the culmination of twenty years of work by the Coalition of Runaway Children, Lorely signed a petition which urges the government to take action to help the thousands who leave home each year, and which will be presented to Ministers later this month.

Lorely Burt said:

"I congratulate the Coalition of Runaway Children for bringing this important issue to the fore. At last ministers have shown their willingness to look at how they can help these children."

Figures on runaways are staggering, with around 100,000 children leaving home each year. Most do so because of problems at home, with girls aged 14-15 most likely to run.

"These youngsters take real risks in their fight to survive with one in six sleeping rough and one in twelve hurt or harmed. Most don't even run far from home, and end up sofa surfing or staying in a stranger's house" added Lorely.

"It's is time we offer real help to those children who feel that they have nowhere to turn. We should be ashamed that so many have already suffered.

"I am determined to make a difference to the lives of the hundreds of thousands who run away each year. We need to ensure they have access to the support they so desperately need."