A participatory project with young people as peer interviewers. A joint research project, funded by BASPCAN Quarriers

1. A participatory project with young people as
peer interviewers.
A joint research project, funded by BASPCAN.
Children who go Missing from Care:

2. The Aim of the Study
Issues which contributed to young people going missing
form care.
Triggers that prompted episodes of young people going
missing.
Support received during or following instances where they
went missing.
Factors that might prevent future episodes.
In order to inform service delivery, policy development
and further research.
I was just getting angry because people weren’t
telling me what was going on and I was…...like
where's my family, why are they not here and who
are you …………………………. ( Young Person)

3. Using Peer Researchers
 Allow young people to have a voice.
 Peer interviewers.
 Gain improved data.
 Recruitment & Selection Peer Researchers
 Support.
 Selection of Young People.

4. • Authority and power
• Friction
• Isolation
• Environmental issues
I’ve never really had anyone to talk to about anything that
really bothers me.
I’ve tried speaking to my social worker but she’s just up your
arse man, doesn’t listen to me and believes everyone
else……. (Young Person)
I always used to run
away from council units
because they didn’t
really have much
boundaries, they
couldn’t really do
anything.
(Young Person)
Reasons for running
away

5. Returning to Care
Experience upon
return:
Reactive and punitive.
Lack of support.
Lack of boundaries.
Lack of consequences.I just got into trouble and told to stop doing it…. There was no
consequence….. They need to be more strict and make rules
and boundaries.
(Young Person)
Now they hid my shoes, like I went out in socks and she put
like ketchup in my shoes like (Young Person)

6. Preventative Strategies
What young people said would help:
Clear rules and boundaries
Guidance in staying safe
Dialogue and being listened to
Family contact
Feeling someone cared
More structured time
I would just tell them to make sure they were going to be alright if they were
going to run away………. Because for all you know you could walk through a
park and the next thing you know, you could be stabbed, you know what I
mean? It’s hard, it’s hard. (Young person)

7. Lessons Learned
Advantages
Gives voice to young people
Personal growth
Professional opportunities
Greater insights gained
Rewarding for research team
Focus group participants found
it useful
Challenges
Novice interviewers
Time consuming
Payment of peer researchers
Power imbalance
Exploitation
Local to Glasgow

8. Conclusions

9. Any Questions?
Full report can be found at :-
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/
research-reports/children-missing-from-care-
report.pdf

10. Any Questions?
Full report can be found at :-
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/
research-reports/children-missing-from-care-
report.pdf