I never knew my dad, he disappeared before I was one, but my mum always had boyfriends. The first one was with us until I was 10 and he used to slap and abuse me verbally.

Sarah was one of 100,000 young people who run away each year

After mum kicked him out, she had another boyfriend who punched me and my mum would hit me too. I didn't know any different so I didn't tell anyone or ask for help.

It didn't help that I was being severely bullied at school. I moved to another school because the bullying had made me a nervous wreck.

But moving just meant I was the new girl at school and I was lonely. It wasn't long before children started bullying me at the new school too.

Then, when I was about 15, I met a different crowd of people and, for the first time, I really felt liked and had friends.

But my mum didn't like my friends and one night after an argument about me going out, she said she wouldn't let me see them again. I ran upstairs, packed a few clothes and ran out.

Telephone box

I went in to see social services, but I was told that because I wasn't being hit at home at that time and wasn't at risk they couldn't give me somewhere to stay.

The hostels wouldn't take me in because I was under 16 and the police just said they'd take me home. When the social services office shut I just slept in a telephone box.

The next day I went home and my mum just forced me to go to school. I remember walking into my classroom and breaking down in tears in front of the teacher. The schoolteachers tried to get help but they didn't know what to do.

I remember walking out of school in the middle of the afternoon still wearing my uniform and just walking out on to the streets.

'Fought my corner'

I wasn't on the streets long because thankfully I was given information about Safe in the City, a project run by the Children's Society which helps children who have run away.

I was so relieved to speak to someone who believed what had happened to me.

Project workers gave me advice on what services I could get, came along to these intimidating official meetings with social services and spoke on my behalf - they fought my corner and that's something no-one had ever done before.

I decided in the end to stay for a while in a children's home and the project workers came to help me settle in.

Afterwards Safe in the City helped me to find sheltered accommodation where I would be safe while I looked for work.

I've got my own flat now and, like most people, it is tough trying to sort out bills and make ends meet, especially when you're on your own. But this September I'm going to university.