PERSHORE’s MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed news the Government will continue a programme which helps some of the most vulnerable families offering them intensive support.
The ‘Troubled Families’ programme has been extended for a further year following a series of positive evaluations.
Rather than responding to each problem, or single family member separately, assigned Troubled Families keyworkers engage with the whole family. The programme has reduced the number of children taken into care, reduced juvenile criminal convictions and helped more people into work.
The Government has confirmed a further £165million will be available to the programme next year with Worcestershire receiving just over £1million.
Harriett said: “I have always been a supporter of programmes which help families as early as possible to spot those who are struggling and hopefully give them the right support.
“I have seen first-hand how working across local teams can really help the troubled families, who can take up 80 per cent of the time of our local support teams.
“In Worcestershire, we have a really impressive multi-agency team but all of these initiatives need secure funding and this extra financial commitment is clear evidence of the Government’s support for this type of activity,” she added.
Launched by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012, the scheme targets families with multiple and complex social and health issues.
Existing support for the project was due to run out later this year, prompting speculation about its future.
But Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said it had proved a success in transforming lives and relieving the burden on public services.
The programme was set up by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in response to the 2011 riots in English cities, at a cost of £448million.
It was revamped in 2015, with the aim of helping 400,000 families by 2020.
About £920million has been spent since then, averaging about £157.6million, a year, with councils being paid on the basis of their results in helping the most vulnerable families.
