Moving out

Moving out is a big decision and it's important to think about it first. If you're thinking about leaving home, we've got advice to help.

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Leaving home

There are lots of reasons you might want to move out. You could:

Leaving isn't always simple, and it's important to make sure you're prepared if you do. If you're not sure if you want to, it can help to talk about it to a Childline counsellor.

5 tips if you want to move out

advice for moving out

There's a lot to think about if you want to move out. If you've decided you want to, we've got advice to help.

is this what
ready
feels like?

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Your rights

Your right to move out depends a lot on how old you are.

Can I go into care?

There are lots of reasons someone might be taken into care. Usually, it's when it's too unsafe for a child or young person to live at home or when their parent's can't take care of them.

You're not able to decide yourself whether you go into care. But what you want to happen is important. Usually it's decided between you, your parents, social services and the courts (or Children's Panel in Scotland).

If you're worried about things at home, talking to social services or an adult you trust can help to keep you safe. If you talk to social services, they may want to talk to you and your family to find out what's been happening.

You can also talk to a Childline counsellor any time.

Coping if you can’t move out

Living at home can be difficult when you want to leave but you can't. But there are always other things you can do to stay safe and cope.

  • Talk to your parents or carers
    If you feel safe to, talking about how you feel at home might help you find new ways to get along with each other. It might help to ask an adult you trust to help you start the conversation or to write down what's difficult in a letter.
  • Talk outside of the family
    Talking to a friend or adult you trust can help you let your feelings out and to cope. If you don't feel like you can talk to people you know, you can always talk to Childline.
  • Ask your family if you can take a break
    Sometimes having time away from people can help you to get along better. You could try asking your family to stay with a relative or friend for a few days.
  • Get help if you don't feel safe
    You should always feel safe at home. If you don't you can talk to Childline or an adult you trust, like a teacher.