This month, Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity have teamed up with Railway Children, the charity that helps young runaways, to launch Street Dance for Change. The campaign will raise money for the charity and awareness about the number of young runaways in the UK, by getting people to create their own street dance videos.

How big is the problem?

Every year, it’s estimated that 100,000 young people will run away from home. That’s one in nine young people. They run away for all sorts of reasons but for most it’s a last resort. Problems at home mean these young people feel they have no other choice but to leave. Some may end up in care. Some may go to another family member or friend. Shockingly, one in six end up sleeping rough on the streets. Here they face many dangers, from physical and mental abuse to becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Worryingly, many people in Britain are unaware of the problem of young runaways and that children are living rough on our streets. They think someone must be caring for them. The reality is often that these young people have simply lost their trust in adults, so see the streets as their safest option. Railway Children works with projects across the UK that help and support young people who end up living on the streets, to protect them from harm.

Railway Children also helps young people in difficult situations to try and stop them running away and let them know where they can get help and support. Disturbingly, when Railway Children asked what they would do if things were so bad at home they were thinking about running away, one in ten under-18s said they wouldn’t know what to do. Only one in ten would speak to a teacher. Over half said their only option would be to turn to friends for help.

What can you do?

Street Dance for Change is a joint campaign between Railway Children and our partner, Aviva. It will raise awareness of Railway Children’s work in the UK and raise vital funds for the charity. Diversity have created an amazing new film to highlight the challenges that children alone and at risk in the UK face. You can check it out at www.firstnews.co.uk. Diversity are asking people to upload a 30-second freestyle dance of their own. The creators of the freestyle video with the most views at the end of the campaign will have the chance to win tickets to a performance at Diversity’s 2012 tour and meet the group themselves. For each view of a Street Dance for Change competition entry, Aviva will donate £2 to Railway Children. The competition ends on 5 November.

Did you know?

•100,000 young people run away from home every year. One in six of these young people end up living rough on the streets.

• Living on the streets is very dangerous and young people who run away face many risks. 

• If you or someone you know is thinking about running away, there is help out there. Speak to an adult you trust, like a family member, teacher or youth group leader. If there’s no one you feel you can speak to, call ChildLine on 0800 11 11.

•You don’t have to suffer in silence.

Words by Claire Scott for Railway Children