Government’s £28m boost for projects

PROJECTS aimed at helping disadvantaged youngsters are to benefit from up to £28 million of Government funding.

Ten schemes across England had been allocated taxpayers’ cash from the Life Chances Fund.

More than £19 million of the funding has been pledged to a scheme run by Sheffield City Council aimed at transforming the way public services are delivered.

It will be used to set up local projects to help tackle issues from mental health and well-being to homelessness and youth unemployment. Other schemes promised cash include almost £900,000 for the Future’s Advice project in Nottingham, which provides support and training to young people, while Norfolk County Council will receive more than £1.2 million to help reduce the number of days children and young people spend in care.

Civil Society Minister Tracey Crouch said: “The Life Chances Fund is helping transform lives across the country and I am looking forward to seeing how these fantastic projects use this funding to benefit children and young people, teaching them valuable life skills.”

The Government’s contribution is in addition to funding from local authorities which will provide a combined £83 million to the successful projects. The chosen projects are social impact bonds, meaning investors provide projects with up-front funding and are reimbursed by Government only when projects meet agreed results.