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Tackling Nottingham's socially excluded: Cabinet Office Ministers want ‘early intervention’ for those most at risk

Cabinet Office Ministers responsible for driving the Government's social exclusion policies will visit Nottingham today to see what Nottingham's public, charity and voluntary sectors are achieving on early intervention.

Hilary Armstrong, Pat McFadden and Ed Miliband know that early intervention is crucial for tackling deep–rooted disadvantage and will be out and about seeing and experiencing this work at the front line.

They will visit a number of Nottingham run schemes aimed at tackling social exclusion including voluntary sector organisations, social enterprise projects and local schools. Speaking of her visit today Hilary Armstrong said:

“We will be seeing for ourselves how front line workers in Nottingham are identifying adults and children at risk before they become Nottingham's future problems. Early intervention is a life cycle approach, intervening in the early years but also supporting families and adults with multiple problems as early as possible to divert them from risk.”

”No–one is too hard to reach and we don't believe that there is anyone who doesn't want a better future for themselves and their children in Nottingham. We're here today to see how we can best achieve this and what lessons we can take back”.

The visit to Nottingham comes hot on the heels of the Prime Minister's comments last week in which he encouraged the approach Nottingham is taking in its ambition to become the first ‘early intervention city’ in its fight against social exclusion.

All three Ministers will be visiting staff and pupils at Rosslyn Park Infants and Junior School involved in the SEAL programme (Social and Emotional aspects of Learning): the teaching of acceptable social behaviour to children.

Since 1997 the Government has made great progress improving the life chances and opportunities of the most disadvantaged and hard–to–reach in society. Since 1997, 1.6m children have been lifted out of poverty.

Yet despite this huge progress about 2.5 per cent of every generation seem to be stuck in a lifetime of disadvantage. Their problems are multiple, entrenched and often passed down generations. But this Government believes it is possible to extend opportunity to the least advantaged so that they enjoy more of the choices, chances and opportunities that the rest of society takes for granted.

Notes to editors

1. In Nottingham Hilary Armstrong:
   • Will be visiting Rosslyn Infants and Junior school in Aspley with Ed Miliband and Pat McFadden
   • Will join Nottingham City Council Social Worker and health visitor from Broxtowe community centre office to take part in two a home visits
   • Visit to ‘6 Ways Community Centre’, Denton Green, on the Broxtowe estate to meet with key stakeholders
2. In Nottingham Ed Miliband:
   • Will spend the afternoon at ‘Volunteer Centre 7’ where he will meet members of the public interested in Volunteering. He will meet the Centre Manager and Volunteering Development Workers. The Minister will also meet a support worker for asylum seekers, a guidance worker for long term unemployed and refugee worker to learn about frontline work
   • Will join Hilary Armstrong and Pat McFadden at Rosslyn Infants and Junior School in Aspley
   • Will visit NECTA, Sycamore Training Centre to meet Nottingham City Council Pathfinders team. He will see training facilities, meet the operations manager, training supervisors and young people. Activities will include Joinery, Bricklaying and Painting
   • Will join Hilary Armstrong at ‘6 Ways Community Centre’, Denton Green, on the Broxtowe estate to meet with key stakeholders
3. In Nottingham Pat McFadden:
   • Will be at Nottingham county hall to visit LinkAge project
   • Will meet key decision makers to discuss opportunities for central govt to work in partnership with Nottingham, including the Council, LSP, Police, Health Services, voluntary sector
   • Will join Hilary Armstrong and Pat McFadden at Rosslyn Infants and Junior School in Aspley
   • Will visit Crime Concern visit to Club One Youth Club where he will meet boys and girls aged 8–12 years and will sit down and chat to parents and children
   • Will join Hilary Armstrong at ‘6 Ways Community Centre’, Denton Green, on the Broxtowe estate to meet with key stakeholders

For more information about opportunities to cover the day, please contact Elizabeth Leonard at GNN 0115 971 2782

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