Communities Secretary Eric Pickles MP has welcomed the news that Durham County Council is signing up to the Government’s Troubled Families programme.
Mr Pickles said he was delighted that 1,320 families in Durham may now receive extra help to get children into school, reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour and put adults on a path back to work.
The Leader of Durham County Council, Cllr Simon Henig, said: “The council is keen to support families across the county, especially those who may need extra help.
“As the local authority we have a key role to play in helping all our residents to play a full and valued part in their communities.
“By working together I am sure we can help make a difference.”
Under the programme the Government will pay councils up to £4,000 per eligible family if the problems causing high rates of truancy, youth crime and anti-social behaviour and adult unemployment are addressed.
Each family is allocated a key worker who will help work though all of their problems and who will bring in specialist services as required. In total up to £4.4m will be available to Durham over the next three years.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “It is great news that Durham County Council has agreed to run this programme.
“Together we can finally tackle a problem that has long been grappled with. We cannot go on spending so much taxpayers’ money on such a small amount of families without turning their lives around once and for all. This programme is a unique opportunity to do so.
“We now have an opportunity to offer real and lasting change for these families and the communities around them.
“Everyone will benefit from getting kids off the streets and into school; getting parents off benefits and into work; and cutting youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
“But it is also right that we will only pay councils in full if they deliver the results that we require.”
