Outwardly affluent Poole with its expensive Sandbanks image harbours deep pockets of poverty and unemployment.

The borough is one of nine areas across the country included in Working Families Everywhere, a pilot project to help long-term unemployed families back into work.

Emma Harrison, appointed by David Cameron to spearhead People Helping People, was impressed by her visit to Poole’s Bourne Estate.

“Poole is really ahead of the game, dedicated to doing everything they can to help every family in Poole become a working family,” she said.

“The leaders of Poole and community leaders are saying ‘what can we do to help every family’?”

Four Family Champions have recently been appointed by the Borough and hope to start a rolling programme where those assisted help others.

Talking to residents at Rossmore Children’s Centre, Emma left with a whole list of questions and ideas and said she would be reporting back.

She said: “There are jobs out there. Some families are long-term unemployed, for generations, and need support to get into work.”

Family Champion Kim White is helping single parent Des Frampton, 42, from Herbert Avenue, who has sons aged five and six, and has been unemployed for around four years.

“I want them to get me back to work,” said Des, who wants to be a gardener. His aim is to look after his children and support himself, then help others.

Mum of two, with another on the way, Naomi Chowdhiry, 22, of Aspen Way, vice-chairman of the Children’s Centre Advisory Board, said: “A lot of people wouldn’t know how to get into it, where to start – especially if they’ve been out of work for a long time.”

Paula Hardy, 36, of Melbury Avenue had a raft of ideas from residents to put forward.

“We need to get everybody back out into the community and helping each other,” she said.

Joe Logan, chief executive of Poole Housing Partnership, said much had already been achieved on the estate and the bigger picture was about raising people’s aspirations.

“There is a lot of work to do but we are optimistic,” he said. “So far, so good.”

Focus on Poole’s figures

• Nearly a quarter of Poole’s 142,100 population is above retirement age.

• In April 2011 there were around 2,700 workless families with children in receipt of child or working tax credit.

• 70,400 residents are economically active with three out of four of working age (16-64) are employed.

• The cheapest house prices are nearly 10 times the lowest full-time incomes.

• Approximately 18 per cent of children aged up to 15 are living in poverty – around 4,500 children.