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You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
Hi there,
Caring for family members can be a difficult experience, you can start to feel responsible for the people you help to look after. Being taken away from those responsibilities is a big change so you might want to look at the information and advice on our young carers page.
Social services often try to place young people with family members so that relationships in the family can be kept up. Its important to be really honest with them about how you feel so that they can make the best decisions for you about where you live. If talking to a social worker feels hard, you could think about writing them a letter and asking them to read it. Theres some more information on our living in care page. You can also talk to a ChildLine counsellor about this and they can help you talk to a social worker.
In the UK, the law says that you can leave home without consent at the age of 16 but you will be unable to sign a tenancy agreement until you are 18 because it is a legal document. In some areas it might be possible to move into supported housing when you are 16.It can be like having your own place but with support available when you need it. That would be something to ask a social worker about. Our your rights page explains more about housing law and young people.
Many young people feel they want to run away to get away from a difficult situation but I believe it is better and safer to try to change your situation with the help of trusted adults rather than putting yourself in danger. If you ever feel like you want to run away from home, it is really important to speak to a ChildLine counsellor before you do anything. They will help you to understand how you are feeling and to look at alternative ways to deal with what is going on.
You can talk to a ChildLine counsellor at any time. They will not judge you, they will always listen and support you.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.