PAUSE BY NUMBERS

Who the programme targets, and how

• In the seven years up to 2013, a total of 46,094 birth mothers appeared before the courts on applications to have their children taken into care; 15 per cent more than once (Lancaster University, 2014).

• Records showed 7,143 mothers having more than 20,000 children removed in that time.

• 125 women are estimated to have avoided 36.8 pregnancies during their 18 months working with Pause, which encourages the use of reliable contraception.

• The cost per woman is estimated at £20,202 over 18 months.

• The cost per child taken into care is an estimated £57,102 annually.

• 51 per cent of women who have completed the Pause programme had a drug-abuse problem, and 20 per cent had an alcohol-abuse problem; 65 per cent of these women were stabilised with the help of Pause.

• 73 per cent of women did not have consistent and good-quality contact with their removed children. This was improved for 60 per cent of women.

• 89 per cent of women were engaged with training/education/ volunteering/employment at the end of their time with Pause.