A charity that reduces the number of children being taken into care has unveiled plans to begin new work in Cumbria.

Safe Families for Children will expand into the west of the county in a new initiative funded by Cumbria County Council and The Big Lottery.

The charity works in partnership with local authorities, churches and community groups, offering early intervention support to vulnerable children and families to prevent child neglect and abuse, stabilise the family and reduce the flow of children into the care system.

Work to support families in Allerdale and Copeland will start from October 1. The multi-year funding partnership has been designed to deliver better outcomes for children and families in an area of England which has experienced long-term, multi-generational challenges.

Keith Danby, Safe Families CEO, said: “I have been talking to Cumbria County Council, church and community leaders and external funders about bringing Safe Families for Children to Cumbria for almost two years.

“In the last few months all the pieces have come together with the Big Lottery confirming multi-year funding.

"At its core, Safe Families is about people helping people. I am delighted we are launching in Cumbria”.

Currently there are 93,000 children in local authority care across the UK. Over the last six years, Safe Families, in partnership with local authorities, has reduced the flow of children into care by up to 16%.

This represents a huge saving for local authorities facing ongoing financial challenges. It also means that many families across the UK have been stabilised, supported and strengthened, enabling them to stay together.

The Safe Families model relies upon the good will of local volunteers who are recruited, trained and supported to safely assist families by providing short-stay respite hosting, befriending to children and parents and practical resources.

Cllr Anne Burns, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “As a rule the Local Authority does not want to get involved in the lives of children and families, but unfortunately sometimes it is necessary.

"The Safe Families for Children approach is all about providing support early to help families and avoid their needs escalating to a point where we have to step in. This is good for families and good for children and we are looking forward to seeing the impact of their work.”

Safe Families is a Christian charity founded in 2012. More than 6,000 children and 2,500 families have been supported through a network of nearly 4,000 volunteers.

For those interested in volunteering with Safe Families for Children, there will be training days on Saturday, September 15, at Vineyard Church Carlisle and on Saturday, September 22, at St Mary’s Church Harrington.

For more information email: cumbria@safefamiliesforchildren.com or visit www.safefamiliesforchildren.com