MP calls for action to keep missing children off streets
ASTOCKPORT MP has claimed huge numbers of young people go missing from home across the region because of family problems without being reported, often putting them at risk of exploitation.
Campaigning MP Ann Coffey said figures on children who go missing are vastly understated because of the huge number of unreported cases and said more emergency accommodation is needed to protect vulnerable runaways.
She said the fact many families ‘say nothing’ when a youngster runs away was ‘very worrying’ and called for action to prevent children ending up on the streets.
Speaking at the conference of emergency accommodation network Nightstop UK, Ms Coffey, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary group on runaway and missing children and adults, said: “We know that in Greater Manchester more than 4,200 children and young people went missing in 2014/15, but I believe the real figure is far higher because of the underreporting of young people who go missing from families who say nothing.”
Ms Coffey said Nightstop services could help scores of vulnerable children and teenagers in Greater Manchester - and reduce the risk of them being exploited.
The charity provides youngsters with a bed and hot meal and a ‘listening ear’ in times of crisis.
Run by homelessness charity Depaul UK, bosses train volunteer hosts to take in people facing a night on the streets.
The initiative needs cash to help those in need in Greater Manchester.
Ms Coffey added: “Nightstop is a great community resource using volunteers who provide short–term accommodation in a safe place while the young person’s problems are resolved so they can return to their families or they can be found longer-term supported accommodation.
“This would be a great resource for young people in Greater Manchester.
“The Homelessness Reduction Bill, which is going through the Commons, gives a much greater focus on preventing homelessness.
“A resource like Nightstop could prevent young people ending up with a life on the streets with all the dangers that entails.
“This could be a great partnership between Nightstop and councils for the benefit of young people.”
Depaul UK chief executive Martin HoughtonBrown said: “We are keen to secure the funding to launch Nightstop in Greater Manchester where there is clearly a great need.
“The reality is that if we do not place young people who are unofficially missing in safe accommodation, they end up taking terrible risks to stay off the streets.”