MIDDLESBROUGH has been awarded Government funding to develop a project to help prepare young children for school.

An initial grant of £90,000 under the Delivering Differently in Neighbourhoods initiative will help to kick start a new approach to school readiness.

The cash boost will enable the authority to undertake a revamp of services at neighbourhood level, with increased involvement of community organisations.

The initiative will bring together children’s centres, early years, community support and voluntary action at neighbourhood level.

Councillor Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for supporting communities, said: “I am delighted we have been awarded this grant as ensuring our young people have the best possible start in life is one of this council’s key priorities.

“Work is already under way on the potential integration of the work of health visitors and early help professionals to address parenting issues, and the impact of drug and alcohol dependency and domestic violence.

“This vital funding will ensure we can undertake further work to bring together community leaders, voluntary organisations and parenting groups to make a lasting difference.”

Middlesbrough’s was one of 25 successful bids, and the council will now develop the project with technical, legal and consultancy support from the Cabinet Office.

Areas due for assessment and the exploration of alternative delivery models include adult social care, environment and culture and children’s services, including early help.

The focus in Middlesbrough will be on improvements to integrated early help services, including better neighbourhood working and building on the role of the community in parenting.

The work will take place alongside the emerging Head Start project around mental and emotional wellbeing in young people, with increasing focus on community buildings as wellbeing hubs.

Communities minister Stephen Williams said: “The councils behind these projects are outlining plans to cleverly use resources and provide services that make a real difference to people’s lives.

“Empowering local people to have a greater role in local services will not only help eliminate needless duplication and cut waste but it will ensure better services are delivered to people how they want them – at a local neighbourhood level.”

The Government will work with all 24 authorities to understand the impact of these new approaches, their costs and benefits and to share effective models for service delivery at neighbourhood level.

Delivering Differently in Neighbourhoods will complement the Government’s Our Place programme, which is working with neighbourhood groups seeking to redesign services in their area.