I'm delighted that Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council will benefit from a combined sum of £1,931,400 to support struggling families.

The Government has announced an expansion of the Supporting Families programme so that 100,000 more vulnerable families receive tailored keyworker support this year.

Telford & Wrekin Council has been awarded £919,500 and Shropshire Council will receive £1,011,900.

Through the Government’s Supporting Families Programme, vulnerable families are allocated a skilled local keyworker to help them to tackle issues of housing insecurity, poor education attainment and substance misuse - giving them tailored support to turn their lives around.

Over the last 10 years, we have made great progress in providing struggling families with better support and guidance from the right people at the right time.

As a result, since 2013, the number of children on the Struggling Families programme entering care has reduced by 32%, the number receiving juvenile custodial sentences is down by almost 40%, and the proportion of adults on the programme claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has dropped by 11%.

I am pleased that the Government is renewing its commitment to help some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families in our communities, and delighted that Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin will benefit from that support.