Bury Children’s Services scoops award to recognise Best Achievement

Date published: 29 June 2009

A project in Bury which helps families affected by drug and alcohol misuse has won a top award from local government magazine the Municipal Journal at an awards ceremony in London last night (25th June)

Bury Council faced competition from councils across the country, and was one of six shortlisted finalists. The judges selected Bury as the best example of an innovative and committed children’s services team, who have worked efficiently and effectively to develop the best children’s services for 0-19s in their local area.

Judges felt the team from Bury Council successfully linked different services and partners in creative and constructive ways to create forward thinking services for children, young people and families.

Bury’s award winning project is called ‘Holding Families’. This project is designed to step in to help where parents with drink or drug problems are having a significant impact on family life.

Holding Families is run by a number of organisations who form part of the Bury Children’s Trust, including Pennine Care NHS Trust. It involves a 16-week programme during which workers help all members of a family, including children and parents, to find a way of tackling their problems. Holding Families was formally launched in summer last year and independent evaluation has shown the positive results from early action to support families where parental substance misuse was potentially putting children at risk.

The charity Early Break, which provides substance misuse services to young people across Bury, Rochdale and East Lancashire, is one of the key partners involved in this award winning project.

Barbara Jack, Early Break’s Managing Director, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that the Holding Families pilot project has won this top award.

“The main reason we’re so pleased is that it shows we’re on the right track. Alcohol and drug misuse can have a devastating effect on family life and it’s vital to support those families and try to make sure parents, children and others involved are given all the help possible.

“I want to thank everyone who has helped Holding Families become such a success – all the organisations involved, but mostly, those families who have taken part and are seeing the benefit.”

Councillor Diana Ashworth from Bury Council said: “It is fantastic that the work of the Holding Families Project has been recognised nationally. This award clearly demonstrates the important and valued work staff at the Council undertake alongside partner organisations to help and support our young people and their families”.