A NEW education resource is being offered to teachers and youth workers who help children and young people who have gone or are at risk of going missing. 

Experts at two charities – Missing People and Barnardo’s Scotland – have worked alongside youngsters to develop the resource, which is available on and accompanied by the new Runaway Scotland website.

It has been launched at a time when many young people can feel tempted to run away from home as they struggle to cope with the coronavirus crisis.

The Scottish Government is providing more than £90,000 for the Missing People charity during 2020/21 to ensure partners in local areas continue to benefit from independent advice and to strengthen multi-agency working to improve outcomes for people who go missing.

Ash Denham, Minister for Community Safety, said: “Preventing people going missing and reducing the harm linked to missing incidents are key aims of Scotland’s National Framework.

“While the impact of Covid-19 and the necessary public health measures have been felt across society, they have presented particular challenges for many young people, with feelings of anxiety, uncertainty or sadness – sometimes resulting in them wanting to get away from the home and, ultimately, go missing.

“I am delighted to launch this new education resource for young people who have previously gone missing or may be at risk of doing so in the future.”

On average, Police Scotland undertake 22,000 missing persons investigations each year, with almost two-thirds of these involving children and young people.

Susannah Drury, director of policy and development at Missing People, said: “It is an exciting time for us to be developing services and we look forward to bringing people together to provide the best support possible for those affected by a disappearance.”

For more information, visit www.runawayhelpline.org.uk/scotland/resources.