Rewards for runaway work

3:56pm Monday 12th May 2008

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A SUPPORT service for young runaways has scooped a regional award.

The Talk... Don't Walk scheme, delivered by Halton's Relationships Centre, picked up the Health and Reducing Equalities Award at the Northwest NHS Health and Social Care Awards.

Marissa Hankinson, spokesman for the Relationships Centre, said: "It is great that we are getting recognition for the work that we are doing with young runaways. More than 86,000 children run away each year.

"This success has really put us in the spotlight regionally and is one of the flagship projects in dealing with issue.

"A big congratulations goes to the team as well as all of our supporters and stakeholders too."

The centre aims to improve the lives of people with relationship issues with advice and information.

The service, which was launched in April 2004, offers help and advice to runaways and their families to reduce repeat episodes.

Runaway numbers have fallen by 76 per cent, which has also saved Halton Council and neighbouring authorities more than £3.1 million.

Mrs Hankinson said: "If running away as a behaviour is left unchallenged it can lead to serious health problem, addictions, criminality, poor education, sexual exploitation and in some cases, even death.

"Initiatives such as Talk... Don't Walk are incredibly important. The difference with us is that we provide an holistic service to the entire family unit to address the issue of why a young person would run away from home in the first instance."