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Some Of
Merseyside Troubled Families See Lives Transformed
THE lives of nearly 2,000
troubled families in Merseyside have been turned around in the 1st
2 years of a government initiative, according to the latest figures.
The Prime Minister welcomed the news that the Troubled Families
programme has helped almost 40,000 families across England, getting
children off the streets and into school and supporting people to
get back to work.
A progress update published by the Department for Communities and
Local Government showed that 1,931 families in Merseyside have been
turned around since April 2012. Councils have also identified 4,560
families in need of help, and are currently working with 4,134.
Across England, 39,480 families have now been turned around since
the programme began; a number which has almost doubled in the past
6 months. This means that in nearly 40,000 troubled families:-
► Children who were truanting or excluded have now been back in school
for 3 consecutive terms.
►
Youth crime and anti-social
behaviour across the household have been significantly reduced.
►
An adult in the household has been
employed for at least 3 consecutive months.
► With each troubled family estimated to cost an average of £75,000 a
year, these 40,000 families could have been costing the taxypayer in
the region of £3 billion per year without intervention.
David Cameron said that the fact that truancy, youth crime and
anti-social behaviour have been significantly reduced in 40,000
homes; and adults are in a job or better able to work, was helping
to secure a better future for both these families and the country as
a whole.
The Prime Minister said:- "Getting some of our country's most
troubled families' lives back on track is a key part of our
long-term plan - it saves the taxpayer money, gives people the
chance to get on in life and secures a better future for these
families, their communities and for our country."
He was speaking 2 years after setting out a challenge to improve the
behaviour and reduce the problems of the 120,000 most troubled
families in England, bringing down their estimated £9 billion annual
cost to the taxpayer. Under the programme one team works with the
whole of a family on all of its problems in a tough, intensive and
coordinated way, getting to grips with what is really going on in
the home, rather than different services reacting to individual
problems.
Today's figures show that more than 111,000 families have been
identified for help by councils, of which 97,000 are now being
actively worked with under the programme. This means that councils
are on course to meet the Prime Minister's challenge, with the rate
of progress gathering speed as the intensive and practical work with
the families pays off.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said:-
"The Troubled Families programme is good for the economy as it
reduces the £9 billion annual cost to the taxpayer and helps people
back into work. It also improves life for communities which
see less crime and anti-social behaviour and, most importantly,
supports families who get a chance to have a brighter future.
Progress is being made in all corners of the country and I'm proud
that this Government is taking action to help change the lives of
the families most in need."
Head of the Troubled Families programme Louise Casey CB added:-
"This programme works because it is about dealing with all
members of the family and all of its problems, being tough but
supportive and providing intensive, practical help.Councils have
changed the way they work with troubled families to make sure that 1
team or worker is providing that support, not a dozen different
public services. In doing so they are now seeing results which mean
that more families will be able to be helped in the future."
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33% of people
wouldn't consider walking for more than 20 minutes to get from A to
B
AS the Ramblers enjoy the short walks festival
that started on 3 May and ends on 10 May 2013, the results of a YouGov
survey have revealed an alarming 33% of people in the North West
would not consider walking for more than 20 minutes when planning a
journey.
The survey also discovered that only 38% of adults surveyed in the
North West are walking more than the recommended amount and,
worryingly, 28% of people are only walking, on average, for an hour
or less per week. With such shocking results, the Ramblers is
calling for people to park their cars and get out more on foot.
1 in 4 of the adult population are currently classed as physically
inactive. This has severe health consequences, so it is crucial that
people start taking steps towards a more active lifestyle.
The Ramblers knows walking is the simplest solution to tackling this
physical inactivity pandemic and is encouraging people to take to
their feet during Get Walking Week.
Benedict Southworth, chief executive of the Ramblers, said:-
"Walking is such an easy way for people to meet the recommended
guidelines1 of getting 150 minutes of exercise per week, so it's
really worrying that inactivity levels are so high. During Get
Walking Week we are asking people in the North West to think about
how they can walk more. Making short journeys on foot is an easy way
to incorporate physical activity into everyday life - rather than
automatically jumping in the car or on the bus, use your feet
instead. To help people take their first steps we are offering
hundreds of free short walks during Get Walking Week. You don't need
any special equipment to join in, so why not find a walk near you
and walk towards a healthier and happier lifestyle."
Ramblers groups will be leading walks across Great Britain for
everyone to enjoy and Walking for Health, England's largest network
of health walk schemes, run by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer
Support, will also be inviting people to walk, to help them get
walking and keep walking.
For more information about Get Walking Week, please visit:-
ramblers.org.uk/getwalkingweek.
Appeal for help following a house
burglary in Bootle MERSEYSIDE Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway following
an incident in Bootle on Thursday, 1 May 2014. Patrols were called to a house on
Southport Road at about 8.10pm following a report of a burglary. A short while
later officers received a report from a member of the public who had found a 31
year old man suffering from what is believed to be stab wounds. When officers
attended, they found a man with serious injuries. He has been taken to hospital
for treatment and is in a serious, but stable condition. A 66 year old man has
also been taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. Crime Scene
Investigators are in attendance and patrols have been stepped up to reassure the
local community. An investigation has been launched to determine the full
circumstances surrounding these incidents and officers are working to establish
whether, and if so how, they are linked. Detectives are appealing for anyone
with information to contact Police. People are urged to call Merseyside Police
on:- 0151 777 3046 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.
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