Getting to grips with troubled families

NEARLY 60 Oldham families have been diverted from truancy, anti-social behaviour or worklessness under a no-nonsense Government programme, new figures suggest.

The 60 households are among almost 300 across the borough targeted by the Troubled Families programme.

The £448 million, three-year scheme hopes to reduce the burden on public funds of problem families, claimed to cost authorities an average £75,000 a year.

In Oldham, 295 households have been identified and 59 so far “turned around”.