Rural Runaways: Rurality and its Implications for Services to Children and Young People Who Run Away

This article debates options for service provision to young rural runaways in the UK. Using data drawn from two national surveys and follow‐on qualitative studies, the authors trace urban myths of rurality and their effects on runaway provision. The authors review models of rural refuge, systemic advocacy and mobile services for rural runaways. Evidence suggests that both young runaways’ services and young runaways themselves are particularly at risk of stigmatisation in the rural context. The authors suggest that in this context of high visibility in a rural area, add‐on services to generic provision may offer a solution.