Birmingham City Council's Childrens Early Help Services were a lifeline for many struggling families during the pandemic.
At Birmingham City Council Cabinet Committee, this week, Councillor Sharon Thompson secured Cabinet approval for £7.5m to continue the Childrens Early Help Services for an additional 12mths.
Councillor Sharon Thompson said
"Many people across the City have been struggling as a result of Tory austerity policies which have pushed people into crisis. food banks have become normalised across the country and things have got worse for many families during the pandemic. As a consequence 42% of Children in Birmingham living in poverty.
“In North Edgbaston some residents have told me they are worried the cost of living increases will have a terrible impact on their families.”
“As a Labour run Council, we are determined to do all we can to support families across the City. This is why it was so important for us to extend the Children's Early Help Services to help prevent families with children between the ages of 0 to 19 from falling further into crisis as the cost of living rises."
Over the next 12 months the Education and Skills Commissioning Team will review the programme and produce a longer-term strategy for delivering and funding the Children's Early Help Services.
The Council will better link the Early Help offer with Family Hubs as part of an integrated family service for families with children and young people aged 0-19.
