I speak to a teacher or youth worker

People you see in your day to day life like teachers and youth workers can be really good people to talk to. It’s likely that they’ve heard about all kinds of issues before, and will want to help you with yours. If this seems daunting, try to find a teacher or youth worker you have a good relationship with, or one that understands a bit about your circumstances.

When you talk to a teacher or youth worker about your problems or wanting to run away, it’s likely that they’ll be concerned about you. Teachers and youth workers have a responsibility to make sure that the children and young people they’re working with are safe, and if they think you’re in danger or at risk of harm they might have to talk to someone else about what you’ve told them. If you’re worried about this you could talk to them first about confidentiality and what they have to do if they’re worried about someone.

If you do tell them about your problems or wanting to run away, they might be able to help you get the right support in place. They might be able to speak with other people at school who can help like counsellors, or refer you into other services. If they do have to speak to someone else because they’re concerned about you, you may find that other people would also like to talk to you and help. This may be someone from social services or another service that has responsibilities to keep you safe.

If you’re unsure about speaking with a teacher or youth worker, or would like free and confidential support around running away, the Runaway Helpline are here for you. You can call or text on 116000, 24 hours a day. We’ll listen and not judge, we’d like to help you stay safe no matter what’s making you want to run away.