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Safe as Houses?

Housing is twice as likely to be a problem for young people in London as it is elsewhere in the UK.

Get Connected receives almost twice as many calls and emails from young people in London who need help finding somewhere to stay as it does from young people in the rest of the UK. This includes those who have already left home and those who feel that leaving home is the only solution to a desperate situation.

Young people in London appear to have quite different issues at heart not only when they call but when they email Get Connected: housing issues yet again cause young people in London more problems than any other aspect of their lives, with almost twice as many emails from London as from the rest of the UK.

Get Connected statistics show that the living situations of young people in London differ significantly from those of young people outside London: compared to the national average, more than twice as many young people who contacted Get Connected from London had run away or been thrown out of home and three times as many were staying with friends or relatives or were in care.

‘Young people leave home for many different reasons,’ said External Affairs Manager Dulcie Ireland. ‘When they don’t know where to turn for help in a vulnerable situation, this can seem like the only option.

‘Get Connected can find young people help with any issue. Our helpline workers will assist them in deciding what their main concern is and how they want to deal with it, and have details of over 100 services in London that can provide advice or support with finding accommodation or housing rights.

‘The young person’s call or email is confidential and no one will try to persuade them to go home or to tell anyone else about the problems they are experiencing.

‘Get Connected can inform young people of their options both before and after they decide to leave home. We would encourage any young person to contact us as soon as they feel they can’t deal with a problem by themselves.’

Get Connected and The Carphone Warehouse are currently running a marketing campaign in London to raise awareness of the helpline service amongst vulnerable young people. Between November 22^nd and 29^th, anyone who knows of a young person needing help can pick up a Get Connected card at any of The Carphone Warehouse stores in London. Young people should look out for Get Connected posters and cards at school and college.

Some young people have just arrived in London when they call or email Get Connected seeking help with accommodation:

Zac, 17, had run away to London with his girlfriend, who was pregnant, because their parents disapproved of the relationship. Zac and Justine spent a couple of nights in a hostel but since his wallet was stolen, they were having trouble finding more permanent accommodation. Get Connected gave Zac the address of a local advice centre that could explain the options available to him and help him find a place to stay.

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PLEASE PUBLICISE THE EMAIL ADDRESS -

AND THE FREE HELPLINE NUMBER - 0808 808 4994

Notes to editors:

1. The vision of Get Connected is that every young person in the UK can find the help they need to support their physical and emotional well-being.
2. Get Connected is a UK wide telephone and email helpline that finds young people the best help whatever the problem. Over 1,300 young people contact Get Connected every month about a range of issues including emotional problems, physical and mental health, sexuality, abuse and running away.
3. Statistics are derived from 7253 calls from April 1^st to September 30^th 2004. 13% of calls and emails from London concerned housing.
4. For more information about Get Connected please visit www.getconnected.org.uk
5. Available for interview: Dulcie Ireland, External Affairs Manager, Get Connected, 07971 008 049,