Running: Other Choices (ROC) is a service dedicated to young people in Scotland, under the age of 16, who are thinking about or have run away.
The ROC service provides both a refuge and outreach service to support some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and young people.
With over 9,000 children in Scotland running away each year and two thirds of these not being reported missing to the police, it was clear there was a need for this vital service.
The ROC service opened in 2004 and provides Scotland’s only refuge for young runaways who feel unable to return home. It is a safe haven away from the dangerous streets where 1 in 6 of the 9,000 runaways each year are physically or sexually assaulted.
Service aim and what we offer
The aim of ROC is to provide safe and confidential accommodation for young runaways to minimise or eliminate the risk of harm from the location they ran from or the place they would have run to.
ROC achieves this by providing:
• a 24 hour telephone service so young people can call at any time if they find themselves in difficulty, have run away, are thinking of running away or need advice,
• a refuge that offers a safe place in a confidential location in the Glasgow area where young people can stay for up to 7 days. Here they can take time out to think about things, talk to professional staff, make plans and try to resolve issues,
• support to children and young people who have previously been in the refuge,
• an Outreach service offering support for young runaways such as counselling, mediation, individual support and advocacy.
General service information
The refuge is a 24 hour, 7 day a week, 365 day a year service.
Referrals can come from Social Services, police or young runaways themselves. The young person is admitted voluntarily to the refuge and can leave if they choose to do so. Their legal status does not change as a result of them being in the ROC refuge as they are not legally defined as being ‘in care’.
Outcomes
This service contributes to the following Scottish Government’s National Outcomes.
• Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective communicators and responsible citizens.
• Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.
• The life chances for children, young people and families at risk have improved.
• Our children live safe from crime, disorder and danger.
Partnership and funding
ROC works in partnership with agencies to provide this vital and unique service including ChildLine, Strathclyde Police, Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council and the Railway Children.