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Poor family relationships are the major cause of young people running away from home, according to a new report from the Children's Society, writes Clare Jerrom.

Family change such as a separation or divorce, or when a new adult joins a family, can leave young people feeling vulnerable or competing for attention, and this can lead to them fleeing the family home.

‘Home Run: families and young runaways’ shows that children who live in step-families are three times more likely to have run away or been thrown out of home than those living in two-parent families.

The report calls for more family mediation services to help resolve some tensions between children, and parents or carers, more targeted help for young people at the time of parental conflict and more education on parenting skills.

Ian Sparks, chief executive of the charity, said: "Parental separation or divorce can be a difficult time for everyone involved and we need to make sure that children have someone they can talk to before the situation reaches crisis point. Where children are at risk we need to find safe places for them."

In a second study published by The Children’s Society, it has emerged that no single model of practice will meet the needs of all young people who runaway effectively.

In ‘Working with Young Runaways: Learning from Practice’, it states that a comprehensive network of services is needed, including refuges, street work, missing persons schemes, centre based projects and preventive work.

Sparks said: "Many of these children have multiple needs which can’t be met through quick fix solutions."

"If we’re going to engage with young people on the brink of social exclusion then we must bring together the combined expertise of local authorities, social services, police and teachers," he added.

The report is published ahead of the government’s report from the government's social exclusion unit to raise the Children’s Society’s concerns about young runaways.

The report highlights that there is very little work aimed at preventing children running away in the first place.

It also shows most models of practice that have been developed so far in the UK have focused on young people who have already run away a number of times, those who are living on the streets and those who have recently run away.

Barbara Roche, minister of state in the Cabinet Office, said: "The social exclusion unit has drawn on the expertise and research of the Children’s Society and other organisations in looking for ways to prevent young people from running away in the first place, making sure they are safe if they do run, and finding long-term solutions to their needs."

‘Working with Young Runaways’ and ‘Home Run: families and young runaways’ are available from 020 7841 4415 or www.childrenssociety.org.uk