It is estimated that up to 100,000 children run away from their homes or from care each year in the UK - most with nowhere else to go to, leaving themselves susceptible to further problems and danger.
Yano.co.uk is helping to raise awareness of the charity Railway Children this International Missing Children’s Day. The charity is one of the most effective in supporting children who live on the streets, providing protection and opportunity for children with nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to.
Journalist and television presenter Esther Rantzen has also written an emotive article highlighting the issue of missing children in the UK.
Esther comments, “It is clear that we urgently need to open our eyes and ears. We need to see and hear the children before the moment when their desperation forces them onto the streets. Many of these children know what they are running from but have no idea what perils they are running towards.”
Terina Keene, Chief Executive at children’s charity Railway Children said: "International Missing Children’s Day offers a rare opportunity to bring attention to the growing unease that children at risk of exploitation and violence on the streets are being pushed into society’s darkest corners. Railway Children welcomes the support given by Yano and Esther Rantzen to put a spotlight on this issue at a time when the numbers of children at risk is rising yet the help they need is becoming harder to reach.”
Ann-Marie McKimm, co-founder of Yano.co.uk comments: “When we heard about the number of children living on the streets or who have vanished from home, we wanted to help the Railway Children raise awareness of this year’s International Missing Children’s Day. The article by Esther Rantzen on our website highlights exactly how children on the streets are left with nowhere else or no-one else to go to.”
