More 'high-risk' families helped under Troubled Families programme

The Department for Communities and Local Government, which administers the programme, said the figures mean that more children are back in school, youth crime and anti-social behaviour are down and adults are getting off benefits and into work

A payment-by-results initiative, the Troubled Families programme aims to end criminality, get children back into school and parents ready to work.

According to communities secretary Eric Pickles, who announced the figures yesterday, the programme is already helping 50,000 families, up from 35,000 in March.

He said that the scheme remains on track to meet the Prime Minister’s target of turning around 120,000 families by 2015.

The news follows an announcement by the Government in June to commit a further £200m of funding for 2015/16 to extend the Troubled Families Programme to help more ‘high-risk’ families.

Commenting on the new figures, the Prime Minister David Cameron said, ‘I am determined that we help people to get on in life including those families where things may be going wrong. For some, that starts with attending school every day, staying out of trouble with the police and taking practical steps towards work, just as other families do.

‘Every month more and more of the most troubled families are getting help to deal with these issues head on. That is good for those families, their community and our country as a whole.’

Louise Casey, head of the Troubled Families programme, said, ‘Councils deserve credit for taking up the challenge of the Troubled families programme and achieving results so quickly. By dealing with all the family members and all of their problems in a tough and intensive way we are finally getting to grips with problems which may have persisted for generations, giving hope to people who have often been failed in the past and relief for the communities that suffered the effects of their behaviour.’

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said, 'We welcome these figures, which show that the Government's approach in working with these families is beginning to make a difference.

'As the programme moves into the next stage, other agencies and organisations, such as children's centres, should get involved.

'According to results from our children's centres census, being published next month, half of centres are involved in the Troubled Families programme. The other half, who are not involved in the programme, said it was because they had not been asked.'