ONLY eight per cent of ‘troubled’ families in Bournemouth are receiving the support they need from a government programme.

The Troubled Families scheme is aimed at getting truanting children back to school, getting unskilled adults into work and cracking down on anti-social behaviour.

However, of those families identified as being in need of the programme in Bournemouth – where it is known as Turnaround – only eight per cent are receiving help, compared with 35 per cent across Dorset as a whole, and 36 per cent in Poole.

The government claims the number of families “turned around” has almost doubled in the past six months and saved £3 billion, with 39,480 families where children have now been to school for three consecutive terms, anti-social behaviour has been reduced and adults have been in work for at least three months.

Eric Pickles said: “Progress is being made in all corners of the country and I'm proud that this government is taking action to help change the lives of the families most in need.”

Ann-Marie Dodds, Troubled Families Co-ordinator, at Bournemouth Council said: “We are working effectively with those families facing challenges with education, anti-social behaviour and unemployment with positive progress being made with the 260 families that we are supporting in Bournemouth.

"Before considering these families to be ‘turned around’ their progress must be sustained.

"However, we are confident that with continued efforts, working closely with the families, the numbers whose lives have been improved through this programme will increase significantly.”