It’s been announced today that Telford has been chosen by the Government to be one of six areas participating in the new Family Network Support policy. Lucy has been lobbying ministers to include Telford in this pilot scheme.
The pilots will test how best to implement effective family group decision-making and Family Network Support Packages in local areas. The pilots will test the impact of providing flexible funding for extended family networks – to help keep families together and children out of care wherever appropriate.
During Lucy's tenure on the Education committee from 2015-2019, she was a strong advocate of a comprehensive rethink of the Government's social care system, with a focus on championing children in care and supporting families on fringes of care system. Lucy had repeatedly called for a review into Children’s social care and contributed to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care undertaken by Josh MacAlister. This scheme was brought forward as a consequence of that.
Lucy Allan MP said:
I am so grateful to Minsters for including Telford in this important scheme. It’s a huge win for us I am absolutely delighted that my work in Parliament on this has finally paid off.
Supporting families facing complex challenges including addiction, violence and mental health, enables the children affected to have a better start in life and stops them ending up in care. This was the one reason I went into politics. Too many children were being failed by the care system , when the answer was to help their families overcome their challenges and care safely for children at home.
I look forward to seeing this pilot programme make significant changes to the lives of my constituents and the futures of their children.
You can read more about the Government's Families First for Children pathfinder programme here.
