Family Matters helps more than 1000 children in just one year

A pioneering programme to help support families in Stoke-on-Trent has helped more than 1,100 children in its first year.

A new report has made clear the positive effect of Family Matters, which launched in March last year.

The number of children in care has fallen by nearly 10 per cent during the programme's lifetime, while the number of children needing child protection plans has also decreased.

The findings are contained in a council report assessing the impact of Family Matters and setting out how the scheme will transform more lives in the year ahead.

Family Matters is a partnership between the council, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector. It focuses on stepping in early – before problems reach crisis point – to make sure children have the best start in life.

The programme provides a full package of support through Family Hubs and targeted early intervention to help families stay safely together.

As a result, the report says that the number of children in care has fallen since last April thanks to the emphasis on building strong, supportive relationships within families.

Family Matters will now be expanded, with Family Hubs across the city, new stay-and-play activities, and access to out-of-school activities for every child.

Parents will have access to the help they need to get training and employment, and there will be readily available access to emotional support for secondary school children.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Family Matters is a brilliant example of this city looking after its own and providing a vital safety net when people stumble in life.

"It has provided hundreds of families with the support they need to stay safely together, and to thrive.

"This is a real city partnership, and the voluntary and community sector have stepped up brilliantly to help deliver what we all want - a stable, secure, future for all our children.”