More than 100,000 additional at-risk families to receive assistance as major government program celebrates its 10th anniversary.

A substantial number of vulnerable families facing numerous and complex challenges—like housing instability, low educational attainment, and substance abuse—will receive tailored support to improve their lives through a flagship government initiative that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week.

More than 100,000 additional families in England will benefit from funding allocations totaling £233.5 million announced today (8 March 2023) as part of the Supporting Families programme. This builds on the assistance already provided to 650,000 vulnerable families, helping them to reshape their lives and build brighter futures through a ‘whole family’ approach. In total, the scheme has received over £1.9 billion since its launch in 2013.

Under the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities programme, each family is assigned a dedicated keyworker who collaborates with all family members and coordinates local services to address issues as early as possible, preventing them from escalating into crises.

The programme directly supports families facing multiple and often intersecting vulnerabilities, such as financial or housing instability, mental or physical health issues, domestic violence, children at risk of harm, low educational achievement, or substance abuse.

Initiatives within the programme aim to assist individuals in leaving abusive relationships, accessing mental health support, and finding employment, among other services.

Demonstrating good value for taxpayers, the programme provides £2.28 in savings for every £1 invested by redirecting families from intensive services like children’s social care and the welfare and justice systems. It has led to a 32% reduction in the number of children on the programme entering care, a nearly 40% drop in juvenile custodial sentences, and an 11% decrease in the proportion of adults on the programme claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated:

Since its inception a decade ago, Supporting Families has offered essential assistance to thousands of families across the country who face significant challenges.

The benefits are evident—the programme has effectively lowered the number of children entering care, reduced juvenile custodial sentences, helped many into the workforce, and decreased costs for taxpayers.

This is why we are further investing in the programme, providing over £230 million this coming year for skilled keyworkers to assist vulnerable and disadvantaged families in turning their lives around.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Felicity Buchan commented:

The Supporting Families programme has made an incredibly positive impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands through groundbreaking whole-family early interventions.

The last decade has brought about significant improvements, offering early access to appropriate support from qualified individuals, enabling families to overcome pressing and complex challenges.

Everyone involved in implementing the scheme deserves to be proud of their role in supporting some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families in our communities.

One family that benefited from the programme is a mother from Northumberland who faced challenges including post-natal depression, financial stress, and finding appropriate support for her children’s additional needs. She was paired with a lead professional from Northumberland County Council’s Early Help team, who assisted her in overcoming these challenges, helping to create a more stable and secure future for her family.

During the 2021 Spending Review, the programme received a 40% uplift in funding. Leading into the current delivery period until 2025, it is supported by £695 million in funding, aiming to assist an additional 300,000 families in making lasting positive changes in their lives. Furthermore, the programme has initiated a new joint governance arrangement with the DfE.

The government has also released the 2022/23 Supporting Families Annual Report, marking the 7th edition of the report, which outlines the outcomes achieved at national and local levels by the programme.