Emma Harrison CBE's Response To Mr Cameron's Speech On Troubled Families

Online, December 22, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Over the past year Emma Harrison CBE has volunteered her time to spearhead 'Working Families Everywhere', an exemplar project that has been working with eight Local Authorities to help long-term unemployed families back into work.

"I fully support and welcome the introduction of a dedicated Troubled Families Unit. It has always been my passion that one single department is responsible for troubled families and am pleased the Government has made this step forward.

"My aim, through my Working Families Everywhere campaign, was that troubled families receive one-on-one support. Mr Cameroncalls them 'Family Workers', in Working Families Everywhere we call them 'Family Champions' - they have one purpose to improve that families life by gaining them meaningful employment.

"Mr Cameron's speech today highlights that one-on-one support will be the approach moving forward. I hope an emphasis is also put on to helping the family gain employment alongside the social issues they are experiencing.

"I strongly believe that work is the answer. The families I work with tell me they want to support themselves and have the sense of purpose working families have - they just don't know how.

"In the past year the Working Families Everywhere campaign has inspired hundreds of people working in Local Authorities and elsewhere to adopt our methods such that they are now helping families intoemployment.

"We have encountered families that have three generations of unemployment ( http://www.mya4e.com/ ) under one roof and we have helped many people gain apprenticeships, jobs and work towards self-employment.

"I hope to continue to inspire the work of supporting troubled families, along with others, and am pleased this issue is at the heart of the Governments agenda."

Notes to editors

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