Troubled families in Swindon will benefit from over half a million pounds of additional funding to help get their lives back on track – news which has been welcomed by North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, announced a £165 million boost in additional funding for the Troubled Families Scheme, which will provide intensive support for some of the most vulnerable families in Swindon - including those affected by unemployment, poor school attendance, mental health problems, anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.
Rather than responding to each problem, or single family member separately, Troubled Families keyworkers engage with the whole family unit to co-ordinate support from a range of services. The programme places a focus on early intervention, addressing problems when they arise and before they reach a crisis point.
Since the current programme began in 2015, 297,733 families have made improvements on the problems that led to them joining the programme. In 26,848 of these families, one or more adults have moved off benefits and into work.
The latest evaluation results show that, compared to families with similar characteristics who have not been on the programme, 19-24 months after starting to receive support:
• the proportion of children on the programme going into care has reduced by a third
• the proportion of children on the programme going into care has reduced by a third
• the proportion of adults on the programme going to prison has reduced by a quarter and juvenile convictions reduced by 15%
• more people on the programme are back in work, with 11% fewer people claiming Jobseekers Allowance.
The programme was due to end in March 2020; however, this £165m funding boost extends the programme into
2020-21.
Justin Tomlinson said: “I am delighted that some of the most vulnerable families in Swindon will benefit from this additional funding to support them through the pressures they face. The Troubled Families Programme has a proven record of success, and I am very pleased to see the Government investing in it.”
