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COMMUNITY NEWS
NEWHAM LAUNCHES SCHEME TO DEAL WITH 'NEIGHBOURS FROM HELL'
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A PROJECT has been launched in Newham to tackle anti-social behaviour by families who are generally regarded as 'neighbours from hell'.
The Newham Family Intensive Support Project has been set up by the council in partnership with the NCH children's charity and housing association East Thames. It is one of more than 50 family intervention projects across the country announced by the Government today (Wednesday) that is working with families at risk of losing their homes because of their anti-social behaviour.
Newham's Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: "Our line on anti-social behaviour is clear - it is unacceptable and we will do all we can to prevent it. Family intervention projects work with so called neighbours from hell - the most difficult families who can have a huge negative impact on their community.
"Where other efforts to intervene have failed, we hope this project with its intensive and long term support will help families effectively turn around their antisocial behaviour and allow them to keep their homes and live peacefully with their neighbours."
The outreach project specialises in tackling anti-social behaviour by identifying the root causes of problems, then helps family members move towards better behaviour. Support will be given in partnership with other statutory and voluntary agencies.
Families who are at risk of eviction for anti-social behaviour will be offered up to nine hours of support per week in their own homes to address their behaviour. Newham expects to be able to deal with up to 20 families at one time. Ten have currently been identified.
The project is being run from St Mark's Community Centre in Tollgate Road, Beckton. Newham obtained more than £300,000 over two years from the Home Office to set up the project, which forms part of the Government's action plan to combat anti-social behaviour.
It is being run with NCH because they have a successful track record in developing and managing such projects elsewhere. NCH also has a partnership arrangement with East Thames, the second largest registered social landlord in the borough.
Darren Johnson, Deputy Director of Children's Services for NCH London, said: "Families who are behaving anti-socially often have incredibly complex problems, problems that can have a ripple effect on an entire community. It makes sense that if you help the families, you'll help the community."
Work with the families began in December 2006. One family who has been helped is the Lee family who live in the south of the borough.
Father Tony, mother Lisa and children Chelsea, 15, Antony 13, and Brandon, ten, have been working with the project since December. Prior to working with the project they were at risk of losing their home, but thanks to the support they have been offered they are now successfully managing their tenancy. Father Tony said: "We had a few family problems but our project worker has helped us deal with things in a different way. We have managed to keep our home and the kids are happier in school."
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