THE Government is half-way towards achieving its goal of turning round the lives of 120,000 so-called troubled families, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles claims today (Monday, November 25).

Figures from his Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) suggest 18 months into the three-year programme officials are working with 62,000 families and have “turned around” more than 22,000.

Also, 92,000 families have been identified as meeting the criteria for the payment-by-results programme.

The Government says troubled children are back in school, youth crime and anti-social behaviour has been significantly reduced and more than 1,400 adults from some of England’s “hardest-to-help” households have got work.

The figures suggest 1,508 families across the North-East were turned around by last month, with the biggest numbers in Newcastle (369) and County Durham (312).

Mr Pickles said he was delighted at the progress and councils were making great strides in a very short space of time.

“These results show that these problems can be dealt with through a no-nonsense and common sense approach, bringing down costs to the taxpayer at the same time,” he added.

Louise Casey, head of the Troubled Families programme, said the results showed a tough, intensive but supportive approach had a big impact, giving hope and opportunity to families and respite to their communities.

In September, Prime Minister David Cameron praised Darlington Borough Council for its efforts under the scheme, with 32 families having been turned around at that stage.

Council - Number of families turned around by October
Darlington 37
Durham 312
Hartlepool 56
Gateshead 83
Middlesbrough 126
Newcastle 369
North Tyneside 63
Northumberland 40
Redcar and Cleveland 75
South Tyneside 70
Stockton-on-Tees 173
Sunderland 104
Total  1,508