The Department is funding a range of local projects to develop and disseminate successful local practice in working with families with multiple problems/complex needs.
Twenty one local exemplar projects are being funded in the first sixteen Community Budget areas. Areas were invited to submit bids to develop new and innovative practice or develop existing practice that would be of wider interest to other areas. These projects will soon be operational and local areas and services are encouraged to contact projects developing practice in areas in which they are particularly interested.
Three major projects led by voluntary sector organisations are also being supported.
The Working Families Everywhere campaign, headed by Emma Harrison (Founder & Chair of A4E), focuses on supporting adults from families with a history of worklessness to gain employment. The campaign builds on successful family intervention approaches. It introduces new Family Champions who will sit within family intervention services and work directly with families on employment-related issues. Find out more here
YMCA Derbyshire – are being funded by the Department to provide support for vulnerable and disadvantaged families in Sussex Central, Sutton Coldfield, North Staffordshire, Nottingham, Redditch, Rotherham, Sunderland, Derby, Watford and Norfolk, including families experiencing/at risk of homelessness, relationship breakdown and other support needs such as substance misuse, mental ill health, abuse and offending.
Community Service Volunteers (CSV) - building on their successful family intervention project, Volunteers in Child Protection (ViCP), CSV will develop volunteering models of support for disadvantaged communities that provide parents with mentors, befrienders and advocates.
