The government’s Troubled Families programme is on track to meet its target of turning around the lives of 120,000 families by the end of the parliament, communities secretary Eric Pickles has said.
According to the latest figures released this afternoon, the £448 million programme has already helped 105,671 families and saved almost £1.2 billion – £12,000 per family.
Launched in 2011, the programme works with local authorities to help families facing a range of problems.
These include unemployment, involvement in youth crime or anti-social behaviour, and school exclusion or truancy. Such families have an average of nine different serious problems including health and mental health issues, domestic violence and debt.
Of the programme’s progress, Pickles said: “It has worked because it has been bold and unafraid of getting tough with those who need it most.”
Speaking in the House of Commons, the communities secretary also praised troubled families lead Louise Casey (pictured above with her team).
"It's been my privilege over the last five years to get to know a number of senior civil servants," he said.
"But none I've enjoyed more than Louise who is definitely one of a kind and has been an absolute joy to work with.”
Casey said: “Behind these figures are real people in every part of the country whose lives have changed for the better.
“Families with nine serious problems each were never going to be easy to turn around, so all credit to the councils and other services who have committed to this programme, the many hundreds of frontline staff who have given their all to these families and most of all to the families who have had the courage to change and given themselves and their children a better chance in life than they had before.”