BCP Council to allocate £4.46m to improve children’s services with focus on health, wellbeing and development for youngsters in areas including Christchurch

CHILDREN’S services are to be “significantly” improved after BCP Council approved £4.46m worth of funding for a new project aimed at supporting young people.

Called ‘Building Stronger Foundations’, it will help youngsters in areas including Christchurch to “flourish and grow” with a focus on health, well-being and development.

The council’s cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Richard Burton, said: “We have seen significant demands for our services, which has meant we have not always been able to provide the level of support and service we would like.

“We have been working hard to put in place a plan to address this and I am delighted that cabinet have approved the funding to help us deliver it.”

He added: “This investment will make a significant difference to local children and their families in the area, as we will be able to manage better the demand, work closer with our partners and create efficiencies which will also contribute to the council’s overall savings plan.”

Amongst the improvements will be an investment in the workforce to create more stability as well as developing partnerships with statutory, voluntary, education and community organisations.

The council says it will also use data to help connect people to a range of services including help through schools, digital advice and guidance.

The council’s executive director for children’s services, Cathi Hadley, added: “This support from the council strengthens our transformation and improvement journey, and helps us to continue to drive the work required to raise the quality of services and delivery to children and families across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area.”