YOUTH SERVICE: CYPU awards 4m in grants to improving areas

The unit has awarded 1m each to partnership areas: Leicestershire, the city of Leicester with Rutland; Telford and Wrekin with Shropshire; West Sussex with East Sussex; and Gateshead with Newcastle.

The initiative will support the unit's local prevention strategy, which asks local authorities to set up communication channels between local youth agencies, to ensure the proper referral and tracking of those at risk.

The awards follow a similar initiative to fund new approaches to inter-agency communication during the summer of 2002. The six authorities of Bolton, Camden, Kensington, Chelsea, Merseyside's Knowsley, Lewisham and Sheffield were all awarded 1m. Under the Knowsley scheme, young people at risk were able to refer themselves to agencies.

This latest development extends the scheme geographically to include rural and coastal areas and cross-boundary systems. Participating authorities will share their results with other areas to support a national rollout of the unit's strategy later this year.

John Denham, minister for children and young people, said: "The unit is ensuring that good practice is shared and will be part of guidance to all local authorities. We have had a very positive response. The four successful applications include a range of interesting and innovative approaches and an excellent record of services working together and providing effective support to children."

Councillor Pauline Picken, Telford & Wrekin's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Systems to support better communication will allow us to deliver support at the right time to those children who need it most."