Messenger budget cut to be reviewed

A SPENDING cut affecting Oldham’s award-winning Messenger project is being reviewed by Labour councillors.

The project was set up in 2007 to protect young girls at risk of sexual exploitation, the first project of its kind in Greater Manchester.

Working with the charity Barnardos, girls as young as 10, and some teenage boys, were offered one-to-one help and counselling.

Special care home facilities were set up and a variety of agencies — police, social services, children’s services, education, — worked together to pinpoint vulnerable youngster at risk.

More than £1 million was spent by Labour to set up and run the project, and it won the Greater Manchester Chief Constable’s award in 2008, presented by the late Michael Todd.

But £100,000 was cut from the 2011-12 budget for services delivered by Barnardos by the previous Lib-Dem/Tory administration.

Now the new Labour administration is examining the £100,000 reduction.

Councillor Hugh McDonald, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “I have asked for more information and to see whether there have been cuts in previous years as well.

“Oldham is the only one of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to mainstream this service.

“I understand there has been a reduction in the contract with Barnardos, and one-to-one services have been brought in-house with family support workers.

“It may be we are comfortable with this but I am meeting the council’s Director of Children’s Services, Michael Jameson, and on the agenda will be Messenger.”