A government initiative aimed at discouraging family breakdown has been launched by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The pilot scheme will include a variety of relationship support initiatives focused on families thought to be in distress, including counselling for couples, staff training and parenting programmes, with accompanying funding available.
It will initially be available from 12 local authorities across England.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said:
“With evidence showing that children benefit when their parents work together to support them, even if they decide they cannot stay together, it makes sense that we focus on helping families to do this. That’s why I’m pleased to be launching these trials – which are aimed at developing local, tailored support services.”
The scheme forms part of the official response to last year’s Family Stability Review, which examined the causes of family breakdown and made policy recommendations.
The authorities participating in the pilot stage are Luton, Croydon and Westminster in London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire West, Chester, Blackburn and Blackpool.
