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Value of Supporting People confirmed

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (008) issued by The Government News Network on 16 January 2008

The Supporting People programme is more than paying for itself through the positive impact it is having on the lives of the most vulnerable people in society, a new independent report has found.

Funding through the programme helps over a million people live independently in their homes at any one time including 800,000 older people, 40,000 single homeless people, 36,000 people with mental health problems and 8,000 women at risk of domestic violence.

The study finds that an investment of £1.55bn in the programme delivers £2.77bn net financial benefits - through reduced costs in health services, tenancy failure, crime and residential care.

Communities minister Baroness Andrews said:

"Today's report confirms that the Supporting People programme is making an important and valuable contribution to the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society.

"To date £8.7bn has been invested with a further £4.9bn over the next three years. The new funding is now based more closely on the real needs of local communities, gives councils greater flexibility on how to spend it, and ensures that they provide services more efficiently.

"That means we will continue to help over a million vulnerable people each year to live independently and break the cycle of deprivation and exclusion."

The changes to the funding system follow from an independent review in 2004 which found that the previous spend was not meeting some of the real challenges faced or delivering the best value for money.

This fund is only one way in which the Government is providing additional investment for older people such as the extra £520m for social care to introduce personal care budgets, improve services and transform the way in which support is provided.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The report from Cap Gemini, Research Into the Financial Benefits of the Supporting People Programme, can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/supportingpeoplefinance

News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom