Over a hundred troubled families helped

The lives of over 100 families have been turned around in Rochdale in 15 months, according to the latest government statistics.

The Department for Communities and Local Government’s Troubled Families programme has successfully helped 1,278 of Greater Manchester's toughest to tackle households, including 105 in Rochdale.

Children are back in school where they were previously playing truant or excluded, high levels of youth crime and anti-social behaviour are down, adults are getting off benefits and into work, and the costs to public services and burden on the taxpayer are being reduced too.

In Greater Manchester, councils have identified 6,935 families and are currently working with 4,306. 

Head of the Troubled Families programme Louise Casey 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.”