Council to bid for £350k to stop children running away from care

Dudley Council's cabinet passed the proposal to bid for the funds which would be used to support youngsters in placements such as foster homes and residential homes.

The cash will also be used to provide training for teenagers leaving the care system to obtain training and employment.

It is hoped it will lead to a reduction in children in care running away from placements, as well as preventing children from turning to substance misuse, self-harm and criminal activity.

Cabinet give authorisation for officers to submit a bid to the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund for the cash.

The cash will provide £50,000 to £70,000 per year for a maximum of five years, a total of £350,000.

Councillor Sue Ridney, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “As a compassionate council, we are committed to doing all we can to help children in care and care leavers.

“Many suffer a life of constant upheaval which leads to problems during childhood which then spill over into adulthood.

“A scheme like this would allow us to try and alleviate that upheaval, to try and give children some sense of stability through positive relationships.”

By George Makin