Child Runaway Goes On to Inspire New Youth Help Project ; When Jess Lee Was 11 She Was Taken Into Care. Though Social Services Had Her Best Interests at Heart, the Next Few Years Proved to Be Tumultuous for Her. She Ended Up Running Away From Home and Became Temporarily Homeless. That's Why Now, at 19, She has Become the Inspiration for Derbyshire's New Runaways Project, Which Helps Youngsters Just Like Her. Jill Gallone Reports.

Derby Evening Telegraph › July 27, 2007

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Summary

When Jess Lee was 11 she was taken into care. Though social services had her best interests at heart, the next few years proved to be tumultuous for her. She ended up running away from home and became temporarily homeless. That's why now, at 19, she has become the inspiration for Derbyshire's new Runaways project, which helps youngsters just like her. Jill Gallone reports.

It was one of scariest moments a young girl could face. Jess Lee was 14, all alone and had not been able to scrounge a bed for the night.

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Child Runaway Goes On to Inspire New Youth Help Project ; When Jess Lee Was 11 She Was Taken Into Care. Though Social Services Had Her Best Interests at Heart, the Next Few Years Proved to Be Tumultuous for Her. She Ended Up Running Away From Home and Became Temporarily Homeless. That's Why Now, at 19, She has Become the Inspiration for Derbyshire's New Runaways Project, Which Helps Youngsters Just Like Her. Jill Gallone Reports.

Hours of darkness loomed ahead of her. In desperation, she slept on the seafront in Torquay and tried to get some rest.

"But it was impossible," the 19-year-old said. "I was so worried I stayed awake all night. I didn't even lie down. I sat up.

"That was the only time I ended up on the streets. I h...

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