· The Government is committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society, delivering targeted support through covid and the challenge of rising costs.
· That is why the Government is expanding the Supporting Families programme so 100,000 more vulnerable families receive tailored keyworker support this year backed by over £233 million of local authority funding.
· By supporting families with housing, poor education attainment and substance misuse the Government is securing a much brighter future for some of the most vulnerable families in the UK.
Andrew Selous MP has welcomed the news that the Government have announced the new Supporting Families funding allocation for local authorities across England in 2023–4.
Central Bedfordshire Council will receive £807,533 in this latest round of funding to ensure skilled keyworkers continue to provide tailored support to the most vulnerable families in South West Bedfordshire.
Through the Government’s Supporting Families Programme, vulnerable families are allocated a skilled local keyworker to help them to tackle issues they may be facing across housing insecurity, poor education attainment and substance misuse giving them tailored support to turn their lives around.
As this flagship Government programme marks its tenth year, ministers have confirmed that £233.5 million will be allocated to 150 local authorities across England to continue the provision of keyworker support to some of the most vulnerable families in the UK.
This new funding boost builds on the £1.9 billion already invested into keyworker support by the Government over the last decade which has reduced the number of children on the programme entering care by 32 per cent, reduced the number of juvenile custodial sentences by almost 40 per cent and the proportion of adults on the programme claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance by 11 per cent.
Commenting, Andrew Selous MP said:
“As the co-chair of the family relationships APPG I am delighted that the Government has made huge progress improving outcomes for families but sadly there are still families struggling with insecure housing, substance misuse and other challenges.
“That is why I am delighted the Supporting Families Programmes, is being expanded into its tenth year so vulnerable families in South West Bedfordshire will benefit from a share of £807,533 funding to provide tailored keyworker support to help them turn their lives round.
“Through covid and cost of living challenges, the Government has targeted support at those who need it most.”